Thoughts on Josh Norris' Return and Setting the Stage for an Electric Saturday Matinee
270 long days.
That was the length of time that spanned between Josh Norris’ last two games.
For a player who has missed 77 games across the last two seasons because of complications with a shoulder that necessitated a second surgical procedure, I cannot even begin to imagine how cathartic Wednesday night must have been for him.
Norris logged 16 minutes and 34 seconds of ice time while centring a line between Dominik Kubalik and Drake Batherson. In the 11 minutes and 31 seconds that they played together at five-on-five per NaturalStatTrick, the Senators generated 45.83 percent of the shots (CF%), 45.45 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), and 34.77 percent of the expected goals (xGF%). The underlying numbers were not flattering, but it is far too small a sample size to be concerned. The only things that mattered were him getting back into the lineup, integrating with his teammates, staying healthy… oh, and scoring two goals.
And, boy, did he ever deliver and pull at the heartstrings early in this one.
With the Senators on the power play 12 and a half minutes into the first period, Norris worked the puck from his familiar spot on the right circle back to Jake Sanderson. Sanderson threw it across the line to Tim Stützle which drew three of the Capitals’ penalty killers high. The German then passed it down low to Batherson which left the lone Capitals defender in a position where he could pressure Batherson or leave the streaking Norris in an isolated spot on the backdoor. One beautiful backhand dish by Batherson later and Norris had his first on the season.
The reaction to the goal by Batherson and Stützle told the story and it was moments like that which make you ask yourself, how can you not get romantic about sports?
It was one of the best moments of the team’s young season and Norris was not done.
He scored his second of the game of the game after a lost faceoff draw. Some hard work on the forecheck and along the wall by Batherson and Kubalik sprung a puck loose behind the net which Batherson corralled and fired another perfect pass to Norris in the slot. One snap shot later, he restored the Senators’ two-goal lead and the team never looked back. His two goals earned him the game’s bucket.
The Senators would go on to decisively win the game with a 6-1 score in which the Capitals never really felt threatening. Alex Ovechkin was held without a shot. Sportsnet had a nice stat on their broadcast indicating that it was the first time in his career that he was held without a shot on goal in two consecutive games. History, baby.
The win put Ottawa’s record at 3-1-0 with a goal differential of plus-nine. Only the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights have a higher differential this early in the season (+10).
It sets up the Senators for a massive tilt as they host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
The Red Wings have started off strongly with a 3-1-0 start of their own with victories over the Lightning, Blue Jackets and Penguins.
The stakes are incredibly high because of the opportunity to send a message to a division rival whom the Senators will be competing with for a playoff spot. Almost as importantly, it gives the Senators a chance to deliver a strong statement of their own to Alex DeBrincat.
DeBrincat has had a hell of a start to his career in Detroit. After four games, the winger is tied with Elias Pettersson for the league lead in scoring with eight points (five goals, three assists).
No one should blame the winger for wanting to return to play closer to home. He had no control over the Senators paying a sizable opportunity cost to acquire him. There was always the risk he could prefer to play elsewhere and that is how it played out.
The first opportunity for the fans and his former teammates can send a message saying, “You chose the wrong team,” makes tomorrow’s game a must-watch event. It’s going to be absolutely electric.
If you are going to tomorrow’s game and are coming from the east end, be mindful that the 417 will be closed between Elgin and Bronson. Traffic will be re-routed along Catherine, which will create delays, so plan your trip accordingly.
Jake Sanderson’s Early Production
The puck-moving defenceman had a productive Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals. Although he wasn’t adding points to his resume a day after the game was actually played, Sanderson contributed with another goal and an assist. Those brought him to two goals and five points on the season putting him one point back of the early season lead in points by a defenceman.
It has been one hell of a start to Sanderson’s season. Defensively, he and Artem Zub have not given up much. In 46 five-on-five minutes, the duo have been on the ice for four goals for and two against. Comparatively speaking, the Jakob Chychrun-Thomas Chabot pairing has been on the ice for six goals for and four against in 16 and a half more minutes of ice time.
The underlying metrics have been really strong, especially relative to the other pairings. Of Ottawa’s three regular pairings, it is the only one in which the Senators have generated a greater percentage of the shots (50.49 CF%), shots on goal (54.24 SF%), goals (66.67 GF%) and expected goals (52.87) than the opposition.
Sanderson’s isolated defensive impact has continued to be strong per Hockeyviz.com.
It is not really a surprise to see Sanderson’s strong defensive play continue, especially while playing regularly with another strong defender in Zub.
The offensive boost has been a nice blessing. A lot of this offseason’s talk focused on Sanderson’s acknowledgement that he was working harder towards having a more significant offensive impact. So far, it is working.
Last season it took Sanderson until his 35th game (December 29th, 2022) to record his second goal of the season.
Like the rest of his teammates, he is riding the team’s strong on-ice shooting percentage which will inevitably begin to normalize at some point. But, he at least qualitatively, he looks like a far more assertive and impactful player on the offensive side of the puck.
If his production continues to trend up, the Senators are going to have one hell of a bargain on their hands.
One thing to keep an eye on in the short term is the health of Artem Zub. Zub took a puck to the head after an Alex Ovechkin shot during the third period of Wednesday night’s game. Yesterday the Senators put Zack MacEwen on waivers for the purpose of clearing salary to allow them to recall a defenceman from Belleville to replace Zub in the lineup. Once MacEwen’s waiver situation is resolved at 2 p.m. this afternoon, the Senators should announce their corresponding defensive promotion shortly thereafter.
Craig Anderson To Sign a One-Day Contract
Earlier this offseason, Napoli’s Cafe of all things broke the news on Instagram that goaltender Craig Anderson will “officially retire with the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club.”
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported yesterday that the Senators planned to sign Anderson to a one-day contract so he can retire as a Senator ahead of the Tuesday, October 24th game against Buffalo.
Anderson obviously finished his playing career in Buffalo, so it is a pretty classy gesture to include the Sabres as part of this occasion. It also should help move some tickets to a Sabres game that may not have been a particularly strong draw — which is a shame because both the Senators and Sabres are on that upward trajectory and appear poised to revive that division rivalry that was so strong during between the late 90s and mid-2000s.
In parts of 10 seasons with the Senators, Andy will retire being the franchise leader in almost every major goaltending statistic:
Appearances: 435
Wins: 202
Losses: 168
Shots Faced: 13,621
Saves: 12,447
Assists: 11
Dominik Hasek holds the franchise lead in save percentage (.925) and goals against average (2.09) while Patrick Lalime holds the record for shutouts (30).
It is a nice honour for Anderson who probably falls short of the honour of having his number retired. He is the perfect candidate for inclusion on the recently renewed ‘Ring of Honour’, however.