Christmas is getting closer, but the Senators are unhappy with taking part in this parade.
Nobody is going to panic, but the league-leading Senators have lost three of their last four games, including a brutal 6-5 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday that saw the club blow a two-goal lead twice.
The slump has gone hand-in-hand with the club's recent parade to the penalty box.
The message from coach John Paddock is simple: The Senators, who host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, need to clean up their act and stop taking needless penalties.
The added strain has led to the club giving up at least one power-play goal in each of the past eight games.
"The biggest thing for us is the penalties," said captain Daniel Alfredsson. "We're putting ourselves in a tough position."
The club took eight penalties vs. the Penguins, which cost them dearly.
"It's unacceptable for us to give up two, two-goal leads," said centre Jason Spezza. "We know (the penalties) are hurting us. It takes the flow out of the game for a lot of guys. It takes away some of the ice time for guys that bring us energy. Some of the penalties we're taking are 200 feet away from our net. You hope you don't take penalties that far away."
Paddock said he expects the Senators to right matters.
"I don't like to see us take that many penalties. They're a long way from the net and I'll get upset with the refereeing sometimes over it," said Paddock. "But, the fact is, we know that if you put a stick on somebody it's a penalty. Most of the time, they're deserved. That's got to get better. I'm not worried about any trends."
Paddock is concerned about the Senators developing bad habits.
"We've made good hay to have the record we have, but you don't want to let anything slip away. I know we're in good shape in the standings," said Paddock.
BACK IN NET: G Martin Gerber will be back in the net against the Flyers. While Gerber allowed five goals on 25 shots vs. the Penguins, Paddock has decided to give the netminder a chance to redeem himself against one of the top teams in the East. "You want to get back in and push forward," said Gerber. The netminder wants an explanation from the NHL on why a shootout goal by Pittsburgh's Erik Christensen counted. Gerber made a pad save, but the puck hit his arm and went in the net. Gerber believed the play should have been called dead even though the puck crossed the line. "I'm pretty sure there's a rule about it," he said. "When you make the initial save and the puck goes the other way, the play stops. It doesn't matter who puts it in. That's why I was confused." Paddock said he couldn't get the officials to give him an explanation. "They wouldn't tell me anything because the decision was made in Toronto," he said. "You'd have to get it from them."
NO EAVES DROPPING: Senators RW Patrick Eaves opted not to speak with the media about the separated right shoulder he suffered Wednesday in Buffalo. He was examined by doctors Thursday in Ottawa and is likely out for more than 4-6 weeks as a result of the injury. "It's a longer-term injury. How long? I don't know," said Paddock. Asked if there's a possibility that Eaves might require surgery, Paddock said: "That word has never been mentioned to me."
Nobody is going to panic, but the league-leading Senators have lost three of their last four games, including a brutal 6-5 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday that saw the club blow a two-goal lead twice.
The slump has gone hand-in-hand with the club's recent parade to the penalty box.
The message from coach John Paddock is simple: The Senators, who host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, need to clean up their act and stop taking needless penalties.
The added strain has led to the club giving up at least one power-play goal in each of the past eight games.
"The biggest thing for us is the penalties," said captain Daniel Alfredsson. "We're putting ourselves in a tough position."
The club took eight penalties vs. the Penguins, which cost them dearly.
"It's unacceptable for us to give up two, two-goal leads," said centre Jason Spezza. "We know (the penalties) are hurting us. It takes the flow out of the game for a lot of guys. It takes away some of the ice time for guys that bring us energy. Some of the penalties we're taking are 200 feet away from our net. You hope you don't take penalties that far away."
Paddock said he expects the Senators to right matters.
"I don't like to see us take that many penalties. They're a long way from the net and I'll get upset with the refereeing sometimes over it," said Paddock. "But, the fact is, we know that if you put a stick on somebody it's a penalty. Most of the time, they're deserved. That's got to get better. I'm not worried about any trends."
Paddock is concerned about the Senators developing bad habits.
"We've made good hay to have the record we have, but you don't want to let anything slip away. I know we're in good shape in the standings," said Paddock.
BACK IN NET: G Martin Gerber will be back in the net against the Flyers. While Gerber allowed five goals on 25 shots vs. the Penguins, Paddock has decided to give the netminder a chance to redeem himself against one of the top teams in the East. "You want to get back in and push forward," said Gerber. The netminder wants an explanation from the NHL on why a shootout goal by Pittsburgh's Erik Christensen counted. Gerber made a pad save, but the puck hit his arm and went in the net. Gerber believed the play should have been called dead even though the puck crossed the line. "I'm pretty sure there's a rule about it," he said. "When you make the initial save and the puck goes the other way, the play stops. It doesn't matter who puts it in. That's why I was confused." Paddock said he couldn't get the officials to give him an explanation. "They wouldn't tell me anything because the decision was made in Toronto," he said. "You'd have to get it from them."
NO EAVES DROPPING: Senators RW Patrick Eaves opted not to speak with the media about the separated right shoulder he suffered Wednesday in Buffalo. He was examined by doctors Thursday in Ottawa and is likely out for more than 4-6 weeks as a result of the injury. "It's a longer-term injury. How long? I don't know," said Paddock. Asked if there's a possibility that Eaves might require surgery, Paddock said: "That word has never been mentioned to me."
