SNAPSHOTS: Gus The Bus makes one last appearance before heading to Belleville


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The Ottawa Senators spent Thursday morning smiling for the camera.

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Before facing the Florida Panthers at the club’s final regular season home, the Senators gathered for the team photo at the Canadian Tire Center and there will be plenty of new faces when the players return in September.

But the season won’t be over for everybody when the final buzzer sounds Friday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center, players headed for the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville will hold their exit meetings early Saturday morning before joining the club for the post-season.

Among those going to Belleville will be a goaltender Filip Gustavson. He has faced the Panthers and will have a chance to start in the AHL playoffs for the first time in his career next week.

“Going down (to Belleville) helped his confidence and then he came back here and brought it with him,” coach DJ Smith said Thursday before facing Florida. “He’ll have nothing but confidence going down there.”

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Gustavsson will get an opportunity this spring he didn’t have in 2020 when the season canceled because of COVID-19. He’ll go head-to-head with Belleville’s mads sogaard for playing time in the playoffs.

That will be good for their development but Sogaard is sidelined at the moment.

“I’m sure they’ll go back and forth. Whoever the best goalie is I’m sure they’ll play but that will be (coach) Troy Mann’s decision,” Smith said. “(Sogaard) isn’t 100% so we’ll see where that goes but you want both goalies to play in the games.

“At the same TIME, they’re trying to win. Competition is what it’s (about) and no matter where you go you’re competing against the other goalie and as a defenseman you’re competing against the other defensemen for ice time. Whoever the best guy is will play and it’s just healthy to have competition.”

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forwards Mark Kastelic, Scott Sabourin and Parker Kelly are all expected to go to Belleville to help them make a long run in the playoffs.

THIS N’ THAT

veteran forward claude-giroux has been a nice addition to the Panthers. He was scratched with a playoff spot sewn up but has three goals and 23 points in 18 games with Florida since being brought over from Philadelphia. Giroux has good chemistry with linemates Alexander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. “He’s playing with guys who think like him,” Smith said. “When you get a couple of guys that play together, and think the game at that level, they’re scary. He looks so rejuvenated. It was a tough year for him in Philly and they’ve been in the playoffs so much. He just looks dangerous when he’s out there.” … Seven players will finish the season on the injured list: G MattMurray, RW Connor BrownLW Mathieu JosephF Tyler EnnisC Shane Pinto, D jake sanderson Y C Colin White. In White’s case, he hasn’t fully recovered from a case of COVID-19 and while he’s out of protocol he’s just not ready to play … Best wishes to long-time Winnipeg Jets’ play-by-play broadcaster Dennis Bayak, who announced his retirement Thursday. He’ll call his last game for TSN Sunday against Seattle.

THE LAST WORDS

Smith has seen defenseman Erik Brannström make stride this season, especially with his play defensively.

“I have played a lot better way from the puck. One of the biggest surprises, and no one’s brought it up, is how well he’s done on the penalty kill,” Smith said. “He clears pucks, he’s got quick feet to loose pucks and he’s done a really good job there.

“He’s gotten way better on the power play, moving pucks and knowing where the puck has got to be. He’s gotten that second unit on the penalty kill and he’s done a really good job with it.”

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Twitter: @sungarrioch



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