This Week in Sens (October 21-29)
Written By: Luke Muise
AP Photo Gene J. Puskar
The more things change, the more they stay the same
Tell me if this sounds familiar: The season is upon us, and fans have reason to be excited. There have been some big changes and key additions. After the first few games, it seems like the optimism was well placed… and then the hockey gods come along to restore the natural order.
We got so, so many reminders this week, both on and off the ice.
Sure sounds familiar to me, but where to begin?
In for a Pinto, in for a Pound
The Shane Pinto discourse took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that the unsigned centre would be serving a 41-game suspension for gambling-related activities.
We were all clamouring for a resolution to the Pinto situation, and somewhere a monkey's paw curled.
It's certainly worth noting that a lengthy NHL investigation showed no signs that Pinto had gambled on hockey. You know, the sport he plays. A sport that will never shut up about the odds and promotes gambling more than anything else under the sun.
Seems legit.
The crazy thing is, the NHL apparently wanted a longer suspension according to Elliote Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast. Still, the punishment was negotiated and ultimately agreed to by the NHLPA and Pinto. Friedman said the punishment stemmed from proxy betting, which is certainly a no-no. Still, 41 games seems steep.
Anyway, I can't wait to see all the screencaps of people's Pinto props and parlays before his first game back.
Speaking of gambling and unfair punishment…
Vegas messes up, Sens pay the price
Remember Evgenii Dadonov?
Of course you do. (Photo: Nick Turchairo).
Remember when the Sens traded him to Vegas? Remember when Vegas management tried to trade him to Anaheim even though he had a no-trade list that included the Ducks? Maybe you didn't, but the NHL sure did.
Elliotte Friedman also reported that the NHL is expected to dole out punishment to the Sens, who apparently share some responsibility for Vegas' mistake.
Remember, the Golden Knights had Dadonov for the 2021-22 season leading up to the trade deadline when they tried to deal him to Anaheim. This wasn't some deadline flip. They had him for months and didn't know he had a no-trade. Call me crazy, but the fiasco that unfolded kind of seems like a Vegas problem, not an Ottawa one.
I'm very interested to hear why the NHL thinks this is, in any way, Pierre Dorion's fault.
Oh, and the rumoured punishment: a first-round pick.
Lovely.
What else?
Oh yeah, the Sens played some games!
They didn't go well! Hooray!
The Sens lost 5-2 to Detroit, 6-4 to Buffalo, and 3-2 to the Islanders before getting back in the win column with a 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh.
What I found most frustrating about the losses was that it still feels like this team loses games the same way they have been for years now. Stretches of great play undone by costly, glaring, egregious errors.
They vastly out-shot and out-chanced their opponents in each of the losses, and were vastly out-shot and out-chanced in their win. Experience Sens hockey, baby!
That wasn't all though - the loss against New York was extremely costly: Erik Brannstrom was stretchered off the ice after getting crunched against the boards, and Thomas Chabot suffered a fractured hand after blocking a shot. Chabot is out four to six weeks, while head coach DJ Smith said Brannstrom is expected to miss "some time."
It was a scary scene to watch Brannstrom get carted off, as players on the ice immediately called for a stretcher after the play and medical staff were quick to respond. It's important to note that it didn't look like a dirty play, but Brannstrom has found himself in the crosshairs while rushing up the ice for as long as I can remember. Guys seem to really want to hit him. Here's wishing him and Chabot speedy recoveries.
He was the fire.
There was some good news from the last two games though: Joonas Korpisalo looked excellent, especially in the win against Pittsburgh where he made save after save in the first period.
In summary
It was a mostly embarrassing week for the Sens on and off the ice, but they stabilized with a win at the end. Hopefully, they can move ahead and put the last week behind them.
Wednesday is November 1st.
Have a great week!
