MacArthur on Ryan: ‘It’s always exciting’
Clarke MacArthur could be reunited with Bobby Ryan on a line, which would suit MacArthur just fine.
At Tuesday’s practice, MacArthur was on the left side of centre Mika Zibanejad and Ryan. There’s always a chance the unit could change before Wednesday as winger Curtis Lazar, who had been with Zibanejad and Ryan, missed the skate for “maintenance” but is expected to be available on this trip.
Lazar blocked a shot with his foot on Sunday.
“I played really well with Bobby a couple of years ago and it’s always exciting to play with him,” MacArthur said. “You never know what he can bring and what he’s going to do out there. It makes it a lot of fun to play with him.”
Both veterans could use a boost. MacArthur has zero points in three games and Ryan has one assist in three, although he scored the game-winning goal in Saturday’s shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
MacArthur, who had been part of the Senators top line last season with Kyle Turris and Mark Stone, lost that spot temporarily when he suffered a concussion in February. Then, he suffered a minor injury in pre-season after a collision with teammate Mark Fraser, and MacArthur started the season on a checking line.
Tuesday at the Sensplex, he took line rushes with Zibanejad and Ryan.
“We have a practice under our belt, or a couple of them,” MacArthur said. “Mika is a great centre man too. He goes up the middle as good as anybody. It’s just a matter of hooking up for a goal here and then we become friends and have lunches.”
That sentence ended with laughter. MacArthur and Ryan hope their next game ends in smiles.
PREACHING TO CONVERTED
Several Senators, and head coach Dave Cameron, were singing from the same hymn book following the 3-1 loss to Montreal.
Cameron’s message to his team was that they were too passive in the defensive zone. His players seemed to agree.
“We gave them power plays,” MacArthur said.
“Their D with the puck is as good as anybody in the league if you don’t pressure them. We have to take more time and space away from them.”
That will be the theme heading into Columbus against the 0-3 Blue Jackets.
“We have to play better defensively to limit the quality opportunities they get,” Turris said. “And with that, we’ll create our own oddman rushes.”
Turris says his team is wary of Columbus.
“We know they’re a good team,” Turris said. “They finished so strong last year after being injured for most of the year. And everyone is expecting them to have a big year.”
TO THE MAX
Turris says the Senators have learned from the best, the late Max Keeping of CTV, when it comes to making contributions to Ottawa and the region.
“It was amazing what he did for this community,” Turris said. “I remember him saying that once he went to more charity events than there were days in the year. It’s something incredible. It will tough to duplicate that.
“He set a precedent where he tried to bring the best out of everybody, and to have people step up within the community. That’s what we’re all going to strive to do.”