Sens aim for big finish to homestand
Asked to judge his team’s performance so far, Senators coach Dave Cameron gives them a solid seven out of 10.
If the Senators could pull off a victory Saturday against Philadelphia, they would top that — registering eight of a possible 10 points to conclude a two-week stretch at the Canadian Tire Centre.
The Senators have gone 2-0-2 so far.
“We can’t do anything about what’s gone on in the past, but we will have our hands full beating Philadelphia,” said Cameron, who talked about finishing the homestand strong during a late morning meeting Friday.
“Eight of 10 points at home is huge.”
Goaltender Craig Anderson, fresh from Thursday’s shutout, is proud of the way the team is grinding its way through games.
“We find ways to keep getting points and with a little bit of luck, maybe it goes different in the overtimes,” he said, referring to losses against the New York Rangers and Detroit.
LAZAR POINTER: Chris Neil tried to step in for Curtis Lazar, but the youngster was having none of it.
He wanted to end an exchange of nastiness against Columbus’s Kevin Connaughton with the first fight of his career.
“It caught me off guard,” said Neil.
“I was fishing for the puck between their skates and I knew something was going to happen and I was ready for it, too. For him and the way he plays, good to get one out of the way.”
Bobby Ryan says it was a spark the team needed. “It was good, wasn’t it? It kind of shocked us all, but he did it all with a smile on his face.
“That was the most impressive thing.” KARLSSON CLIMBS IN SCORING RACE: It was only 11 days ago when Senators captain Erik Karlsson was pressed on his goal-scoring drought to start the season.
“I just need a lucky one, I think, it’s going to come,” Karlsson said before the Senators played Nashville Nov. 10.
“I don’t care if it’s tomorrow or 20 games from now, if we start playing better hockey and winning games.”
In the five games since then, Karlsson has scored five goals — including a pair of lucky ones against Columbus — and four assists. He has 21 points, tied for sixth in NHL scoring before Friday’s games.