The Ottawa Senators are building significant momentum as they approach the 20-game milestone of the NHL season, demonstrating the form that could secure a playoff position.
Western Road Trip Tests Team Momentum
The Senators embarked on their longest road trip of the season Tuesday, flying directly from Ottawa to Los Angeles without a preliminary skate. The team faces the Anaheim Ducks Thursday at Honda Center, which will mark the quarter point of their campaign.
With 19 games completed, Ottawa has compiled an impressive 9-6-4 record, putting them on track for approximately 95 points – a total that historically positions teams well for postseason contention.
Finding Their Identity After Slow Start
Veteran winger Nick Cousins highlighted the team's evolving understanding of their successful formula. "We're starting to figure out what works for us," Cousins stated following Monday's practice at Canadian Tire Centre. "We're getting great goaltending, and our defensive structure has been a lot better."
The team's improvement follows a challenging opening stretch where they managed only a 3-4-1 record through the first eight games. However, their recent performance tells a different story, with 7 wins in their last 13 outings (7-2-4).
Cousins emphasized the strategic adjustments: "We're not turning the puck over as much in the neutral zone. We're just kind of putting it in, going to work, and all four lines are playing the same way."
Overcoming Adversity and Building Consistency
The Senators have demonstrated resilience despite losing captain Brady Tkachuk to a thumb injury requiring surgery during the October 13 home opener against Nashville. Rather than faltering, the team has embraced the challenge.
Head coach Travis Green has successfully reinstated the "200-foot game" that propelled Ottawa to its first playoff appearance in eight years last spring. Cousins acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining that standard: "Having the success that we had last year and then coming in this year, I think we all thought maybe we were gonna pick up where we left off."
He credited increased video analysis and practice sessions with helping the team rediscover their identity. "At 20 games, now, there are no excuses because we know what we need to do," Cousins affirmed.
The Senators look to build on their recent success as they continue their California swing, carrying confidence from their strong home performances onto the road.
