Apr 22, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators players celebrate after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in game four of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
What a season it was for the Ottawa Senators. An incredible finish and incredible run after what had originally looked like a less than mediocre season. Let’s take a look back on the season that was 14-15, starting back in October.
October: The Start
Ahh the start of the hockey season, fans excited to be back and the Sens ready to hit the ice.
October 2nd – simply known as one of the most exciting days in recent memory. The Senators ink pending UFA Bobby Ryan to a 7-year deal and name Erik Karlsson their captain.
A busy summer it was for the Senators, we already saw Ottawa lock up Craig Anderson, Bobby Ryan, and Clarke MacArthur, but heading into the season only one top UFA remained.. Marc Methot. Methot went into training camp looking fine, but suffered a set-back in his back injury. We wouldn’t see him until December.
The Senators would drop their first game, but would win 4 in a row right after. The start to the season didn’t resemble the mediocrity we were used to by January as Ottawa would go 5-2-2 to start their year.
- Mika Zibanejad‘s slow start was a big part to the first few games. No points through 8 games had many calling for him to be sent to Binghamton.
- Robin Lehner and Craig Anderson were big stories early on. Lehner had not lost a game in regulation and each goaltender had held a sv% of over .930.
- A ton is made of Colin Greening and Erik Condra, both who cannot find their ways into the lineup. Of course for one, that would change.