Line juggling goes on as scoring dries up
DETROIT As coach Dave Cameron talked about the Senators’ need to play in “straight lines” to explain shaking up his forward lines, Bobby Ryan dished out the straight goods about poor productivity.
Ryan used words that included “horrendous” and “mediocre” to describe the recent performances of his line, which normally includes Mika Zibanejad and Mike Hoffman. Ryan and Zibanejad have combined for exactly zero points during the Senators’ three-game losing streak, prompting Cameron to move Zack Smith to left wing in place of Hoffman for Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.
While Hoffman leads the team with 26 goals and Smith has only two goals in 30 games, Ryan says he understands the rationale. Before practice on Monday, Ryan and Zibanejad went over video of some previous success.
“Smitty brings a lot, he’s true to what he does,” Ryan said. “Another big body on the line is going to help us. We felt we were a little stretched out (with Hoffman). When it’s clicking, everything’s going great. But right now, hopefully this can open some stuff up.”
Hoffman’s offensive exploits have drawn great raves and made him one of the NHL’s top rookies. But when he’s not scoring, his defensive mistakes leave the team vulnerable. Ever so gradually, the Hoffman-Zibanejad-Ryan trio has strayed away from its original foundation for success.
“Straight lines and somebody on the net,” Cameron said, when asked about placing Smith with Zibanejad and Ryan. “It sounds simple. It is simple.”
Cameron’s practice drills Monday emphasized the direct approach from one end of the ice to the other — “north-south” in hockey parlance — and eliminating large gaps between the five players on the ice.
The other lines Monday were Clarke MacArthur-Kyle Turris-Mark Stone, Erik Condra-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Curtis Lazar and Hoffman-David Legwand-Alex Chiasson. Colin Greening will be the healthy scratch. Don’t be surprised if Cameron juggles his lines Tuesday, giving Hoffman a shot with his former linemates if the Senators need to generate more offence late in the game.
On defence, Patrick Wiercioch will return to the lineup after missing Sunday’s game against Florida. Jared Cowen will be the healthy scratch on the blue-line. TOUGH TALK NECESSARY: Goaltender Craig Anderson, commenting on the Sens’ captain, said it’s time for the rest of the team to “follow in his footsteps” after Erik Karlsson loudly — and colourfully — criticized the team’s recent effort following Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. “It’s emotional, it’s honest,” said Anderson. “When you battle like that, it’s good. It shows that he cares. He cares a lot. Now, it’s a case of how we respond.”
Cameron says he has no problem with Karlsson speaking his mind.
“I have no qualms with my captain, at all, not one iota,” he said.