Ottawa Senators: Sens Will Win The Atlantic Division
The Ottawa Senators are quietly going about their business in the highly critiqued Atlantic Division. Here is why they will claim the crown.
Team Unity
This roster is not chock-a-block with world class individual talent. Stressing the individual there, together they are world class. Guy Boucher deserves a tremendous amount of credit for turning this struggling team around. Coaches have such an impact on teams, especially in the sport of ice hockey where minute changes can completely change the end result.
Yes, there have been some car crash games where the world seemed to be ending in Kanata. They’ve regrouped and proven the doubters wrong again and again. The recent 10-0 in two games has not been forgotten.
My focus on team unity sums up the organisation as whole in my opinion. They are not that in-your-face, swash-buckling franchise. Quietly climbing the standings.
Less Intense Media Pressure
Sens fans would be the first to agree that life in Ottawa as a player is nowhere near as intense as it would be in Montreal and Toronto. This has its benefits, when times are good, the roof isn’t taken off the Canadian Tire Centre. Also, when times are bad, there isn’t total chaos and uproar. In doing so, it keeps the players grounded and focused.
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Whenever the likes of Toronto and Montreal get near the top, it seems to me that the fans and media in those respective markets are waiting for the worst to happen. Conversely in Ottawa there seems to be that willingness, that hope that they will once again reach the mountain top.
Looking outside of the statistics every now and then can provide some scope as to what effects a team. Just like the Dad’s trip provided extra oomph out of the players, the lack of invasion on a daily basis creates freedom.
The System
Are you bored of the system, or people talking about the system? You shouldn’t be, it works! My goodness it works, its nothing short of genius from Guy Boucher. So much so it deserves a second mention. I’ve constantly written about how shutting teams down will benefit them ten-fold in the post-season. They have more of a chance of upsetting a Washington or Pittsburgh (should they get there) than say Toronto given their obsession to defense.
Final Thoughts
Part of the reasoning as to why I have stated that the Sens will win the division is, it is a curse. If you win the division you will face a team outside of the Atlantic. Given the state the division, facing a team within it, that is known to you would be preferred.
Aside from that negativity, it will be the first time since 2005-06 that they have won a division championship. Who doesn’t want a new banner?