Senators Prove Worth With New Players

Despite a rocky start, the Ottawa Senators began their season by proving the worth of their newly-acquired players and by allowing their new captain to rise to the occasion.

On October 9^th, the Sens began the new season by facing off against the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena. While the Senators entered the game following a productive off season, (which included the trade of Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars as well as several multi-million dollar deals), the Predators began their season with a different mentality. Last season, Nashville failed to qualify for the playoffs by three points, which provoked general manager David Poile to change coaches in April. So, while the Senators put up a formidable fight against the Predators, they were unable to combat the unstoppable duo that is Predators captain Shea Weber and new Predators coach Peter Laviolette. In the end, the Sens lost 2-3 to the Predators, mostly due to the Weber-Laviolette dynamic, as well as Ottawa’s inability to capitalize on power play advantages. However, the game was intriguing as fans were able to catch a glimpse of what the team’s new players are capable of. Alex Chiasson, whose arrival in Ottawa was a product of the same trade that sent former captain Jason Spezza to Dallas, deserves particularly praise, as the new Senator was on fire during the entire night.

Following their season opener, the Senators went up against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Times Forum. The thrilling game truly began after new Senators captain Erik Karlsson scored his first goal of the season. Karlsson breathed life into the Senators, and his presence significantly enriched the team’s performance. Ottawa goalie Robin Lehner was also incredible, and was invaluable during the shootout. Sens centre Mika Zibanejad fired the shootout winner, allowing the Senators to beat the Lightning 3-2.

This week, don’t miss seeing the Senators as they go head-to-head with Columbus Blue Jackets at the Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, ON.