Ottawa Senators Ups and Downs: Week 10
Zack Smith's strong week highlights a good week for the Sens
Five points out of a possible six over the last week is not too shabby. It's looking more and more likely the Sens will enter the Christmas break second in the division.
He had five points this week. And sure, two of his goals were on empty nets. Still, he showed that he can still play well in a top-six LW role. It's looking like when Hoffman returns from suspension tomorrow, Dzingel will be the one to move down in the pecking order.
Biggest losses: Chris Kelly
Trevor did a much better job of looking at him last week, and I thought it was telling that very few people disagreed. Kelly gets caved when he's on the ice, and for some reason he seems to keep getting ice time late in games where the Sens are protecting a lead. Some people say he's mostly on the team for the PK, but you'd expect a penalty killer to be better at suppressing shots or something. I'm not saying he's been absolutely terrible, but I also don't think he's deserved to be in the lineup every game.
| Goaltenders | Trend | Notes |
| Craig Anderson |  | All the best to Nicholle and him |
| Mike Condon |  | Gets a cautious up. Was porous against the Sharks (who are, to be fair, really good), great against the Devils, and good enough against the Islanders |
| Andrew Hammond |  | Oh come on. He has three starts so far this season, and he's made it out of the first period without injury in one of them |
| Defensemen | ||
| Mark Borowiecki | | Returned from his suspension to be adequate |
| Cody Ceci |  | He led the Sens in ice time against the Isles, but it's had nothing to do with the quality of his play. I think it's a little odd he has 0 even-strength points on the season |
| Ben Harpur | | He was OK in 10 minutes of action |
| Erik Karlsson | | I think he keeps getting a green arrow as long he keeps being far and away the best player on the team |
| Marc Methot | | In particular, the team's penalty kill is a lot better with Methot in the lineup |
| Dion Phaneuf | | Ceci-Phaneuf is not a great combo |
| Chris Wideman | | Is pretty much everything you could want in a bottom-pairing guy |
| Forwards | ||
| Casey Bailey | | Looked fine in his first NHL action in two years |
| Derick Brassard | | Two goals this week, continuing to benefit from having Stone on his wing (even as Hoffman got suspended) |
| Ryan Dzingel | | Three points, but got caved possession-wise |
| Mike Hoffman | | Can't give him anything but a down arrow after a dumb play to get a two-game suspension (that probably deserved five) |
| Chris Kelly | | See Biggest Losses |
| Curtis Lazar | | I'd forgive you if you forgot Lazar played this week |
| Clarke MacArthur | | Hi Clarke |
| Chris Neil | | Always surprising to me how much better Neil's possession numbers are than Kelly's |
| Jean-Gabriel Pageau | | I've been pretty disappointed in his season so far to be honest |
| Tom Pyatt | | I really don't get why Boucher thinks Pyatt-Kelly is a great pair for defending the final minute of tight games |
| Bobby Ryan | | Three goals in three games for the player who probably needed them the most |
| Zack Smith | | See Biggest Gains |
| Mark Stone | | Says a lot about Stone that Smith-Brass-Stone was almost as effective as Hoff-Brass-Stone |
| Kyle Turris | | I don't think we talk enough about how Turris has 21 points while playing with Dzingel and whoever's healthy |
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