The Ottawa Senators returned the practice ice at the Bell Sensplex Monday after completing a stretch of six games in 10 days.
For the first time early this season the team can take a litle respite, reset and work on details of their game with four full days off between outings. And after a tough 4-3 overtime loss in Montreal Saturday, players welcome the short break.
Break time for the Senators
“I mean when the season starts, we want to play every other day. When it gets rolling, you want to do it, but times like this, you got to take advantage of that. It’s four days to take some time to do some some stuff in practice and get our game better and more detail. But at the same time, it’s taking advantage of getting some recovery and fixing the bumps and bruises, or just getting some rest and sleep , because when it gets going again, it’ll get going again.” said Thomas Chabot.
“It’s just obviously, no games at night. And you take advantage of that and relax, spend some time with the guys, with kids and families – spend a lot of time with them. And other than that, in practice, it’s showing up. It’s the same mindset we’ve always had, is come in intense and put the work in. But at the same time, like today, we worked on our special teams. We worked a lot on our D-Zone, on our exits and everything,.”
Not only did players work on special teams and exits, players were on the ice 45 minutes prior to pratice working on their edges with Technical Skating Specialist Shelley Kettles.
Drake Batherson: NHL Second Star of the Week
Drake Batherson’s errant cross-ice pass in Saturday’s OT cost the Senators a point, but there’s no denying his offensive numbers. Batherson is truly on a heater.
The 27-year-old is averaging 1.5 points per game, (15 points in 10 total games played), to lead the Senators in scoring. Over his past five-game span, no NHL player has recorded as many points as Batherson’s 11 (five goals, six assists). His three-goal, five-assist performance over the Senators past four games earned the right wing NHL Second Star of the Week honours.
Senators head coach Travis Green touched base on Batherson’s start to the season, “He’s found his game point-wise, is definitely producing. I thought he got out of the gate a little bit slow, but that’s to be expected when you haven’t had a training camp.”
Batherson missed the opening three games of the campaign after sustaining a pulled muscle in his upper body injury during a September 23rd practice.
On his success, Batherson noted, “I feel like I’m getting my legs back and, you know, just trying to play free and play with my instincts…not thinking too much, just trying to hunt pucks down, turn them over (to teammates). I think that’s what I’m playing my best, just putting pressure on their D, getting pucks back for for Timmy (Stützle) and (Dylan) Cozens, great offense that way. And yeah, we’ve been having a lot of O-Zone time, which has been leading the goals. So we just keep it going, keep grinding away.”
Batherson taketh, but giveth away
Batherson got the Senators on the board Saturday to launch a comeback after trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes. However, it was also his miscue in OT which led Alex Newhook’s game-winning brekaway marker.
Describing his errant pass, “It was a dumb mistake, really. I mean, they happen, but I should know better than that. But I’m not gonna ever not make another mistake again. I thought two guys were on me. I wasn’t sure where the other guy (Newhook) was, and then he just read it well. Give him credit, but I shouldn’t have laid it that soft. Had more time than I thought.”
Artem Zub a scorer?
In 56 games last season, Artem Zub registered 13 points (two goals, 11 assists). Just 13 games into the 2025-26 campaign, Zub has already compiled nine points (two goals, seven assists.) Last season the right-shot blueliner didn’t tally his ninth point until his 34th game.
So what is Zub doing different to increase point production?
“This year I try more to be in a better spot than I was, be available for forwards, (Jake) Sanderson, my partner. I try to like, take mental shots first, and then after, I try to find a pass.“
Zub recognizes the Senators coaching stuff wants to add more offense from the defense, “You know, coaches always want to delivery You know, sometimes I have a lane, but you always have to find a lane shot. I try looking straight to the net. If nothing, i try to make a pass.”
Nick Cousins answers the bell for the Senators
After Nick Cousins slashed Canadiens rookie standout Ivan Demidov on the wrist during preseason, drawing a fine from the league, the pesky Senators forward knew what to expect upon his return to the Bell Centre. Unfortunately, Cousins was on the receiving end of strong punch from Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble who is an inch or two taller and at least 16 pounds heavier.
Sporting a few stitches under his left eye, Cousins told assembled media including Hockey HotStove post-practice Monday,“I mean, it is what it is. Sometimes you got to answer the bell for for your actions. It is what is. Sometimes you’ve got to take answer the bell for your actions. I certainly Demidov is okay. It’s over with and kind of move on now.”
When asked if the fight with Struble was pre-emptive, Cousins commented, “He asked me a bunch of times. Figured I may wait till the third but yeah, I mean, it is what it is. I obviously figured that it was going to happen. So just kind of figured I’d wait, fight him on my own terms. When I thought the time was right, and it was 2-2 and got the fight there, and kind of got over it.”
Looking ahead to this week, the Senator head to Boston Thursday for their second matchup in over a week.The Senators pasted the Bruins 7-2 October 27 at the Canadian Tire Centre. The team plays a back-to-back on the weekend with games Saturday in Philadelphia, returning home Sunday to face the Utah Mammoth.
