The Ottawa Senators boast a winning record after 10 games for the first time in eight seasons.
A budding chemistry on a retooled first line has steered the latest stages of a 5-4-1 start entering Tuesday’s visit to the Chicago Blackhawks. In Nick Cousins’ view, things still are progressing upward.
Opposing goaltenders might cringe at that thought. Cousins, Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle combined for seven points during Monday’s 7-2 home victory against Boston. On Saturday, the group collected six points to key a 7-1 road rout of Washington.
Ottawa has scored seven goals in consecutive games for the second time in franchise history, and first since Nov. 3-5, 1993.
Cousins, who recently pivoted to the top line as Ottawa navigates an injury to captain Brady Tkachuk (thumb), appreciates the intricacies of skating with Batherson and Stutzle. The duo had two goals and an assist apiece versus Boston.
“You almost think it’s easy to play with those two, but it’s not,” Cousins said. “You’ve got to make sure you’re in the right spots, and trying not just to worry about getting them the puck, you’ve got to protect the puck as well and make plays when you have it.
“Make the right play at the right time, and obviously you get different matchups, on the road especially, so you’ve got to make sure you know who you’re out against out there. So just managing the game, managing the puck, what the score is, and stuff like that.”
Chicago is coming off Sunday’s 3-1 home loss to the Los Angeles Kings, stopping a five-game point streak (4-0-1) that included victories in St. Louis and Tampa Bay — welcome developments as the Blackhawks prepare for a six-game road trip after Tuesday.
Wherever they skate, the Blackhawks know they must ramp up their power play. The Blackhawks went 0-for-5 with the man advantage Sunday.
“The power play has to be better. That’s the quick answer,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said. ‘It has to be better in the sense, too, that it gives us momentum — so it doesn’t cause frustration. That’s how your offensive players get confidence; that’s how your team builds off it. So we’ll keep working on it.”
One possible adjustment potentially was on display during Monday’s practice. Andre Burakovsky, a key cog of the second power-play unit, slotted in with the top group, replacing Teuvo Teravainen.
“I could point to (all) five guys on that (first) unit and say different guys have had different reasons for its lack of success,” Blashill said. “But maybe it sparks us if we decide to go with it.”
The end of the Blackhawks’ team point streak also saw Ryan Donato’s four-game goal streak snapped.
Fellow forward Tyler Bertuzzi (undisclosed injury) missed the Kings game and is considered day-to-day.
Chicago’s Ilya Mikheyev sustained an upper-body injury early in the third period, falling into the boards after a tripping penalty against Adrian Kempe. Mikheyev didn’t practice Monday but Blashill said Sunday, “I don’t think it’s anything long-term.”
Ottawa and Chicago split a pair of meetings last season, with both clubs netting road victories in overtime.
–Field Level Media
