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Christmas kind of spread out four Senators games over two weeks, so here’s a look back over both those stretches. The Sens beat the Ducks to head into Christmas with a win streak, but have lost three straight since. The team’s still second in the division, but oh boy, it’s close.
Biggest Gains: Mike Hoffman
It was slim pickings, but Hoff gets the nod for going point-per-game in that span. He’s looked dangerous offensively, and seems to have found yet another gear in terms of speed. It’s been really great to see him and Stone reunited.
Biggest Losses: Curtis Lazar
It’s been a long time coming for young Courteous. At one point this season he was playing 14 minutes, but against Washington, he dropped under six minutes. He can’t score to save his life, and is stuck centering a line Boucher NEVER wants to play. Part of me wonders if he’d be trade bait, and another part of me wonders if anyone else would even want him.
Ups and Downs Weeks 11 & 12
| Player | Trend | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Trend | Notes |
| Goaltenders | ||
| Craig Anderson | ━ | Wishing all the best to him and Nicholle |
| Mike Condon | ▼ | Great against the Sharks, awful against the Kings and Ducks |
| Andrew Hammond | + | I wouldn't bet a lot on his NHL career working out at this point |
| Matt O'Connor | ━ | Judging by how Hammond got less than a game per month, I think we'll never see O'C play |
| Defensemen | ||
| Mark Borowiecki | ━ | Definitely not a problem over the last two weeks |
| Cody Ceci | ▼ | Ceci is consistently the most out of place defenceman on this team, and yet he keeps being given lots and lots of minutes |
| Fredrik Claesson | ━ | Scratched all week |
| Erik Karlsson | ▼ | A lone point in four games just isn't good enough for the team's star |
| Marc Methot | ━ | Methot on the other hand isn't expected to provide anything special, so he met expectations |
| Dion Phaneuf | ━ | The good news is, Phaneuf is nowhere near the biggest problem on this team. The bad news is he's not really a benefit either |
| Chris Wideman | ▲ | He's become the most consistent d-man on this team, so screw it, he gets an up arrow |
| Forwards | ||
| Casey Bailey | ━ | Hard to tell how good he is playing three minutes per night with Neil and Lazar |
| Derick Brassard | ▲ | Not hard to be good when your job is to play with Stone and Hoffman |
| Ryan Dzingel | ━ | His speed and hands have been pretty good assets in the top six |
| Mike Hoffman | ▲ | See Biggest Gains |
| Chris Kelly | ▼ | Got the promotion to Pageau's wing and has been quite an anchor |
| Curtis Lazar | ▼ | See Biggest Losses |
| Clarke MacArthur | + | Hi Clarke |
| Chris Neil | ━ | Not convinced it's worth keeping him in the lineup to play 6-7 minutes every game |
| Jean-Gabriel Pageau | ━ | I think he and Turris are competing to see who can have the least consistent linemates on the season |
| Tom Pyatt | ━ | Average week, but I hate seeing him in the final minute, whatever the score situation |
| Bobby Ryan | ▼ | In a fight for most concerning $7M player on the team |
| Zack Smith | + | Got hurt just after he was looking to have some time in the top six |
| Mark Stone | ▲ | Only two points, but he's a threat to steal the puck anytime he's on the ice |
| Kyle Turris | ━ | An up-and-down stretch, but at least it's clear Boucher trust him more than Brassard in the defensive zone |
Sorry for the clunkiness of the above table - SB Nation is changing editing software, and tables are one of the things we’re still working on. At least this way I don’t have to thank Winterion at Japers’ Rink anymore!