For the past three games, the Ottawa Senators were playing on the West Coast in Utah, Vegas and Denver. The Senators concluded their three-game West Coast road trip with going 1-2-0.
The final two games of the road trip went rough with allowing in 11 goals and the defense playing poorly in the third period. Six of the Senators' 11 goals allowed over the past two games have come in the third period.
During the road trip, the Senators were looking to finally get offensive production out of Nick Cousins and Tyler Kleven. Both of them have had rough starts to the season and were looking to finally get out of their slumps. Last night in Denver, both of them did just that.
Cousins and Kleven finally breakthrough and look to continue being productive on offense
In the Senators' 5-4 loss last night against the Colorado Avalanche, the Senators finally got an offensive breakthrough from both Cousins and Kleven. Both of them desperately needed to show they can produce offense.
Cousins was struggling deeply on offense in all of October and needed to show signs of offense. In his 600th career game, Cousins scored his first goal as a Senator and also added an assist. Cousins' goal tied the game at two last in the third period against the Avalanche.
Now that's how you score your first goal as a Senator 👏#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/7AnKgd1sQP
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 28, 2024
Cousins was signed by the Senators in the offseason looking to add depth and championship pedigree. With a two-point game last night, the Senators hope this can be the beginning of getting more production out of Cousins.
For Kleven, he recorded his first point of the season by having the primary assist on Brady Tkachuk's goal. Kleven has only played in 17 games for the Senators over the past two seasons, and recorded just one assist last season in nine game last season. Kleven has played in all eight games to start this season at 22 years old, and he has gained confidence with each game played. While still looking for his first NHL goal, an assist is a great way to start gaining consistency on offense.
Both Cousins and Kleven will need to be relied on every game for the Senators to gain consistency. With the Senators being in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-4-0 record, it only adds more pressure for both Cousins and Kleven. The Senators host the Blues tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET looking to end their two-game losing streak.