Latest news with #Zetterlund
New York Times
18-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ottawa's Game 1 lineup vs. Toronto? Where does Zetterlund fit? Senators playoff mailbag
It's our final mailbag of the regular season. Bring on the playoffs. Senators fans are measuring their playoff expectations, but some are also looking to the future with $18 million-plus in cap space this offseason. Plus, questions on Tim Stützle, Fabian Zetterlund, that first-round pick and more. Questions have been condensed and edited for clarity. What are reasonable expectations? Should we be content with making the playoffs and going out in the first round? Thank goodness Buffalo isn't a potential first-round match-up. — Bradley C. Never be satisfied with just getting into the playoffs. If you're in it, you have every right to hope your team can go far and exceed expectations. That being said, I think the Senators are playing with house money. They accomplished their goal of making the playoffs, so anything they get from here on out is a bonus. From top to bottom, the organization has fully embraced being an underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Advertisement I also believe their expectations and hopes would've differed depending on the opponent. If Ottawa drew Florida or Tampa Bay in the first round, we would probably look at it as an opportunity for the Sens to learn lessons against proven Cup-contending teams. But that Battle of Ontario rivalry changes everything. Imagine if the Sens can't handle the Leafs after dominating them in the regular season? I'm not sure how much solace the organization and its fanbase would take in that. While the Leafs are favoured to win, I think Sens fans have every right to be confident. The regular season games matter little, but there are elements from those games that are worth hanging on to. The prime goaltending performances from Linus Ullmark. Shane Pinto neutralizing Auston Matthews earlier this season. Jake Sanderson is the best defenceman on either side. Brady Tkachuk is an X-factor as long as he's healthy. For those wondering after Thursday night, he says he's got 'no issues.' I'll tell you this much: the Senators likely won't be as loose as they were in their 7-5 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. I expect the Senators to commit to a tightened, defensive-minded style against the Leafs. Those factors are enough for me to pick Ottawa to beat Toronto in seven games, even if I'm concerned with their penalty kill and third-pairing on defence (we'll get to that later on). I could be wrong, sure. But the pressure's on the Maple Leafs to get over the hump. It's not on Ottawa. Will Fabian Zetterlund be a regular top-six come the playoffs? — R.F. I think Thursday night's game against the Hurricanes provided a good window into how Zetterlund can be used for the playoffs, even if he doesn't start as a regular top-six forward. Zetterlund began the game on a fourth line with Adam Gaudette and Nick Cousins and he provided an instant impact, even if he didn't get a point. Advertisement That game-opening goal from Gaudette started because of a forecheck by Cousins and Zetterlund, limiting time and space for the Hurricanes defender in front. If it wasn't for Zetterlund being a second man in, the Canes probably use the right-side wall to advance the puck. Instead, they lose the puck in the neutral zone after Gaudette laid a hit on a Canes forward. Cousins then claims possession, regroups briefly before finding Gaudette. A team effort from the Senators' fourth line on that goal. Adam Gaudette makes it look easy. 😏 — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 17, 2025 'He's fast, man,' Gaudette said of Zetterlund Thursday night. 'He gets the pucks real quick. He holds on to them, too. He's hard to knock off the puck. Obviously, he's got a ton of skill as well and he can make a bunch of plays. Having him on your wing is something real nice to have.' But once the Sens eased off the gas pedal and allowed the Hurricanes to get back in the game, the Sens changed their lines. Zetterlund then got bumped up to a line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson. In the third period, he used his speed to drive to the net before Batherson finished the play and tied the game midway through the third. Zetterlund ended the game with four shots, with three in the third period. 'Their line was great in the third period,' coach Travis Green said. '(He) gave them a spark.' Batherson finishes an unreal sequence by Zetterlund!! #GoSensGo Cozens also has his second two point night in a row. This line has found instant chemistry. Zetterlund's ability to force turnovers is really standing out. — Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) April 18, 2025 In Zetterlund, the Sens have a quick-paced, physical presence who can chip in at both ends of the ice and move up and down the lineup. If the Senators need to put him with Tim Stützle, they can do that. Need him on the second line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson? He's now shown he can do that. I have him projected on the Senators' fourth line to start the playoffs. But he's proven he can be effective there, too. If the going gets tough and Zetterlund continues to be effective, you have a secret weapon you can deploy at either wing in your lineup. Since we're here, we might as well look at that projected roster. Considering the Senators' relative playoff inexperience, I expect the Sens to lean on as much familiarity as possible. But as evidenced by Thursday night's game, they can make changes to their advantage on the fly. One more thing: Let's look at that third pairing with Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo. I know Green was mum about his third pairing when he was asked, but that's at least what I expect to see for Game 1 Sunday. Kleven and Matinpalo are inexperienced compared to Travis Hamonic. But Matinpalo has better mobility with or without the puck and can help with zone entries. That being said, Green has leaned on Hamonic's experience throughout the season. Particularly when injuries have affected their backline. I wouldn't be surprised if he drew into the lineup. But I think Kleven-Matinpalo is the better play here. Advertisement Should we be worried about Stützle's lack of scoring? He had 39 goals in 22/23 and now 39 goals in his last 150 games. I know he's still an elite player, just curious what may be driving that. — Chris Z. If Stützle is playing well defensively and setting up his teammates for points, I think that's fine. As mentioned above to the first question, I think the Sens could still use another player to ease that goalscoring burden off of him. I wouldn't be worried, as he's still a primary point-getter who's just trying to be a great player at both ends of the ice. Just like everyone else, I think he needs to shoot more. He acknowledged that his confidence had much to do with it in recent games. I think his commitment to playing more defence has also played a role in his goal-scoring dip, but he'd still have more goals if he shot the puck more. So, Stützle is still performing like a high-end player. He's just trying to do that at both ends of the ice. Pretend you're Steve Staios. Given the Sens' current position in the standings, do you give up our first-round pick in 2025 or wait until 2026? What factors are most likely to influence your decision? — Matt B. When I asked owner Michael Andlauer about their first-round pick last week, he said he still hoped the NHL would ease up on the punishment doled out in 2023. And while it's Staios' decision, he'd lean toward keeping the first-round pick this year. If the NHL changes its mind (and we don't know if they will), my prediction is the Senators get the last pick of the first round in 2026. That's what happened with the New Jersey Devils and the first-rounder they kept after they were penalized for salary cap circumvention in 2010. At first, I thought about relinquishing the 2025 pick and keeping the 2026 one because of the potential of the draft class. But if the Senators improve again next year, they could get a lower first-round pick. If it all works out, and the Buffalo Sabres don't take a step next year, the Sens' second-round pick could still have some value. I get the logic in keeping the pick and holding out hope the NHL shows mercy. Advertisement With the amount of cap space the Sens are going to have in the next few years ($18 million next year before Claude Giroux signs), can you see them going after a big UFA like a Mitch Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers or Brock Boeser? — Kirk G. I don't see the Senators getting in on the Mitch Marner sweepstakes with teams like Chicago and San Jose prepared to throw the bag at him. Marner might also favour a veritable contending team like the Vegas Golden Knights. They are projected to have $9.6 million available in cap space this summer, but they're always ready to make a move to acquire a guy who fits their team. Brock Boeser? I didn't get the sense that the Senators were interested in him ahead of the trade deadline. So I'm very curious if they revert course. That leaves Nikolaj Ehlers, who's battling a foot injury and is week-to-week for the playoffs. Also, if he doesn't stay in Dallas, would they make a run at Mikael Granlund on an affordable deal? The Claude Giroux question is fascinating. PuckPedia projected Giroux's next contract with an annual average value between $4.85 and $5 million. But does Ottawa want to spend that on a 37-year-old winger? Also, what does Giroux want to do after this season ends? I think we'll need to wait on that. There's also Fabian Zetterlund, who will need a new contract. I think we'll see the Sens do a series of smaller moves instead of one big splash. A winger and a depth defenceman are needed. Also, will the Sens try the trade route again? They did it at the deadline while being close to the cap ceiling. Will they do it again? (Photo of Drake Batherson and Linus Ullmark celebrating Thursday's win over Carolina: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ottawa Senators headed back to playoffs for first time since 2017 despite loss to Jackets
Eight is enough. The Ottawa Senators headed back to the National Hockey League playoffs for the first time since 2017. They couldn't have done it without a little help from their friends. The Senators weren't very good and looked a little jittery in a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena as the club's three-game winning streak came to halt. Only winger Fabian Zetterlund and Thomas Chabot were able to score for the Senators. Goaltender Anton Forsberg wasn't at his best. As a result of the loss in Game No. 78, the Senators were forced to keep an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard. A loss by the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Tuesday would also clinch a spot for Ottawa. Thankfully for the Senators, the Habs pulled off a 4-1 victory over the Wings, which will allow Ottawa to participate in the playoffs for the first time since the club advanced to Game 7 of the East final in 2017. 'You're not going to see me smile a whole lot after a loss, but man it feels great,' Chabot told TSN 1200's Gord Wilson. 'It definitely does. Everybody, the whole group from top-to-bottom, took a huge step this year. 'Everybody did whatever they could every single night to get into the playoffs, and now that it's confirmed, we've still got some games to play, but the whole group is fired up. We can't wait to go at it.' This was the final road game for the Senators, with the club closing out the regular season with four straight at home. The Senators came into this game with an 18-18-4 road record and were trying to finish with a mark above .500 for the first time since 2017. The Jackets were a different team than the one we saw on Sunday in Ottawa with top goalie Elvis Merzlikins in net. Ottawa came into this game with a 13-4-2 record since March 1, but they just didn't look good. The Jackets were ahead 3-1 through 40 minutes and the Senators weren't able to find their game. 'I feel good for our team, our players and our fans,' said coach Travis Green. 'I am proud of our players. They deserve to be in the playoffs this year. This is something we talked about all summer, heading into training camp about where we wanted to be at this time of year. 'It's not easy to make the playoffs, as Ottawa feels, but every year every team goes into the season wanting to make it and only half the league does.' Mathieu Olivier restored the two-goal lead heading to the third when the puck took a fortunate bounce off his skate and by Forsberg with only 22 seconds left in the period. Zetterlund's first with the Senators in 16 games came on the powerplay at 16:18 of the second to pull Ottawa to within a goal. He was on the doorstep to beat Merzlikins. 'I've been shooting a lot and working hard. Finally, the puck is in the net,' Zetterlund told TSN's Matt Cullen after the second period. The Senators didn't get off to a good start and dug themselves a hole. They were trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, and both were the result of turnovers. A 2-on-1 allowed the Jackets to extend their lead at 16:38 of the first when Justin Danfort beat Forsberg on the glove side. The Jackets ended the club's shutout string at 160 minutes. A turnover and a bad start allowed Dmitri Voronkov to open the scoring seven minutes into the first period with a blast from the slot. The Senators swore they weren't nervous heading into the game. 'It doesn't feel as good after a game like that, but we've been through some s— here and some tough years,' Tim Stutzle said. 'I'm just really proud of the guys, and how we all hung in here. 'I don't think there is a team who deserves it more than us. We worked really hard this year, and we've just got to keep going.' The Senators went back to Forsberg after Linus Ullmark posted a shutout against Columbus on Sunday. Forsberg made 39 stops in a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. He came into this game with a 6-3-1 record in his last 10 starts with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Ullmark has had a heavy workload, and this gives him a chance to have a good break before the Habs come to town on Friday. The club was without captain Brady Tkachuk for the fifth straight game. He didn't make the trip to Columbus, and continues to be hampered by an upper-body injury he suffered 10 days ago. 'To find out we're in the dance we're pretty excited,' said Drake Batherson. 'Some of us have been at it seven or eight years, we're really proud of the group and everybody in the organization is really excited.' Batherson said he expected to hear from Tkachuk in the group chat. The club announced that single game playoff tickets will on sale sometime between April 15-to-April 18. bgarrioch@
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Senators shouldn't be concerned about Fabian Zetterlund's slow start
OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios knew he needed to help his team when it came to scoring goals at five-on-five. With the Senators spending most of the season near the bottom of the league in goals at even strength, a change was necessary. Once the dust settled by 3 p.m. ET on March 7, Staios had pulled the trigger on two deals that netted him two players who offered reinforcements: centre Dylan Cozens and winger Fabian Zetterlund. Advertisement 'Those two players should help in that regard,' Staios said that day. The Senators have since emerged from the NHL's trade deadline as winners, mostly thanks to Cozens's seemingly seamless transition into the organization. Both men were surprised to be traded for different reasons. Cozens's familiarity with Sens players and staff has helped his process, and he's found a home on a productive line alongside David Perron and Drake Batherson. Cozens already has one goal and six points at even strength since joining the Senators. It is in contrast to Zetterlund's time, where he still seeks his first goal as a Senator. The Swede has one point in 13 games with the Senators, including Thursday night's 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Canadian Tire Centre. Zetterlund had one shot on goal in a win where defence ruled the night. Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto and Michael Amadio were used late to keep Nikita Kucherov and his points streak off the scoresheet, while Linus Ullmark made 31 saves. But ultimately, Zetterlund is still looking to light the lamp. Zetterlund is trying his best not to be frustrated. 'I swear a lot in Swedish on the bench,' Zetterlund said Wednesday. 'I feel like all Swedish guys do that. At the end of the day, I play my best when I don't think out there. I just got to go back to that. 'It's going to come. The guys support me really good in the locker room. It's about time.' The winger didn't have the same ties to the Senators as Cozens did when he joined. Zetterlund didn't have any tangible connections with the Sens' Swedish netminders Ullmark and Anton Forsberg, nor with their team talisman turned assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson. 'Too young,' Alfredsson joked. Cozens also filled a hole vacated by Josh Norris' departure on the second line. By comparison, it took Zetterlund more time to climb into the Senators' top six after starting on the fourth line with Adam Gaudette and Matthew Highmore. Advertisement 'He came into a team where we were winning at the time, and then didn't want to change up the lines and everybody's been playing well,' Alfredsson said. But the Senators have tried to acclimate him, specifically through their superstar centre Tim Stützle, who offered to show him around Ottawa and even arranged to get him a haircut. 'We're a lot of fun together. (We) hang out all the time. So it's been awesome,' Stützle said. On the ice, both men have worked hard at creating plays for each other. Stützle is a dynamic passer who can skate into the offensive zone effortlessly, usually through his patented drives up the wing. But whether in the offensive or neutral zone, Stützle seems to be making a concerted effort to find Zetterlund on the ice, as he continues to learn his game. Zetterlund just wants to be accommodating. 'I want to be more like a shooter,' Zetterlund told The Athletic in Detroit last week. 'And just find the open spots out there. Hold on to the puck, be strong on it down low and create space for (Stützle). Zetterlund has yet to score, but he's manufactured chances from in close. Not long after the Sens acquired him, coach Travis Green described him as an 'inside player.' Entering Thursday night's action, Zetterlund had a 60.71 high-danger chance rating at five-on-five through 12 games. Zetterlund's high-danger rating per game has fallen below 57.14 just four times since his arrival, according to Natural Stat Trick. He just needs to finish. Zetterlund's ability to play at the net and notching high-danger chances is part of his tantalizing skill set. Despite being 5-foot-11, Zetterlund is strong enough to win puck battles against opposing forwards and maintain offensive zone possessions. He can back-check and block shots with the same hustle he brings offensively. Zetterlund blocked three shots against the Lightning on Thursday and threw two hits. In the first period, Zetterlund fought off the towering Victor Hedman and forced a neutral zone turnover, leading to some offensive zone time. Zetterlund forces Hedman to turn it over, then Giroux misplays a Stützle pass and Tampa goes the other way. #GoSensGo — Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) April 3, 2025 On the power play, the Sens have him in the bumper spot — a prime area where he's been getting his chances. Zetterlund can also play left and right wing, having already alternated on the top line with Claude Giroux. '(Giroux's) played a little more right. So, I let the older guy decide where he wants to play,' Green said. Advertisement If Zetterlund needed inspiration on how to handle a goalscoring drought, some of his teammates could help. Drake Batherson played through two 10-game goal-less dry spells, but he did everything he could to keep things 'light,' from walking his dogs to playing Xbox. Shane Pinto had a 15-game pointless drought and a 19-game goalless skid through mid-December. The best piece of advice he got was to not stray from his everyday routine. 'When you're an athlete you want to do so well, you care about the results,' Pinto said in December. 'But I think when you worry about the results too much that's when they don't come. Just stick with the process, and eventually it'll all turn. I think I'm just not worrying about the results, I think that's been a main point of emphasis for me.' Those skids ended two days after he said that, by the way. Ironically, Pinto also broke a 10-game goalless streak on Thursday night against Tampa. Zetterlund, however, already took a page out of Stützle's playbook by getting that haircut. The German forward got his own after a three-game pointless streak in January. Stützle not only broke his streak but scored the Senators' first goal in 148 minutes. 'The big thing for guys that haven't scored is 'are you getting chances?'' Green said. 'I'd have a lot more concern if he wasn't. He's probably led our team in chances since we put him with (Stützle). I'm confident that the puck's going to go in. It's easy to say to a player to relax and stay confident and just keep doing what you're doing. But in reality, that's all you can do. There's no sense putting added pressure on yourself. You're getting chances; they've gone in before, they'll go in again.' Green's vote of confidence is among the many Zetterlund has received from the team in the last few days. Stützle mentioned last Thursday that Zetterlund getting his first point would help with his confidence. Captain Brady Tkachuk said he's likely to score a big goal in a big moment. Even Alfredsson praised his skills. Advertisement 'I think he's done a good job and has gotten better game after game,' Alfredsson said. 'I think it's just a matter of time until he gets more comfortable on and off the ice.' Some fans and onlookers still feel concerned. But Zetterlund has shown that there shouldn't be too much reason to worry if he continues to show off the abilities that made him a worthwhile addition in the first place. 'Of course, I think about it, a little bit,' Zetterlund said when asked about his scoring woes. 'At the end of the day, it's just hockey out there. I've played it my whole life, and it's not that hard.'
New York Times
23-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Brady Tkachuk's health under the microscope in Senators win over Devils: 3 takeaways
The play looked harmless, yet revealing. Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk received a pass at centre ice while being marked by New Jersey Devils defenceman Brett Pesce. As he turned and lost the puck, he leaned forward. As he lifted himself, he put a hand on his left hip before wincing and heading to the bench in pain. Senators fans had every right to feel nervous and wonder when or if the Senators would rest him. Advertisement But Tkachuk returned to the Senators bench at the start of the second period. He scored a goal a little over four minutes in and the Senators never trailed in a 3-2 win over the Devils. That sums up Tkachuk's return since the 4 Nations Face-Off: an integral piece to the Senators' puzzle who is producing while playing through pain. 'He's a competitive guy,' Senators head coach Travis Green said. 'Loves winning, loves competing, loves his teammates. He's everything you want in a young captain.' Tkachuk's health has been under the microscope since he returned from the 4 Nations break. Tkachuk suffered an injury during Team U.S.A.'s final round-robin game against Team Sweden. Right after the event, he told the Spittin' Chiclets podcast that his 'body's not feeling too great,' before missing his team's first two games out of the break. Weeks later, Tkachuk couldn't finish a March 13 game against the Boston Bruins after he 'tweaked' his hip according to Green. And then, one day after a below-standard performance against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, Tkachuk was asked if he was '100 percent healthy.' 'Yup, I'm good,' Tkachuk replied. Tkachuk finished the game but only played a season-low 13:23 in the victory with most of his third-period shifts lasting around 30 seconds. Only the fourth-line trio of Adam Gaudette, Matthew Highmore and Michael Amadio played fewer minutes for the Sens. Tkachuk added two hits, three shots and one blocked shot in the victory. Until the Senators accomplish their season-long goal of making the playoffs, their leader's health — specifically his hip — will be under close watch. Good things happen when Brady's battling in front of the net 💪#GoSensGo — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 23, 2025 The Senators finally gave Zetterlund a proper opportunity on their top line on Saturday alongside Tkachuk and Tim Stützle. The Swedish forward was given a quick audition during the Sens' blowout loss to the Avalanche earlier this week. But Green changed his lineup ahead of the matchup, putting Zetterlund up top and moving Claude Giroux down to a third-line role with Shane Pinto and Ridly Greig. Advertisement 'I think we have a good fit, good chemistry, (we're) strong on pucks all of us,' Zetterlund said ahead of the game against the Devils. 'Tim (Stützle) likes to hold on to it, skate around with it. I've just got to find an open spot. 'We're going to fit each other good, we're going to bring it tonight.' Zetterlund performed well enough on the top line, firing two shots on net with a 52.63 Corsi rating at five-on-five. He didn't record a point, but he helped create space on Tkachuk's opening goal in the second period and created plays with Stützle. However, the winger hasn't recorded a point in his first seven games with the Senators — his longest points drought of the 2024-25 season. Those points can still come for Zetterlund, so it's not quite panic time yet. But he should still keep his spot on the top line ahead of the Sens' next game against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Speaking of Sabres, in this case, former Sabres, Dylan Cozens has seven points in his first eight games with the Senators. Giroux didn't look out of place on the Senators' new-look third line with Greig and Pinto. They performed the best at five-on-five of all four lines with a 57.14 Corsi rating, Giroux's line also had the best expected goals for rate (0.76) and produced more high-danger chances than any other line. 'We played the way we wanted to, we played to our identity,' Giroux said of his team's performance. 'We had everybody going tonight. It's a good hockey club on the other side. It wasn't our best game, but we played well enough to get the win. Giroux played the most minutes of any Sens forward (21:32) and chipped in a power-play assist on David Perron's goal. All three Senators' goals were second-period net-front redirects. It made up for a weird first-period miss where Giroux stickhandled around Devils goalie Jake Allen before losing the handle on the puck. Devils forward Curtis Lazar kept the puck out with his stick. 'They get a big goal for us tonight,' Green said. 'You need that.' It's been a week since Ullmark capped off his star week with a victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. You may remember him shutting down the Detroit Red Wings with 48 saves before making a save-of-the-year candidate at the expense of the Boston Bruins. But Ullmark looked fallible in his last two starts for the Sens, allowing four goals in each game against Montreal and Colorado, respectively. Green pulled Ullmark against the Avalanche after he allowed four goals on 13 shots in a losing effort. If the Sens were going to stop a losing skid in its track, it meant Ullmark having to step up. He did with a 25-save performance, but he'll likely thank defenceman Artem Zub for making the biggest save in the game's dying seconds. #NJDevils were *this* close to tying the game in the dying seconds. Looked like it might have been going in, but it hit Noesen's skate and he couldn't poke it in before Artem Zub cleared it. When it rains, it pours. — Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) March 23, 2025 Ullmark is now 7-4-1 in his last 12 games since returning from the 4 Nations break. His save percentage remains below .900 in that same period (.892 to be exact). But Green praised Ullmark for being 'dialed in.' 'Especially (in) the third,' Green said. 'You know when you're up a couple of goals the other team is going to push and they're going to push hard. And he made some big saves in the third.' (Photo of Brady Tkachuk celebrating his second-period goal: Ed Mulholland / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green shuffles lines after consecutive losses
Travis Green conducted what amounted to a Changing of the Guard on Friday. The Ottawa Senators head coach opted to shuffle the deck for practice at the Bell Sensplex after a listless 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Recently acquired winger Fabian Zetterlund made a meteoric rise from the fourth line to the first line for the National Hockey League club's 35-minute skate, but we'll have to wait to see if he stays there for Saturday night's game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Zetterlund, picked up in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, skated on the right side of centre Tim Stutzle and captain Brady Tkachuk. That spot had been occupied by veteran winger Claude Giroux, but he was moved to play with centre Shane Pinto and Ridly Greig. Michael Amadio was in Zetterlund's previous spot on the fourth line with Adam Gaudette and Matthew Highmore. The only line that stayed intact was the second unit of David Perron, Shane Pinto and Drake Batherson. Given the way the Senators collapsed in the third period of a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and caved in by trailing 4-0 only 20 minutes into the loss to the Avalanche, something has to change because Green can't roll with the same look again in New Jersey. Green was asked about getting Zetterlund more ice time before the Senators faced the Avalanche, and it appears that will be the case against New Jersey. 'We haven't liked our game. That's a big part of it,' Green said. 'When you don't win, you look for new answers. We'll see if it works or not.' Zetterlund has been scoreless in six games since he was acquired by the Senators, but he's played a mostly minimal role until he had 16 minutes of ice time against the Avalanche. How can Zetterlund help Tkachuk and Stutzle? Well, he had posted 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 64 games with the Sharks before being dealt. 'He's a good player. He's got good hands, he can shoot and he'll be a good rush complement to our game,' Green said. 'And you can tell that he gets excited to have the puck.' True enough. It's OK to stick with the status quo if you're having success, but the Senators have hit a bump in the road and Green is trying to see if he can give his group a spark. The Senators have been feast or famine at times this season — they lost five in a row in February before starting March with a six-game winning streak — and they need to halt this small skid immediately. With 14 games left on the schedule, their chance of making the playoffs for the first time in eight years remains strong and they remain in control of their destiny after going 7-2-1 record in the past 10 games. They've been assisted by the fact that, except for the Montreal Canadiens, none of the teams chasing them in the NHL's Eastern Conference are making pushes. Green has spent a lot of time making sure Senators players look forward and not back. They can't do anything about what's happened in the past and that has to be the mindset against the Devils. 'Because you lost two or three in a row, the next game doesn't count more than another game,' Green said. 'They all count. We want a team that wants to win badly and play their best hockey whether they've won six in a row or lost five in a row. 'Those are the types of teams that win in the long run. We don't want to lose the next game, but we're not going to try harder because of it. We want to try every night because we love winning and it's important.' The Senators will try to put Thursday's loss to the Avalanche in the rearview mirror. 'At this point of the season there is no panic,' Tkachuk said. 'You never want to lose big games down the stretch, but it happens and I know there will be a really good response on Saturday.' 'The Montreal loss stung in the fashion that it happened, and this one hurt in a different way. You get into a slippery slope if you go into Saturday thinking we're going to lose. That's not the case. We've got to put it behind us. It's a fresh game, a new opportunity for us to make an impact and get back to our winning ways.' The Senators could be buoyed by the return of veteran defenceman Nick Jensen, who has been dealing with a lower-body injury in recent months and has missed the past three games. He was a full participant in the skate on Friday and should be ready to return. 'I will check with the trainers here in a bit. I hope so,' Green said. 'He's a big part of our team and we miss him when he's out.' Defenceman Artem Zub didn't skate Friday, but Green said that it was a maintenance day for him. bgarrioch@ Ottawa Senators snowed under by Colorado Avalanche in awful loss Senators talks with NCC to finalize LeBreton Flats purchase 'making some progress'
