Ups and Downs: Week 12

It was just one of those weeks for the Senators. They played well in both games this week, at times dominated the opposition, and outshooting both Washington and Detroit, but managed just one point out of four. Sometimes luck just doesn't go your way.

Biggest gains: Clarke MacArthur. Nobody had a standout week, but a few players had notable performances. Mac was one of those players. He wasn't able to breakout of his scoring slump against Washington, but did manage four shots on goal. Against Detroit he scored his first goal in a month and a half and seemed energized for the rest of the game, creating chances, and making an impact at both ends of the ice. Hopefully MacArthur can build on this performance.

Biggest losses: Jared Cowen. It would be easy to say it's Chris Phillips, who was a healthy scratch (again) for both games this week. But sadly that's actually become all too familiar under Dave Cameron and doesn't rate as surprising anymore. Instead, Cowen earns the distinction. I could have picked his partner Ceci, both have had difficult weeks. But Cowen stands out because he looked bad on the first Washington goal and failed to take Abdelkader on the first Detroit goal. He looked lost on Nyquist's winner on Saturday night. Those are the standout moments, but the pairing's been in tough and Cowen's advanced stats aren't pretty this week.

Goaltenders	Trend	Notes
Craig Anderson		He was decent against Washington and good against Detroit, keeping the Senators in the game late.
Robin Lehner		Did not play this week. Possibly sick.
Defensemen
Mark Borowiecki		After a green arrow the previous week, Boro's stock is down this week. Some rough possession numbers and the same silly mistakes cost him and the team. He earned an assist on Hoffman's goal against Detroit, but that goal was more the result of a strong cycle by Hoffman, Zibanejad, and Ryan.
Cody Ceci		Candidate for biggest losses. Ceci's advanced stats are somewhat better than Cowen's (though not really impressive given how dominate Ottawa was this past week) and the pairing often looks like a liability, especially against Detroit. Ceci is young and I don't expect much more from a recently turned 21-year-old defenseman in the NHL, but still it was a tough week.
Jared Cowen		See biggest losses.
Eric Gryba		Not a good week for Gryba but not as bad as most of Ottawa's other defensemen, so he breaks even.
Erik Karlsson		No points this week for Karlsson and a couple giveaways on the power play against Detroit. Still, he drove Ottawa's offense and had some nice looking advanced stats. An average week by his standards.
Marc Methot		Still on IR.
Chris Phillips		Phillips was a healthy scratch all week. This may be the new normal.
Patrick Wiercioch		Back in the lineup and not a liability. Add to that some solid possession numbers and Wiercioch gets an up arrow.
Forwards
Alex Chiasson		No points this week, but solid underlying numbers. He's still trying to carve out an even strength role on the team, but he wasn't the problem this week.
Erik Condra		A goal against Washington helps his stock. Rough possession numbers are due partly to the role he plays.
Colin Greening		Rough game against Washington offset by decent effort against Detroit. With only 12 forwards available to Dave Cameron right now, Greening's going to continue to be in the lineup, hopefully he makes the most of it.
Mike Hoffman		Just one point this week, a goal against Detroit (he leads the team with 11) but Hoffman continues to be one of Ottawa's best forwards. He was excellent against Detroit and his speed was on full display.
Curtis Lazar		Lazar isn't injured, he's just busy with other matters, like leading Canada at the WJC.
David Legwand		No points for Legwand this week, but he's turning in the same reliable performance in a tough role. He also had pretty good underlying numbers against Detroit.
Clarke MacArthur		See biggest gains.
Milan Michalek		He's doing ok in a bottom six role.
Chris Neil		Out with a knee injury. Continues to be "week-to-week". Don't expect him back anytime soon.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau		Pageau is doing ok centering Ottawa's fourth line. There have been flashes of his speed and defensive abilities, although his underlying numbers are a little rough right now
Bobby Ryan		Just one point this week (an assist on Hoffman's goal) but his line with Hoffman and Zibanejad continues to be Ottawa's best.
Z. Smith		Out indefinitely with a wrist injury.
Mark Stone		No points, but great possession numbers. Mark Stone continues his strong rookie season.
Kyle Turris		No points this week, but Turris did set up MacArthur for his goal. Strong underlying numbers continue.
Mika Zibanejad		No points but continues to play a vital role on Ottawa's best line at the moment.

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