The Ottawa Senators are searching for answers after a string of offensive struggles, prompting head coach Travis Green to shuffle his forward combinations at Sunday's practice. The moves come on the heels of a 2-1 home loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night, a game where the team fired 41 shots but couldn't solve goaltender Joel Hofer enough to secure a win.
Line Shuffle Aims to Ignite Offence
In a significant shake-up, veteran winger Nick Cousins was moved to the left side of top centre Tim Stützle, with Fabian Zetterlund rounding out the new-look trio. This adjustment is a direct response to a concerning lack of production, particularly from Stützle, who has managed just one goal and five points over the Senators' last 10 games.
The changes didn't stop there. Captain Brady Tkachuk was placed on a line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson, while David Perron dropped to the fourth unit following Hayden Hodgson's reassignment to the AHL's Belleville Senators. The overarching goal is clear: create more traffic, generate higher-quality chances, and start converting on the opportunities they've been creating.
Stützle's Struggle a Central Concern
The primary focus of the line juggling is undeniably Tim Stützle. The dynamic German centre is a cornerstone of the Senators' attack, and his recent dry spell is a major hurdle for a team with playoff aspirations. Coach Green acknowledged the challenge, emphasizing the mental aspect for a player of Stützle's caliber.
"He's going through a stretch where the puck hasn't gone the way he's wanted," Green stated. "With a skilled player that wants to do well... he takes a lot on his shoulders." Green suggested that sometimes a simpler, more direct approach—shooting more, getting to the net, and engaging physically—can be more effective than trying to skill one's way out of a slump.
Stützle briefly left Sunday's practice with what appeared to be a sore right hand or wrist but returned to finish the session.
Cousins Embraces Net-Front Role
For his part, Nick Cousins understands the assignment when playing alongside a talent like Stützle. He pointed to a lack of even-strength goals in the last two games as a key issue and stressed the forwards' collective responsibility to make life more difficult for opposing goaltenders.
"I hate using the excuse that a goalie played well," Cousins said. "We have to make it harder on them by getting to the net and creating more traffic." He takes pride in that gritty, net-front role, which is precisely what the Senators hope will open up space and create rebound chances for his linemates.
The Senators' next game will be the first test of these new combinations, as the team desperately seeks to reignite its offensive firepower and climb the Eastern Conference standings.
