Despite putting a pair of their most impressive victories this season, the Ottawa Senators remain 10 points out of a playoff spot. With 29 games remaining, the team is more than aware of the work to be done to get them to them into the “Dance” as goalie James Reimer said after Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
“We’ve got guys in here, you know, not selfish. They work hard and they bring it every day, shift in and shift out again. It’s just kind of like a microcosm, you know, the game tonight. I think that’s what’s pretty special with this group, and we’re gonna keep chugging along here, one game at a time, and and we do what we can to get into the dance.
With little available on the goaltender market and needing to bring in a veteran backstop during Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence, Senators general manager Steve Staios signed the 37-year-old free agent to a one-year deal January 12 after Reimer had originally agreed to a Professional Try-out with Belleville, Ottawa’s American League affiliate.
The Manitoba resident had one sub-par outing versus Carolina Saturday, but has been steady over his four other starts. Reimer is currently sporting a 2-2-1 record, 3.05 goals against average, .874 save percentage.
Senators’ Cousins shines
Not an unlike several players on the Senators roster, Nick Cousins is a virtual Swiss Army Knife. Cousins can play throughout the lineup and fill multiple roles as necessary. Elevated from the fourth line to the left side of Shane Pinto and Michael Amadio two games ago, Cousins is aiding his linemates in fulfilling a shutdown role on the club’s third line.
The line held the league’s second leading scorer Nate Mackinnon off the score sheet Wednesday, while Cousins added a nifty goal of his own. Playing a season high 16:44, the Belleville native received an Artem Zub stretch pass, drove to the net, depositing a backhand past Avalanche netminder Mackenzie Blackwood.
The goal was the 32-year-old’s seventh, surpassing last season’s six. Cousins currently stands at 15 points in 52 games, the same number points accumulated his past two NHL campaigns.
Senators head coach Travis Green explained his reasoning for shifting Cousins to his team’s shutdown trio and of his importance to his team.
“Pints’ ( Shane Pinto) line was just playing okay since he came back from his injury and I decided to put “Cuz” there. He’s played up the lineup before in his career, and give him full credit, he’s taken advantage of it, and he’s playing extremely well. He’s a real smart player. He’s annoying on a daily basis. He’s a fun player to coach. His teammates love him, and I don’t think people understand how smart of a player is. He really understands the small areas of the game, and he’s brave. That’s one area of his game where, if you’re going to be good and you’re going to be good in tight areas, you’ve got to be brave.”
Cousins too, is relishing his new-found role, “So just whoever they put me with, seems like we’ve had a rotation on the fourth line for a while there. But, you know, just try. And it doesn’t matter who I’m playing with or how many minutes I get, just try and bring energy, momentum, if we’re not scoring. But mainly just energy and momentum and make it hard on their “D” and set the other lines up. So I think obviously, playing with “Pints” and “Ammo” (Michael Amadio), it’s a little bit different. You’re on the ice a little bit more, and then you’re fighting against the other team’s top line. So it’s a fun challenge.”
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Greig finding offense
Known more for pesky side, Ridly Greig is amping up is offense of late. Mainly since Green added Greig to the right side of Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens nine games ago, the Senators have posted a 5-2-2 mark.
Taking off offensively, Greig has registered three goals, six assists over the past eight games, and is a plus-nine during this period. Since December 23, the Senators 2020 28th overall Draft selection has posted seven goals, seven assists in 18 games, that’s 14 of his season’s total (25 points).
There’s little doubt, Greig will likely reach his career high 13 goals, 34 points in short order.
Recently on “Sens 360” Greig attributed his success to his linemates. The trio has combined for 28 points since being united January 14 in New York.
“I feel like we’ve had a lot of o-zone time lately. We usually have three guys around the net too. All of us have been playing good hockey lately.”
Cozens complemented his newest linemate Tuesday post-practice, “He plays the game the right way, does the little things really well. He’s strong in battles. He’s not scared of taking it around the net or around the greasy areas, and he’s really smart with the puck. He has really good vision, and he was able to find us. So it’s been great playing with him.”
The Senators will need continue to need contributions from all players when they face the New Jersey Devils at the Canadian Centre Saturday.
