TEMPE, Ariz. _ The Ottawa Senators hit the mid\u002Dpoint of the schedule Thursday night.
With an 18-19-3 record before facing the Arizona Coyotes in Game 41 at Mullett Arena, the Senators went into the game nine points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wildcard spot in the East.Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
“These next 10 games we want to be over .500 and just back to the brand of hockey that we want to play.”“Okay,” he said. “Not clearly what we wanted, but in saying that, with the guys that we’ve had out and some of the guys that have come in have played really well, but certainly we want to score more.
“What we create is 14th best in the league, but what we put in the net isn’t good enough,” Smith said. “We’re not bearing down on those chances. Let’s hope in the second half, we can score a few more ugly goals and put a few more points on the board.” The Senators have also had to deal with adversity. Top centre Josh Norris was lost in Game 5 with a shoulder injury. That has meant a bigger role for centre Tim Stutzle and vaulted rookie Shane Pinto into the No. 2 role.
Norris has been skating with the Senators for the last month but there’s still no timeline on his return. Although he opted to strengthen the shoulder through rehab after being told by specialists he didn’t need surgery, Norris isn’t ready.Advertisement 7“He keeps getting better. I talked to him, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on him,” Smith said. “We’ll see how he is and we’ll talk to him again.
The Senators are confident Stutzle will be a special player, and that’s why Dorion inked him to an eight-year extension in September.“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but that’s fair,” Smith said. “He’s only 20-years-old, he could still be playing as an overage in junior. At his age, with the compete level and where he’s at, if he keeps going on this trajectory, he’s going to be one of, if not the best, centre in the Eastern Conference at some point.
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