Welcome to the second edition of our ‘3 Up, 3 Down’ column for the 2022-23 Ottawa Senators. This series will be published each week, reflecting on the highs and lows from the previous seven days.
The Ottawa Senators were perfect in the second week of the season, improving their record to 3-2-0 with wins over the Boston Bruins (7-5), Washington Capitals (5-2), and Arizona Coyotes (6-2). They also avoided serious injuries, received solid goaltending, and have started to develop chemistry within their lines.
With that in mind, here are three positive and three negative developments from the week that was for the Senators and their fans. There’s plenty to unpack.
Plus 1: Senators Discover Scoring Touch
The Senators are on fire. Per Money Puck, each of Ottawa’s top three forward lines sits amongst the league’s top 20 units for expected goals share – a remarkable achievement for a team that is still building familiarity after a busy offseason:
| Forward Unit | Minutes Played | Expected Goals Share | League Rank (Minimum 30:00) |
| Brady Tkachuk Tim Stützle Drake Batherson | 59.4 | 73.2 | 5 |
| Josh Norris Claude Giroux Alex DeBrincat | 52.6 | 64.4 | 11 |
| Tyler Motte Shane Pinto Mathieu Joseph | 44 | 60 | 17 |
In addition to Pierre Dorion’s fine work in the summer, the Senators have benefited from composed instruction from head coach D.J. Smith – who has built a cohesive attack based on ferocious forechecking and a shoot-first mentality.
“We want to give [our opponents] no time and we want to play fast,” Smith said of his team’s approach.
Shane Pinto’s form has been especially impressive. While the likes of Tim Stützle and Claude Giroux were expected to dominate, the 21-year-old has been a breakout package for the Senators. He’s scored in each of his last four appearances and shows no signs of slowing down.
Free Newsletter
Get Ottawa Senators coverage delivered to your inbox
In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes - free.
Subscribe Free →
