Ottawa Senators Ups and Downs: Week 8
Not a great week for the Sens as whole, but it was for Stone and Hoffman
Three losses and a lone win weren't the best way to enter December. That being said, the Sens are still 7th in the league, so it's not worth overreacting. It just means there won't be quite as many ups as last week.
Biggest gains: Mike Hoffman
Hoffman got his first career hat trick this week, and ended up with seven points in four games. It's no coincidence it's come since being reunited with Stone. Many of us clamoured for the HST line to return, but Boucher likes his balanced lines. I think he's realized that Hoff and Stone could get Brassard going, while
Biggest losses: Cody Ceci
The Sens didn't have a good week defensively, but Ceci stands out to me. Part of it is that he came into the season third or fourth on the defensive depth chart, and now he appears to be sixth. Boucher seems to trust Phaneuf, Wideman, and even Borowiecki more than Ceci. It's not a good look for him.
| Goaltenders | Trend | Notes |
| Craig Anderson |  | Obviously there are other things going on in his life, but hockey-wise, he allowed 12 goals in 110 minutes of play |
| Mike Condon |  | Was decent against the Flyers, and then shut out the Panthers. Also didn't allow a goal on two shots against the Penguins. |
| Andrew Hammond |  | He's up with the team... no wait, he's back in the minors... wait, he's been called back up... no, wait... |
| Defensemen | ||
| Mark Borowiecki | | It's not really his fault, but with Methot out, we're starting to see him against better competition. Probably also doesn't help he's spending more time with Ceci |
| Cody Ceci | | See Biggest Losses |
| Fredrik Claesson | | How frustrating must it be to know how many seasons he spent in Bingo before getting a call-up, and then seeing Englund get one in his first |
| Andreas Englund | | You'd have to be terrible in your first NHL action to get a down arrow, and he wasn't |
| Erik Karlsson | | Seven points, and the only defenceman who can play against other teams' top lines |
| Marc Methot |  | This team needs him healthy |
| Dion Phaneuf | | Has moved up to the to pairing in Methot's absence. I also don't mind seeing him as the net-front guy on the powerplay |
| Chris Wideman | | And up and down week. More and more it looks like Boucher sees him as the team's fourth defenceman |
| Forwards | ||
| Derick Brassard | | Definitely benefiting from his wingers, but hey, he's dominating play. Also that goal against the Panthers was SWEET |
| Ryan Dzingel | | Has solidified his spot in the top six |
| Mike Hoffman | | See Biggest Gains |
| Chris Kelly | | He and his line got walked all over this week. It wasn't pretty |
| Curtis Lazar | | Now he's hurt, but it looked like Buddy Robinson passed him on the depth chart in that last game |
| Clarke MacArthur | | Hi Clarke |
| Max McCormick | | Proved to the Sens that they needed to call someone else up as an injury fill-in |
| Chris Neil | | Two games to go until he hits 1000. Not a bad career at all. |
| Jean-Gabriel Pageau | | Interesting that Pageau has now jumped up to be the RW on the Turris/Dzingel line |
| Tom Pyatt | | I'm beginning to think that five good games to start the season don't cement his spot after 20 games of meh |
| Bobby Ryan | | Don't think he was fully healed, based on how quickly he left with the same injury |
| Zack Smith | | He was fine this week |
| Mark Stone | | Six points this week. No coincidence it's come after being reunited with Hoffman |
| Kyle Turris | | Five points while playing with Dzingel and Lazar/Pageau. It's almost like he's really good at hockey |
Special thanks to our friend winterion at Japers' Rink for our icons!