SNAPSHOTS: The Senators’ Egor Sokolov had an old friend with him when he made his NHL debut

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Call it a night to remember Egor Sokolov.

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As the Ottawa Senators prepared to hit the ice at TD Garden Tuesday night, Sokolov, 22, was in the hallway with his old friend. Drake Batherson , waiting for the green light to take a rookie lap before the club lost a 3-2 decision to the Boston Bruins.

Yes, Sokolov, called by the club’s AHL affiliate on Monday to prepare for his first NHL game, would have scheduled a better result than the final score, however this is something he will not soon forget. Sometimes hockey isn’t about the result, it’s about the journey it took to get there, and that’s the case with Sokolov.

“It’s a dream come true,” Sokolov said Tuesday. “It doesn’t matter what team it is, but Boston is a very good team to play your first NHL game against.”

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It was good that Sokolov was able to share this moment with Batherson. The two played alongside the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the Quebec Greater Hockey League in the 2017-18 campaign. They weren’t just teammates, they were roommates and friends.

The 23-year-old Batherson was just a teenager at the time, but he helped Sokolov adjust to the North American lifestyle when he reported to Cape Breton from Russia.

“It was unbelievable,” Batherson said after the game. “I remember the first day he arrived in Canada, he couldn’t speak a single bit of English, and I took him under my wing and was using Google Translate to communicate with him.

“I played on their junior line, so we went back four years ago, so it’s crazy how quickly time has passed. I was super excited for him, I know how much he loves the game and (Tuesday) it meant the world to him. He has worked very hard to get here and it sure was very good. “

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There will be a time when the club’s 61st pick in the 2020 NHL draft will be a full-time player here. It may not be now, but he did well in his debut with 7:32 ice time. In the future, Sokolov will win the coach’s trust DJ blacksmith , but will need more work with the Belleville coach Troy mann and its staff.

Batherson and Sokolov talked about their good times together while waiting for the warm-up. He is the 150th player in franchise history to make his debut with the club.

“I can recall so many memories of when he first came here,” Batherson said. “See how far he has come with his game, as a person and even with his English because he speaks perfect English. I couldn’t speak a lick before and it was great to be here.

“We were in the tunnel probably four or five minutes before the warm-up and talking about the past years, how we played together in junior and now we are here in the Garden against the Bruins together. Today we have lunch together and we just chat. It was a very special day and I was very happy to be here. “

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GOOD NIGHT TO BRANNY

Blueliner Erik brannstrom He played 14:52 on his season debut after being called up from Belleville and it was solid.

It ended with a uniform rating and all the senators want is for Brannstrom to keep it simple. It was not an easy night at the Garden with both teams trying to pick up the pace and doing their best.

“It was a physical game, probably a more physical game than it’s been in a long time, and that’s part of that because you have to go back and have a drink. He took a few for us, and we don’t want him to take as many hits, but in a game like tonight there was a lot of contact, “Smith said.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Cheryl Pounder, A TSN broadcast analyst in Ottawa, she was a guest on the Postmedia Senators Panel on Wednesday and has been keeping a close eye on Brannstrom.

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Pounder has also seen it on the AHL when she flushed on the Toronto Marlies broadcasts.

“He doesn’t put any strain on the way he skates and he’s an elite record player when he keeps it simple,” Pounder said. “You have to know that part of knowing exactly what you bring in when you are trying to deliver as a young player and you are moving in and out of the lineup. It’s great for walking the line and using your speed.

“One area that he has to work on is below the pad marks. He has big feet and he has to use those feet to defend, and that’s a gift that he really has. He has to use his feet to have a good defensive positioning and his stick. We all know that you can move it and if you can calm that area using your feet, it will be of great use to you. “

LET’S NOT FORGET IT

On this Day of Remembrance, take a moment to pause and remember those who fought, fought, and gave their lives for our country. It will be a good thing that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted this year so veterans can attend the National Remembrance Ceremony as long as they wear masks.

If you have time on Thursday, attend a Remembrance Day ceremony in your area of ​​town or take a moment at the 11th hour on the 11th of the month to think about what this means. Let’s not forget it.

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Twitter: @sungarrioch