The Ottawa Senators know they can’t keep staying in the same position if they want to end their seven-year playoff drought.
With a nine-game road trip ahead, the Senators will try to take advantage of playing at home when they face the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
“It’s a long season and there is a lot of hockey ahead of us,” said Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot. “We’re building something and playing some good hockey lately.”
The Senators have had four chances this season to win three games in a row, but they have lost each time. The most recent loss came on Sunday when they fell 4-2 to the New York Islanders. The game was tied 2-2 in the third period, but the Islanders scored on a power play after a tripping penalty and then sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk, who has been part of recent trade rumors, said the Senators will win nine out of ten games if they continue playing like they did against the Islanders.
“There is still so much hockey and runway left,” Tkachuk said. “It’s a crucial two points that we missed out on, but if we play like that, we’re going to get rewarded.”
The Senators said similar things after losing to the Ducks 4-3 in a shootout on Dec. 1 in Anaheim. That game was also tied 2-2 going into the third period, but Ottawa lost again.
“Plain and simple, we want to win hockey games, and when you don’t, you’re frustrated and not happy about it,” Chabot said. “We’re definitely heading in the right direction here. We know where we’re at and won’t be satisfied with losing games.”
Anaheim began its four-game road trip with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night.
Troy Terry scored both goals for the Ducks, bringing his team-leading total to eight. Much of the focus was on Anaheim defenseman Jacob Trouba, who made his debut with the Ducks after being traded from the New York Rangers on Friday.
Trouba led the Ducks with five hits and played the most even-strength ice time at 21:30.
“He’s always hard to play against,” Terry said. “You know he’s this big, physical guy and he’s good defensively. I thought he was up in the play a lot tonight offensively. It felt like a few times whenever I got space in the offensive zone, he was in a good spot for a pass or a chance to score. So, I thought he was great.”
John Gibson is expected to start in goal after Lukas Dostal made 19 saves against Montreal.
Gibson has had strong success against the Senators, with a 4-2-2 record, a .945 save percentage, and a 1.61 goals-against average. Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said if the Ducks can start the game like they did against Montreal, they should have success.
“The first period was one of the best periods we’ve played,” Cronin said. “It kind of resembled the way we’ve been playing when we’re winning.”
