If you are someone who uses the term “panic meter” in your daily vocabulary now would be the time to check it. The Ottawa Senators kicked off their five game homestand on Friday night, but it began the same way their six game road trip ended, with a loss.
The losing streak is now at five for the Senators and this was not even against an elite team. The Islanders came into tonight with the 22nd ranked defense and the 25th ranked offense. Despite facing that anemic defense, Ottawa only managed to get 24 shots on goal tonight. Center Jason Spezza managed just one of those 24 shots during tonight’s contest.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of this losing streak is that the team was playing so well in mid-January. Wins over Toronto, the Rangers and the Penguins justified the contender status the team was riding. Now they have gone from contender to a team simply trying to hang on.
When you let defenseman Mark Eaton score his first goal in 121 games you know something is wrong. The Senators host the Maple Leafs Saturday night in a game televised on CBC. If the All-Stars don’t realize the break is over and the season is back on then the losing streak may extend to six.
