Ottawa Senators fall further after loss to Winnipeg Jets
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With each new loss, any hope that the Senators could make a name for themselves in the playoff bid grows farther away.
Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg (31) stops Winnipeg Jets defenseman Kyle Capobianco (77) during second NHL action at the Canadian Tire Center on Saturday, January 21, 2023. Photo by Errol McGihon /POSTMEDIA Article Content Jets 5, Senators 1 Promotion 2
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Desperate for a boost of energy to end a busy and disappointing week, Ottawa Senators coach DJ Smith was hoping Country Night at the Canadian Tire Center would ignite a fire for his young team.
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Unfortunately, it was the Winnipeg Jets who got their dancing boots — er, ice skates — on their way to a 5-1 win, flashing their formidable skill and movement.
When it was over, Smith talked about singing a different tune himself.
Angered by a lack of discipline, both in terms of defensive discipline and in too many trips to the box, the manager plans to shuffle the front deck when the club return to training on Monday. With each new loss, the chances of making a push towards a wild spot become less and less. The gap remains at 10 points, with a six-pack of teams standing between the Senators and that elusive position.
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“We’re going to reshuffle the front nine (forward),” said a deeply dejected Smith. “I mean, there are guys who have a minus (in the plus/minus department) every night. It just can’t go on like this. That’s on me for allowing them to keep playing together, or certain guys together. If you are scored it doesn’t work so we will put one worker in each row. We will work our way out of there.”
Let the guessing game begin with names, but a good place to start here is Drake Batherson. On a night that saw ugly minus points all over the archway, Batherson was on the ice for two more clean sheets, taking his worst league record to minus 32.
The Senators, who came into play after losing 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, got off to a good start on Saturday.
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After Nikolaj Ehlers opened the scoring with a power play, Josh Norris equalized to draw 1-1 after Claude Giroux scored a tie against Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. It was the second goal of the season for Norris, who returned on Wednesday after missing 38 games with a shoulder injury.
After that, there wasn’t much to cheer for the senators. The Jets took control in the second half, shifting from second to fourth gear, setting up shop in the Senators’ zone and preparing Ottawa’s defense and goaltender Anton Forsberg. Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler scored in the second goal and completely buried the Senators towards the end of the third period when Scheifele scored the second goal of the evening and a power play goal from Cole Perfetti.
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Forsberg allowed five goals in 30 shots, but this one is by no means his own. As Smith put it, the Senators’ defense was “under siege” for an extended period of time.
“It’s not good, nobody is happy at the moment,” said substitute captain Thomas Chabot. “I think every game is different. In some games it might just be us flipping the puck. Sometimes it’s just… mistakes that happen. But you know we lost tonight. This is not good for the whole group.”
Giroux, who was caught banging his racquet on the boards while sitting on the Senators’ bench in Pittsburgh on Friday, was also stewing after the latest loss.
“I’m trying to imagine what happened tonight,” he said. “Where we were in the standings (a couple of weeks ago) and we looked like we were going in the right direction … and then you know, in Pittsburgh we obviously didn’t play well and back-to-back tonight, we just … either.” you have legs or you don’t, it doesn’t matter. You have to find a way to do your best.”
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Giroux also agreed with the coach’s assessment of a lack of discipline.
“Every time we had momentum in the game we took a penalty and they have a good power play. So you get back on your heels and play defense. That definitely destroyed our momentum tonight.”
Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31), center Tim Stutzle (18), defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker (24) and left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) attempt to fend off Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) in the second half. Photo by Errol McGihon/Postmedia
Matching the disappointment of the Senators and the 19,042 spectators at the Country Night, the in-house sound system delivered a very fitting message during Scheifele’s 4-1 win with his second of the evening. The song played was Achy Breaky Heart, the 1990 single by Don Van Tress, made famous by Billy Ray Cyrus two years later.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31), Winnipeg Jets left winger Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (71), Sen. Nick Holden (5), Jet Kevin Stenlund (28) and Sen. Mark Kastelic (47) during the second season at the Canadian Tire Center on Saturday , January 21, 2023. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia
From start to finish, it was an impressive performance by the Jets after suffering a speed bump on their trip east in Canada earlier in the week and losing 4-1 to the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Before that two-game setback, the Jets were on an 8-1-0 run and remain among serious contenders in the Western Conference and challenge the Dallas Stars for top spot in the Central Division.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) pursues an incoming shot from Winnipeg Jet Cole Perfetti (91) during the second period. Photo by Errol McGihon/Postmedia Ottawa Senators centerer Dylan Gambrell (27) passes the puck to teammate Mark Kastelic (47) while Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon (5) checks and goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves in the first period. Photo by Errol McGihon/Postmedia
The Senators won’t play again until they face the New York Islanders at the Canadian Tire Center on Wednesday, but the coaching staff will be busy looking for answers.
“We’re going to take a fresh look and start putting together some groups that really want to look into it,” Smith said.
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Teammates congratulate Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris (9) on his goal against the Winnipeg Jets in the first half. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo (2) clears the puck from Ottawa Senator Tim Stutzle (18) while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) watches the game during the third period. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) watches as Winnipeg Jets celebrate a goal. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a gauntlet as Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) goes into the net in the third period. Photo by Errol McGihon/Postmedia GARRIOCH: Senators’ playoff hopes suffer a major hit with another loss in Pittsburgh
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