The loss of the captain has been a big test for the Ottawa Senators.
With Brady Tkachuk out another six weeks after surgery on his thumb to repair a torn ligament, the Senators have had several players step up in his absence, including Drake Batherson, Tim Stutzle and defenceman Jake Sanderson.
You need your best players to be your best players and, for the most part, Batherson has helped to lead the way with his efforts.
Batherson was named the NHL’s second star of the week on Monday after posting three goals and eight points in four games. He has five goals and 15 points after missing the first three games of the year with an upper-body injury he suffered during a training camp practice.
He told reporters that, after the undisclosed ailment, he had to get back to the pace of the game, which took a little longer than he expected.
“I came into camp feeling good and then took a little bit of time after the injury, which always does with anyone,” Batherson said on Monday after the club’s lengthy skate at the Bell Sensplex.
“But right now I feel like I’m getting my legs back and just trying to play free, and play with my instincts, and I think it’s been working. I’m not thinking too much. I’m trying to hunt pucks down and turn them over. That’s when I’m playing my best, just putting pressure on their (defence).”
Batherson has been playing mostly with Stutzle and Nick Cousins since Tkachuk suffered his injury. Before that, Batherson started the season on a line with Dylan Cozens.
But coach Travis Green has had to move the furniture around to try to help create more offence with Tkachuk out.
“We’ve been having a lot of (offensive) zone time, which is leading to goals and we’ve just got to keep it going, and keep grinding away,” Batherson said. “In the past, when I’ve been in slumps, I’m thinking too much and I’m trying to do too much.
“If I’m playing free, I’m playing with my instincts. That’s when I’m playing my best. I feel like I’m out on the pond with my buddies type of thing, but going as hard as I can. When I say I’m playing free, I don’t mean I’m playing relaxed, I mean I’m playing just with my instincts.”
The timing of Batherson being named the league’s second star on Monday was a little unfortunate for him.
A terrible giveaway in overtime on Saturday night at the Bell Centre led to the game-winning goal by Alex Newhook against the Montreal Canadiens on a breakaway on Linus Ullmark in a 4-3 loss.
Nobody had to tell Batherson he screwed it up, he took full responsibility.
“It was just a dumb mistake, really,” Batherson said. “They happen, but I should know better. That should never happen, but that doesn’t mean I’m not ever going to make another mistake again. It is what it is.”
Batherson said he was trying to make a play and it went awry.
“I thought two guys were on me and I wasn’t sure where the other guy was. Give him credit, he just read it well,” Batherson said. “I shouldn’t have laid it out there that soft.”
That’s why Green didn’t feel the need to tear a strip off Batherson or call him into his office to talk about the play because “there are some plays you’re going to want to have back and he’s going to learn from it.”
Green looks at the big picture and Batherson has been a contributor.
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“He’s found his game,” Green said. “Pointwise, he’s definitely producing. I thought he got out of the gate a little bit slow. That’s to be expected when you haven’t had a training camp.
“He’s definitely been putting some points on the board lately and he’s starting to find his game that has been successful.”
It’s the calm before the storm for the Senators, which is why the club had Tuesday away from the rink.
The Senators will return to the Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday to prepare for their game against the Boston Bruins on Thursday at the TD Garden, marking the start of a six-game stretch over just 10 days.
The Senators are in the playoff picture in the National Hockey League’s Atlantic Division, facing a daunting November schedule that will see them play four games at home and nine on the road.
The club wanted to use this break to its advantage.
“It’s been a lot about recovery,” alternate captain Thomas Chabot said. “It’s been a heavy start to the season, and we’re revisiting little details with our practice time.
“We haven’t had much of that since the start of the season — it’s been a lot of game days and morning skates.”