The Ottawa Senators have taken strides ahead this season. On common, they rank fourth in pictures per recreation, permit the ninth-lowest pictures per recreation, and are the Eleventh-best possession crew within the NHL. Their energy play has been particularly deadly; solely three different groups have been simpler on the person benefit, and of these, the Colorado Avalanche have allowed extra power-play objectives in opposition to than Ottawa. Individually, Tim Stutzle is twelfth within the league with 19 factors in 14 video games, Brady Tkachuk has 18 factors in the identical span whereas additionally rating within the prime ten in hits, and Jake Sanderson has the third-most takeaways amongst all gamers.
Nevertheless, the Senators are twentieth within the NHL standings with a 7-7-0 document, so it’s not been straightforward to stay optimistic. Defence continues to be a priority, as does depth scoring, however each areas are additionally higher than in earlier seasons. As an alternative, the Senators are falling aside as a result of their ineffective penalty kill. Though it hasn’t straight resulted in a loss, different groups have been capable of capitalize on weaknesses and achieve the mandatory momentum to blow by the Senators. It’s a worrying pattern, and the deeper we glance, the extra regarding it turns into.
Significance of a Good Penalty Kill
This season, the Senators have been one of many worst groups shorthanded, with a 76.92% success price, which is the twelfth worst within the NHL. Nevertheless, that stat isn’t a deal-breaker; of the 11 groups which were worse, solely two are decrease within the standings, whereas two extra are tied with the Senators at 14 factors. Ottawa’s issues lie of their charges. Whereas down a person, they’ve given up 59.81 scoring possibilities per 60 minutes, which is the fifth highest within the NHL, and their 8.41 objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes is the twelfth highest. These two stats indicate that not solely are the Senators giving up quite a lot of possibilities, however they’re additionally giving up good possibilities, and their goalie is bailing them out.
Of their seven losses, the Senators have been scored on 4 occasions throughout the penalty kill, and of these 4, three noticed a major shift in momentum following the objectives. The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres sat decrease within the standings than the Senators once they confronted one another, and each opened the sport with a power-play purpose, and the Senators solely managed to attain as soon as throughout the remainder of the sport. Then, in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Senators had been successful 4-3 earlier than a purpose on the penalty kill led to 2 extra unanswered objectives to complete them off 6-4.
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Three irritating losses, three video games straight affected by a badly-timed purpose whereas a person down. Examine that with Ottawa’s three different losses this season. The New Jersey Devils surged previous the Senators whereas Artem Zub and Linus Ullmark sat with minor accidents, which is tough to seek out fault in, however the Senators practically beat the Colorado Avalanche, pushing them to 5-4 regardless of letting in an empty-net purpose. In opposition to the New York Islanders, a resurgence within the third interval practically noticed them do the identical factor they did in opposition to Colorado, however a late empty-net purpose from Bo Horvat stopped them of their tracks. Getting a power-play purpose is extremely essential to vary the tempo of the sport, and the Senators are giving them up at key moments, resulting in demoralizing losses.
A Story of Two Totally different Penalty Kill Models
Trying nearer on the Senators’ two penalty kill models raises an entire new concern. In line with Every day Faceoff, the Senators’ first penalty kill unit is Josh Norris, Claude Giroux, Nick Jensen, and Zub. Giroux and Jensen have averaged 2:12 minutes per recreation or roughly half-hour of complete ice time, which leads the group, and Giroux has been on the ice for 3 objectives, whereas Jensen has seen simply two get by him. Norris has been simply as efficient as Giroux, averaging a barely decrease 2:02 minutes per recreation and permitting three objectives by him this season. Zub has been restricted to a mean of 1.35 minutes as a result of damage, however he’s additionally by no means allowed a purpose whereas on the ice for the penalty kill. No issues right here.
The Senators’ second unit is Ridly Greig, Noah Gregor, Jake Sanderson, and Travis Hamonic, and that is the place we start to see some points. Greig and Gregor have been wonderful; each common a few minute and a half per recreation, and whereas Greig has allowed simply three objectives in comparison with Gregor’s 5, the latter has been on the penalty kill longer, as Greig was put in following Shane Pinto’s damage. Sanderson at the moment leads the Senators in common penalty kill ice time at 2:26 minutes per recreation, and regardless of his robust season, he has six objectives in opposition to and sits at a mean of 10.6 objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes. At even power, he’s at simply 3.4 objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes.
That brings us to Hamonic, who has averaged 1:38 minutes shorthanded and has allowed eight objectives on the penalty kill, which is tied for the fifteenth most within the NHL and averages 20.6 objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes. Solely two gamers have averaged extra ice time and extra objectives in opposition to this season: Darnell Nurse and Ben Chiarot – the latter, a minimum of, has a 2.5 objectives per 60 to assist steadiness issues out.
From there, it will get much more regarding. The Senators have allowed 9 objectives on the penalty kill, and Hamonic has been on the ice for all however one among them. Tyler Kleven has performed slightly below 3 minutes shorthanded, and his solely purpose in opposition to got here in his 40 seconds alongside Hamonic. One among Jensen’s objectives in opposition to got here when he was paired with Thomas Chabot, with whom he’s performed over 26 minutes, whereas the opposite got here within the 18 seconds he was with Hamonic. All of Giroux’s and Norris’ objectives in opposition to got here when taking part in with Hamonic, as did all three of Pinto’s objectives in opposition to.
Why is Hamonic Nonetheless on the PK?
The choice doesn’t appear to make a lot sense; Kleven seemingly had a really quick leash earlier than being yanked from penalty kill duties. As an alternative, it would come right down to the Senators’ lack of depth. Hamonic is a right-shot defenceman, and Ottawa’s solely different choices are Jensen, who has been manning the highest PK unit, and Jacob Bernard-Docker, who has been taking part in persistently on the third pairing alongside Kleven. Bernard-Docker has been stable in his sheltered function.
In 9 video games, he has two assists, a 56.3 Corsi for proportion, and a 2.3 goals-against per 60 minutes whereas averaging simply over 14 minutes an evening. All these stats are higher than Hamonic, however the 24-year-old has been primarily taking part in within the offensive finish, whereas the 34-year-old veteran has been principally grinding away within the defensive zone.
Clearly, head coach Travis Inexperienced doesn’t belief Bernard-Docker to play heavy defensive minutes and would relatively have a veteran on the penalty kill. To be honest, Hamonic has first rate defensive stats, proudly owning a 1.0 defensive level share and 31 blocked pictures, good for second behind Sanderson on the Senators. There’s no query that he’s not as efficient as he as soon as was, and all these objectives in opposition to may come right down to rotten luck, however in some unspecified time in the future, the crew has to surprise if it’s only a string of coincidences or if this can be a sample. The superior stats indicate that Hamonic is the first drawback, although, and the longer he stays on the second penalty kill unit, the harder time Ottawa could have successful video games.
So, if Inexperienced received’t belief Bernard-Docker to take over Hamonic’s spot, then the Senators have to discover a new defenceman. Nevertheless, there’s not loads out there proper now. Veterans Kevin Shattenkirk and Marco Scandella are nonetheless unsigned and are recognized to be dependable defensive defencemen, and Dante Fabbro was simply claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets, which could imply he may very well be acquired for affordable.
However the large problem is that Hamonic has a full no-movement clause and may’t be traded or despatched right down to the minors with out his consent. By all accounts, he’s a well-respected chief in Ottawa’s dressing room. Sadly for the on-ice product, the Senators could have to attend till his deal expires on the finish of the season. The crew’s solely hope is that one of many crew’s youthful gamers – both Bernard-Docker or Kleven – earn Inexperienced’s belief and supplant Hamonic on the penalty kill.
