(Source: AP/Yahoo Sports)There was an interesting statistic quoted by commentators on the Team 1200's post-game show last night: this season, the Senators have participated in 7 shootouts altogether. Of those, they've won 2 and collected 4 out of a possible 14 points. Now, imagine where we'd be if we had won all of those shootouts, or at least a few more than we have. An extra ten points would be pretty handy right about now!
Ah well, I suppose beggars can't be choosers. It's enough for my sanity right now that we won last night, amazingly, blowing a 2-0 lead early in the third period but then pulling one out come shootout time. Possibly Cory Clouston reads this blog (however wishful that may sound) and took note of my complaints after the Boston game, for the three shooters he selected at first were Jason Spezza (miss), Jarko Ruutu (goal) and el capitaine, Daniel Alfredsson (goal). Mike Fisher took care of business when it came to the extra round, just managing to slip it in top shelf past Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.
Overall the game constituted another nearly-complete effort, something which, refreshingly, we seem to be seeing a lot of these days. One can definitely pick up on the fact that Clouston has a different style when it comes to both coaching and directives to his players; the boys are taking a lot more chances, yet are tighter defensively speaking. They're also getting more odd-man rushes and a lot more offensive zone time than they did previously. Last night I was heard to remark several times that the Sens actually reminded me of their old selves, of the way they used to be before all this nastiness went down, which reinforces the idea that they're in there somewhere - it's just a question of somehow bringing them back out.
Let us not forget, after all, that the core of the team is still intact. It's simply our defense and our ability to move the puck that's lacking. Not that those aren't important factors - our current position in the standings proves that they are - but they are also fixable, and I, for one, am damn glad Eugene Melnyk is smart enough not to "blow up" the team. Maybe he's not smart enough to avoid shooting his mouth off, but I agree with the message if not the means used to convey it: we've still got some good players, and there's no need to wreck the chemistry they're just starting to rediscover by trading one or more of them away.
Of course, a counter-argument could be made that since a playoff spot is most likely out of the question, the Senators are playing better with no pressure and really nothing to lose. The only role they can really have is as spoilers, ruining the chances other teams on the bubble have of making the playoffs. Perhaps that's true and perhaps it isn't - there's no way to tell right now. So I say, baby steps. That's all we can hope for at the moment. Baby steps. We didn't put ourselves in this position overnight and we're not going to get out of it overnight, but we can at least begin making the attempt to climb out of it.
There's still work to be done. Second periods haven't been as bad for the Sens lately, but there are still times when they zone out, to the detriment of game results. Exhibit A: the beginning of the third period last night, when they came out flat and allowed Buffalo to score two quick goals to tie it. They need to play full and complete games, without any times when they're wandering around like zombies.
But again, baby steps. Baby steps, people.
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