Senators Set to Storm Nationwide Arena in Clash with Blue Jackets
As the Ottawa Senators prepare to face off against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, fans are cautiously optimistic despite recent performances. The Senators, who have shown a mix of resilience and vulnerability in their past few games, will need to harness every ounce of their tenacity come game night.
In their last outing on March 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Senators managed a respectable 21 hits and blocked an impressive 30 shots. However, they struggled on power plays, failing to convert any of their five opportunities. Their shooting percentage was a modest eight percent from 26 shots. This lackluster offensive display was compounded by a -5 plus-minus rating for the team.
The Senators' goaltending has been commendable with a save percentage rounding up to one hundred percent but was not enough to secure victory as they conceded three goals during play and one empty-netter for a total of four goals against them. The loss can be attributed partly to their inability to capitalize on power plays and an overall inconsistent offensive effort.
Looking back at another recent game on February 28 against the Nashville Predators, it's clear that special teams could be Ottawa's Achilles heel or its secret weapon. While they scored once from six power-play chances that day and won all faceoffs during those opportunities – an area where improvement is evident compared to their performance against Philadelphia – it wasn't enough as they lost with three points compared to Nashville's four.
However, there is hope when examining Ottawa’s performance versus Arizona Coyotes on March 2. Despite losing by two points (three for OTT versus five for ARI), there were flashes of brilliance: Ottawa took more shots (37), had more assists (6), won more faceoffs (34), and had fewer giveaways than Arizona.
The upcoming match presents an opportunity for redemption as well as showcasing improvements made since these past games. The key lies in maintaining strong defensive play while finding consistency in scoring—especially during power plays—and reducing giveaways which have plagued them recently.
Fans should expect head coach D.J. Smith to emphasize discipline; avoiding penalties will be crucial given that Columbus might exploit any lapses in judgment just like previous opponents did.
With all eyes set towards March 14 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time at Nationwide Arena, supporters can catch all the action live on ESPN+ via internet streaming or BSOH TV network broadcasts. It's time for the Senators’ players like Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot among others, who have shown individual moments of excellence this season, to step up collectively if they wish not only win but also make a statement about what this team is truly capable of achieving when firing on all cylinders.