Sudden sniper Brown seeks Sens record
Connor Brown will try to set an Ottawa franchise record back in one of his old haunts Saturday night.
After tying the Ottawa Senators' mark by scoring in his sixth-consecutive game Thursday night in a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at home, the sizzling winger can set the mark if he can fire one home on his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Saturday in Toronto on Hockey Night in Canada.
That would be a great stage to achieve a pretty big feat.
“It seems like every time he touches the puck it's going in the net,” alternate captain Brady Tkachuk said. “He's a great player and an even better guy for our team. He's been in the league for a bit now and he's seen some peaks and valleys. He's helped us young guys out a lot so I'm really happy for him. I know he'll keep going because that's how a great a player he is.”
Dealt to the Senators on July 1, 2019, as part of a huge deal with the Leafs, Brown, 27, has been given an opportunity to play a big role for Ottawa by coach D.J. Smith. He has 12 goals in 41 games and would be on pace for a 25-goal camp in an 82-game season.
“He's got the hot stick,” defenceman Mike Reilly said. “With him if you don't even look at the goals, he's doing a lot of great things away from the puck. He's getting in on the forecheck, controlling the puck and he's possessing it in the (offensive) zone.
“Defensively, he's quick on pucks and he's a guy who can kill penalties. He's definitely chipping in a lot which is great for him. He's definitely got some underrated skill and that's shown lately, which is awesome.”
Asked about the streak after five games, Brown indicated he hadn't done anything like this since he had 45 goals and 128 points playing with the OHL'S Erie Otters in 2013-14. That year, Brown was teammates with Edmonton star Connor Mcdavid.
Brown is the second Ottawa player this season to have six-game goal streak. Drake Batherson did it earlier this season to join Bob Kudelski (1993), Daniel Alfredsson (2007), Dany Heatley (2007) and Jason Spezza (2010) on the list of those who have all completed the feat. Brown had six shots on goal against Edmonton's Mike Smith and hit the post.
A PROUD PAPA
It was a whirlwind week for alternate captain Erik Gudbranson.
His wife, Sarah, gave birth to the couple's first child Tuesday when Bennett William was brought into the world. Gudbranson didn't suit up Wednesday against the Oilers, but did see duty Thursday to complete the club's season series against Edmonton.
“Everything went well and Mommy's feeling happy and feeling good,” Gudbranson said. “He's doing well and he's a cool little kid.”
Gudbranson, 28, suited up Saturday in Montreal but didn't travel to Winnipeg for the rescheduled game Monday because getting home for the birth would have been difficult. It's been a roller-coaster ride of emotions.
“For those who have kids it's a beautiful moment and I'm really blessed by that,” Gudbranson said. “Benny's mom and Benny are healthy, so we're really blessed.”
Sometimes life works in funny ways. Really, this trade to the Sens couldn't have come at a better time in Gudbranson's career. He spent most of last season with the Anaheim Ducks before being moved just after the NHL draft in October, and the timing was perfect.
An Ottawa native, he's also made stops in Florida, Vancouver and Pittsburgh. Being at home to have this kind of moment and be able to share it with family is special. Gudbranson noted to legendary broadcaster Gord Wilson after the game Thursday that he might even grab a game puck to mark his first NHL game as a new father.
“There's a lot of things that haven't sunk in yet. He's only a couple of days old,” Gudbranson said. “My wife and I were talking about it because we have her folks in town, her sister, and with where I've been over the last few years the odds are just crazy that we were able to do this with both of our families and having that support around.”