What’s behind the Senators’ lack of consistency?
Looking to snap a seven-year postseason drought, the Ottawa Senators did their playoff chances no favors Tuesday in fall 5-0 to the New York Rangers.
On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk chatted with longtime Senators reporter Brent Wallace on the current status of the team and Ottawa’s struggle to find consistency this season.
Tyler Yaremchuk: It’s always a pleasure to welcome Brett Wallace from Coming In Hot on to the show to talk a little bit about the Senators. When I go look at their Hockey Reference page, it’s a losing streak, a winning streak, a losing streak, a winning streak. It’s been a season of streaks for the Senators. What is causing that? Is it one issue? Is it just health at points? What’s behind these winning and losing streaks?
Brent Wallace: They can’t score right now. It used to be they didn’t get goaltending, and now they have gotten goaltending. They have been shut out four times in the last 10 games. That being said, they had gone on a streak of 5-0-1 before they lost last night to the Rangers. I just think, offensively, they still need some help in the top-six to really define this team up front. Right now, I think Brady Tkachuk is eight games without a point. Drake Batherson has one goal in 17 games. Claude Giroux hasn’t scored since he was in Philadelphia. I am exaggerating, but you get the point, where they have some guys really struggling right now.
Frank Seravalli: What is the latest with Linus Ullmark and the Senators’ goaltending?
Brent Wallace: He skated yesterday. He hasn’t taken in a full practice. They are going to take to the ice here in 25 minutes. I suspect he is going to be a full participant. They play Boston tomorrow, so is that where he comes back? He hasn’t played in almost a month, I believe it is. They do play the Leafs at home on Saturday. I suspect it is closer to Saturday for his return, but I can see him trying to figure out if he can play against Boston tomorrow.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here: