Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

The Sens had ‘a little chat’ after their latest defensive debacle

Connor McDavid

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Ottawa Senators’ Mika Zibanejad look towards the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario. The Oilers defeated the Senators 7-2. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

AP

Two days ago, we wrote about the Ottawa Senators and how they were quite bad defensively and how head coach Dave Cameron said they weren’t playing with any “pride” and how captain Erik Karlsson said they were a “budget team” that needed to “realize we’re a grinding team.”

Turns out it was a well-timed post, because the Sens lost 7-2 to Connor McDavid’s Oilers last night. One of the local newspapers called it a “disgraceful” defeat. Ottawa is now tied with the Blue Jackets for the highest goals-against average in the NHL (3.15).

And so the Sens had one of those closed-door meetings that struggling teams often have.

“We just had a little chat after the game,” defenseman Marc Methot told the Ottawa Citizen. “The only guys who can affect the outcome in the games coming up is the group in this room. We’re going to have to find it.”

This morning, there was another meeting...

Meanwhile, Karlsson reiterated his belief that the Sens will need to change their style in order to be successful. The two-time Norris Trophy-winner included himself in that:

Whatever has to change, the Sens best do it soon, because their chances of making the playoffs are slipping away. Since starting the season 18-12-6, they’re 5-11-0 in their last 16 and have fallen six points behind New Jersey for the second wild-card spot.

At least six surrendered in five Ottawa losses since Christmas

7-3 to Boston, Dec. 29

7-1 to Washington, Jan. 10

6-3 to New Jersey, Jan. 21

6-5 to Pittsburgh, Feb. 2

7-2 to Edmonton, Feb. 4