“To me, there was two areas that needed to be addressed,” Martin told Postmedia in a phone call Monday night from Calgary. “One is the mindset, if you can call it that, I think it’s a group that’s fragile, so it’s a group that needs a lot of positive feedback.
“At the same time, it’s a group that needs to learn about structure and detail (to their games). We haven’t had much practice time and that’s part of the league. I can’t believe the number of games less that we’ve played than other teams but you don’t control that.
“We’ve had lots of games. You’ve got to be concerned with recovery, but at the same time you’ve got to teach. We’ve tried to make progress through meetings with the guys. It’s a good group, they’re receptive and we’ve just got to keep working at it to get better.”
I’ve always said I feel this team rides the highs too high and the lows too low. Doesn’t a team have to have an even-keeled approach?
“That’s something I’ve talked about since I got here,” Martin said. “It’s something that was part of their game that has created some losses. My first game in Arizona, we played an outstanding first period. I couldn’t believe how good we were in the offensive zone, controlling the puck, good support and doing all the right things.
“Then, in the second period, I could see us tense up and, by the third period, it’s like we’re skating in cement. That’s the mental side and it’s almost the side where you’re afraid to have success. You just have to clear your mind and do the things that you do well. It seems simple to say, but it’s not simple.”
“They’re a group that care so they have to overcome (the mental challenge),” Martin said. “The first step is to believe in yourself and believe in your teammates. I’ve talked about it for a long time, no matter who is in the dressing room, whether you’re friends with some guys and not with others, but once you come here to play or practice you have to work together.
“You’ve got support each other and you’ve got to go to war together. We’ve got to have each other’s back. We’re trying to make some progress on the mental side and the technical side. We’re trying to make improvements on both sides and it’s a parallel situation.”
People immediately assume the Senators need to be better defensively, but Martin noted they have to do a better job getting to the net to score goals as well.
“There’s some parts on the offensive side too,” Martin said. “We’ve got to be better at getting to the net and taking the goalies eyes away. The goalies are good in this league and we’ve got to get on the inside. That’s part of details.
“Definitely, the main focus (is defensively), but I think we’ve improved in the last two games and we’ve done a good job in our defensive zone. It’s a matter of continuing to work on things.”
It’s almost like the league is becoming more and more like playoff hockey every night,” Martin said. “There’s some desperation with teams when we play them whether it’s Game No. 40 or Game No. 82. There’s so many teams close that they have that desperation.
“In the playoffs, you have to fight and claw for every inch. We’re seeing that now so we’ve got to get to the inside to create chances.”
“That’s why I’m excited to work with them,” Martin said. “It’s an opportunity to learn and get better. My first time in Ottawa, I didn’t have that talent and it came through the draft later. We didn’t have Tkachuk, Norris or Stutzle or those guys.
“We’ve got more skill and we just have to learn to play the right way.”
“We have got to get our specialty teams going,” Martin said. “We have some good players, but they’ve got to learn on a power play, we can give them some structure and concepts, but a lot of it is relying on your instinct and creativity.
“I’ve never been a coach who has tried to restrict creativity. I’ve always encouraged them to do things as long as they don’t put the team in a bad situation. I love creativity and my last five years in Ottawa we were one of the top offensive teams in the league.
“I want them to play within their strengths, but at the same you’ve got to learn that you can’t put your team in trouble.”
