“When the puck fell against Florida, Smith chose to stay with the same lineup.”
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Dj smith He decided to keep his lineup to himself Tuesday morning in Fort Lauderdale.
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Following a 4-0 victory Saturday over the Tampa Bay Lighting at home, there was no reason for the Ottawa Senators coach to make changes to the FLA Live Arena as this three-game road trip began against the Florida Panthers, and Smith decided to stay the course.
“We will leave it until game time,” Smith told reporters at the club’s hotel before the game. “I liked what I saw in the last game.”
Don’t blame him one bit.
When the puck fell to Florida, Smith opted to stay with the same lineup, and that caused the self-proclaimed developmental coaches on social media to piss off that defender. Jacob Bernard-Docker, Called from the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville on Thursday, he did not appear against the Panthers.
Since Smith indicated part of the reason the veteran defender Michael del zotto was put on waivers and subsequently sent to Belleville so the club could develop its young players, many of the self-proclaimed experts felt that meant Bernard-Docker should immediately put on the suit.
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That is not how it works.
Sure, you can make that argument, but just because the club wants to spend time developing its prospects doesn’t mean Smith and the rest of the staff aren’t trying to win every game. The club entered the game in Florida with 57 games remaining on the schedule and was coming off a win over the defending Cup champions.
Bernard-Docker will get a chance to play, and if he gets it right, he’ll stay in the lineup.
TIME CHANGED
The senators had hoped to hold a school day game against the Buffalo Sabers at 1 p.m. on January 25 at the Canadian Tire Center, but the game has been rescheduled for 7 p.m.
It would have been the first time in the club’s history that the franchise had attempted to start early in the middle of the week, however, president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc He consulted with the league last month when COVID-19 cases were on the rise to ask for the schedule change.
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The club hoped to host a large number of schoolchildren as a field trip.
OUT OF THE GLASS
Team USA confirmed its management team for the Winter Olympics on Tuesday, with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill guerin Formally appointed to replace former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman.
New York Rangers GM Chris drury will be the Beijing staff assistant.
Yes, there is a lot of uncertainty about the attendance of NHL players, but Guerin and Drury are looking for different ideas for their roster. Captain of the Senators Brady Tkachuk, 22, together with his brother, Matthew The 24-year-old winger for the Calgary Flames are both on the long list of 55 sent to the IIHF.
Guerin said he wasn’t sure which direction the roster would take when asked whether the Americans would lean toward youth or experience.
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“There has to be a combination,” Guerin told reporters on a Zoom call. “We cannot necessarily focus on one or the other. We have to build what we feel is the best team. Sometimes you need that youthful energy, sometimes you need that veteran experience. There has to be a bit of both to be honest with you. “
Guerin did not provide an update on the Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel , you are coming off disc replacement surgery, but it’s fair to say you could adjust.
“I will not rule anyone out,” said Guerin, who has had conversations with Eichel’s agent. Pat brisson .
OUT OF THE GLASS
Team USA will officially have two Ottawa prospects on their roster at the junior world championships to be held in Edmonton and Red Deer over the holidays. Advocates from the University of North Dakota Jake sanderson Y Tyler kleven both were included in the club’s final roster on Tuesday. … Veteran Blueliner Nick holden played over 25 minutes on Saturday against Tampa and is happy with his teammate with Artem Zub. “It’s nice to have a defensive partner that you play with for a few games and then you start to get a little chemistry,” Holden said. “He is a smart player, he can use me and I can use him, when we need each other. He is a very good player who can also go out and make plays on his own. That’s something that helps us when I can be a little more defensive. “
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THE LAST WORDS
Former senators end Anthony Duclair , who missed Florida’s last eight games with a lower body injury, returned Tuesday. “It’s amazing to be around the guys skating again and feeling good on the ice,” Duclair said. “I’m very excited to be back, for sure. I thought the last game might have come back, but I wasn’t really sure about that. I feel better. Those last few days, she didn’t want to hurt him again. Free time has definitely helped. I’m ready to go. “Duclair has nine goals and 16 points in 19 games this season.… Fresh off his 26-save performance in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Bridgeport, goalkeeper Matt murray will make his second straight start for Belleville in Allentown, Pennsylvania, against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday. … Florida D MacKenzie Weegar, An Ottawa native, who was selected No. 206 overall in the 2013 NHL draft by the Panthers, came into Tuesday’s games with 15 assists in 27 games this season and a rating of plus-19. He leads Florida in hits with 54.
Twitter: @sungarrioch
Reference-ottawasun.com