Hope Remains for Senators, but it’s Dimming

Another pointlessly disappointing post-Christmas slog through winter and spring, or an unexpected turnaround on deck for a franchise much more used to the former?

As Tom Jones and Donny Osmond would sing – ‘I’m leavin’ it all up to you.’

Here we are; here we sit, in all-too-familiar territory for the perpetually troubled Ottawa Senators. Perpetually troubled since the organization made an unexpected leap to finish one goal away from the Stanley Cup final in 2017.

So here we sit. It’s early December, and really, the entire season is already on the line.

Heard this one before?

Yup. How about seven full seasons in a row of this.

If the team does indeed continue its stumble through yet another season, the Senators can look grimly look back at a set of games – at home no less – that punctured its tires. November was ugly. No questioning that. Ottawa was home for much of it and fashioned a five-loss, two-win record in the friendly confines.

On the heels of an okay October, the result and fallout could prove inescapable.

But.

Yes, there’s a ‘but.’

If the team regroups (a necessity, ya’ think?) and fashions a substantial improvement during the next week-and-change which includes five-of-six back at the Canadian Tire Centre, fortunes improve. Still with a decent run, Ottawa is going to need even more continued success in the coming months to negotiate a hope of returning to the post-season. Anything less than a rocket-ship start to the process and it’s game over. Again.

It is that urgent.

One of the more ridiculous assertations posted on chat boards concerning Ottawa and much of its upcoming competition is this: “If we beat these bottom-feeders, like we should, we’re on the way!”

‘Like we should?’

Various posters seem to forget that YOUR team is a bottom-feeder as well and the likelihood is that the other guy’s rooters are thinking and writing the same thing about you (Hello to the Detroit, Nashville, Anaheim, Pittsburgh and Islanders’ faithful).

If you haven’t made the playoffs since Erik Karlsson’s prime, don’t get ahead of yourself. And quite frankly, there hasn’t been a whole lot to get charged up and convinced about that the club is in store for a lengthy run of success.

But.

There’s that word again.

There is some hope. Not a lot, but a smidge.

The above-mentioned teams are part of the package deal Ottawa runs into during the next two weeks. The only team we left off that list is Carolina. Basically, because they’re Carolina, and Carolina’s owned Ottawa in recent years.

The Senators start this potentially intriguing stretch of games Thursday against the Red Wings. Back-to-back home games this coming weekend comes Nashville then the Isles. Ottawa entertains Anaheim next Wednesday, heads to Raleigh on the Friday then it’s another back-to-back engagement as the Penguins roll in on their walkers that Saturday.

Of the bunch, Pittsburgh, the Islanders and the Wings are three of the clubs Ottawa will need to walk past in order to compete for a playoff spot.

‘I’m leavin’ it all up to you.’

The journey begins.

THOUGHT, SEEN AND HEARD: Due to the upcoming world junior tournament in Ottawa, the Senators will be living out of a suitcase after the Penguins’ visit. Ottawa’s looking at nine in a row on the road . . . On that journey, the Senators get a string of games in Vancouver, Edmonton (the very next night), Winnipeg, Minnesota and Dallas . . . No words are necessary . . . GM Steve Staios needs to figure out what to do with the Artem Zub situation. He’s got a lot of miles on that frame and Zub’s become injury prone . . . Reinforcements are needed because that blueline is now paper-thin . . . Rumours persist that help could be on the way from one of the California teams . . . Vancouver’s also chasing help for its blueline after Filip Hronek went down and is listed as out for the next eight weeks . . . Great point from HNIC’s Elliotte Friedman on the Brady Tkachuk debate. Essentially, Elliotte said – careful what you wish for (a trade), ‘because you’ll never get that kind of package back here again’ . . . To the Tkachuk naysayers: We could swap him out for Filip Zadina or Jesperi Kotkaniemi if you like . . . One bright spot for Ottawa has been the improved performance of Linus Ullmark. Hope springs eternal. It also rests on Ullmark’s shoulders . . . The Leafs currently lead the Atlantic Division standings. Most importantly, Craig Berube’s guys are leading the division and Eastern Conference with a sterling 2.54 goals-against average. Next up in the East is New Jersey at 2.71. That’s impressive . . . Can’t say enough about the signing of Anthony Stolarz. The giant of a man has been consistently excellent . . . The Winnipeg Jets are coming back down to Earth. Still – and a good lesson for Ottawa – that sensational start to the season has them all but assured of a playoff rung.

OTTAWA SENATORS WEEK AHEAD:

Thursday, Dec. 5: Detroit at Ottawa (7 pm)

Saturday, Dec. 7: Nashville at Ottawa (7 pm)

Sunday, Dec. 8: NY Islanders at Ottawa (5 pm)

thegrossgame@yahoo.com