The Senators found a way to hang on, while continuing to accumulate points, in the absence of their captain Brady Tkachuk.
In 12 games, without the player who is the heart and soul of their team, the Sens maintained a 6-3-3 record. In eight of their last nine games, they have collected at least one point. That streak continued this weekend with an overtime loss at Boston and an overtime victory at Philadelphia.
“There are no easy games,” Travis Green said Sunday afternoon. “We could have played better, it’s true. But it’s also a good sign to have managed to get points against teams who play so well. »
In Saturday’s game, the Sens made a series of changes to their lines. Ridly Greig and David Perron played with Tim Stützle on the first line, while Fabian Zetterlund was promoted to the second line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson.
Greig, Perron and Stützle only needed five minutes before joining forces to produce the first goal of the game. “I liked a few parts of their game,” Travis Green said after the game. “It wasn’t one of those games where the attack was clearly visible, from one side or the other. It still did us good to come away with the victory. »
The two points did a lot of good for the Senators, who now return home to begin a tough four-game home stretch. Each club scheduled to visit the Canadian Tire Center this week — Utah, Dallas, Boston and Los Angeles — had a record above .500 as of Sunday morning.
“There’s a lot of talk about speed in the new NHL and Utah certainly doesn’t lack speed,” Green said. “Their players can skate. They can move the puck. This team certainly does not lack talent. We’ll have to be ready this evening. »
The Senators recalled Hayden Hodgson from Belleville on Sunday afternoon. Hodgson scored three goals and had one assist for the B-Sens this season. He played in two games with the NHL Senators last spring.
Green said he’s “waiting for word” on the availability of a few forwards for Sunday’s game, but he’s “not too concerned about those players.”
Leevi Meriläinen will get his third start of the season for the Senators. Meriläinen has won three straight games — including the two games he won in the American League.
