Management Travis Green [Head Coach]

[Big Muddy]

Thought it would be interesting to compare our starts up to this point for the last 3 years.

Caveat: this is a really small sample size but I think it's important to look at anyway because we've talked about slow starts derailing seasons.

Season	W-L	GF	GA	GD	PP	PK	SF/G	SA/G	FO%
22-23	3-2-0	21	16	+5	25	72.2	34.2	29.6	56.1
23-24	3-2-0	21	15	+6	22.7	76.2	33	26.8	54.4
24-25	3-2-0	18	19	-1	38.1	75	31.2	29.6	48.5

If I look at this objectively, these are NOT good numbers to start this season.

Objectively, we are on a 99 pts pace, despite our starting goalie being out the last three games, along with Zub and Greig. With Fla, NJD, LAK and TB 4 teams expected to be in the playoffs, it looks like a bit tougher schedule than the previous two years.

2024-25 xGA/60 @ 5v5 is 2.11, 3rd in the league
2023-24 xGA/60 was 2.64, 22nd in the league
2022-23 xGA/60 was 2.63, 17 th in the league

So, is the jump in GA systemic and likely to continue? Underlying numbers suggest no. On the flip side, the xGF are also lower than prior years, might be something to keep an eye on as the PP won't continue scoring one 38% of attempts.

The reality is for all the story lines about our slow starts needing to improve, we never actually got off to a slow start in the first 5, as you've shown. Our issue is flaming out immediately after that.

Our PP is better is a lot better this year “so far”. I don’t expect it to remain so high as the season progresses, but hopefully we’ll continue to have a strong PP that is towards the top percentile in the league.

The other thing is that the team battles back when it gets down a goal or two. Last year the team seemed to deflate when something bad happened.

We are going to get Ullmark back, so that’s a boost. On the other hand, we have a Western road trip which has been problematic in years past. It will be interesting to see where we sit after 10 games.

 

[Tuna99]

Hope everything is ok, if he was hurt, he'd probably just say it...

I think he has a baby due so probably waiting at home for that

 

[Golden_Jet]

I think he has a baby due so probably waiting at home for that

Some pregnancy complications supposedly, hope all goes well.

 

[DueDiligence]

You start adding these things for one year but not the others. Last year, no Norris or Pinto to start the year. No Ullmark in nets. In 23-24, all 5 teams we started the year against finished with more points, 3 of them made the playoffs and the other 2 were on the cusp.

Ottawa had their #1 goalie all last year. Who cares if it was Korpi.
Also in the first 5 games last year they played Philly, Tampa Detroit Carolina and Washington. And Tampa had a guy named Matt Tomkins in net. So two top teams but 1 was handicapped.
This year they have played 4 very good team out of the 5 games they have played and 3 with their backup in net.

 

[TheNewEra]

when zub comes back it will be a major test for green, see if its the same usual stupidity or if we actually have some improvement

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

too early to blame the coach.
Sens looked better on the road this trip than they have in a long time and that is with missing a top 2 D and 2 important top 9 forwards that made up 2/3rds of our best line early in the year

 

[Cosmix]

too early to blame the coach.
Sens looked better on the road this trip than they have in a long time and that is with missing a top 2 D and 2 important top 9 forwards that made up 2/3rds of our best line early in the year

Missing Zub on D and Perron and Pinto at F is a contributing factor. I agree with Sens of Anarchy that the team has looked better on this road trip than it has in the past.

 

[Blotto71]

I didn't like starting Ullmark in Vegas after Forsberg had perhaps his best game in over a year, and I didn't like Forsberg starting in Denver after Ullmark had a tough game in Vegas. If TG was going to play the "hot hand" or goes with "win and you're in", Forsberg gets the the Vegas start. I think Ullmark is a bit fragile at this point coming into a market where he is seen as a messiah and signing a big extension - he had a sub-par performance in Vegas and I think should have been right back in versus Colorado. He's gotta work it out.

 

[Blotto71]

Ottawa had their #1 goalie all last year. Who cares if it was Korpi.
Also in the first 5 games last year they played Philly, Tampa Detroit Carolina and Washington. And Tampa had a guy named Matt Tomkins in net. So two top teams but 1 was handicapped.
This year they have played 4 very good team out of the 5 games they have played and 3 with their backup in net.

No. This year's first 5 games were all against the oppositions #1:

Florida - beat Bobrovsky
Montreal - lost to Montembeault
LA - beat Kuemper
Jersey - lost to Markstrom
Tampa - chased Vasilevskiy
BONUS
Utah - chased Ingram
Vegas - lost to Hill
*Colorado - lost to Annunen (arguably a back-up, but so far playing FAR better than Georgiev)

 

[Micklebot]

No. This year's first 5 games were all against the oppositions #1:

Florida - beat Bobrovsky
Montreal - lost to Montembeault
LA - beat Kuemper
Jersey - lost to Markstrom
Tampa - chased Vasilevskiy
BONUS
Utah - chased Ingram
Vegas - lost to Hill
*Colorado - lost to Annunen (arguably a back-up, but so far playing FAR better than Georgiev)

I think he was referring to us having our backup in net with Ullmark hurt

 

[SensontheRush]

I didn't like starting Ullmark in Vegas after Forsberg had perhaps his best game in over a year, and I didn't like Forsberg starting in Denver after Ullmark had a tough game in Vegas. If TG was going to play the "hot hand" or goes with "win and you're in", Forsberg gets the the Vegas start. I think Ullmark is a bit fragile at this point coming into a market where he is seen as a messiah and signing a big extension - he had a sub-par performance in Vegas and I think should have been right back in versus Colorado. He's gotta work it out.

It did feel like Jesus was trying to get Ullmark in net against COL.

 

[BankStreetParade]

I didn't like starting Ullmark in Vegas after Forsberg had perhaps his best game in over a year, and I didn't like Forsberg starting in Denver after Ullmark had a tough game in Vegas. If TG was going to play the "hot hand" or goes with "win and you're in", Forsberg gets the the Vegas start. I think Ullmark is a bit fragile at this point coming into a market where he is seen as a messiah and signing a big extension - he had a sub-par performance in Vegas and I think should have been right back in versus Colorado. He's gotta work it out.

Yep.

Either Ullmark plays both or you give Forsberg the Vegas game after getting a shutout. I don't know what he sees in practice but it's hard to think of a rationale for playing this any other way.

 

[Blotto71]

I think he was referring to us having our backup in net with Ullmark hurt

Well, that makes more sense! Sorry @DueDiligence

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851291797378531766

90% mental the other 50% is physical

 

[DueDiligence]

No. This year's first 5 games were all against the oppositions #1:

Florida - beat Bobrovsky
Montreal - lost to Montembeault
LA - beat Kuemper
Jersey - lost to Markstrom
Tampa - chased Vasilevskiy
BONUS
Utah - chased Ingram
Vegas - lost to Hill
*Colorado - lost to Annunen (arguably a back-up, but so far playing FAR better than Georgiev)

I meant the Sens backup was in net.

 

[Yak]

Yeah my eyes green gets a free pass on this team unless he starts doing some really weird stuff. It's time for this team to mature and grow up and be accountable for their own play. If this team can't get it together then we don't have the right mix.

Cora, this team has been long enough together that it's time for them to put up or shut up. We can make all those excuses in the world, but now it's time for action. We've blamed the goaltenders and we've changed the defense and we brought in the vets to insulate the core of this team and a new GM and Coach.

Now it's time for the core of this team to show what it can do and prove to the fans that this is a winning combination and they're worth what they have been paid. These guys have had more excuses than what most fan bases would put up with. There is no need for no knee-jerk reactions but it's time for these guys to look in the mirror and start playing like they're meant to.

I like what I see from the structure on the ice I can see the difference and I can see the coaching, philosophy changes and the structure much tighter than in the past. Now up to the players.

 

[swiftwin]

Looking at the standings right now, so far this season, we've played against:

1st place team in the Atlantic (Florida)
2nd place team in the Atlantic (Tampa)
1st place team in the Metro (New Jersey)
1st place team in the Pacific (Vegas)
2nd place team in the Pacific (LA)

And we're 5-4-0. Not bad.