QUICK HITS
BLUES What a statement win.
The Blues began this season with a tough stretch, going 1-2-1 in their first four games. The losses weren't because of a lack of effort, but both the players and Head Coach Jim Montgomery acknowledged that a full commitment to the team's process and style of play is needed to win games. Frustrations with the lack of offense had led to mental errors and the first period against Columbus appeared to be another continuation of those struggles after the team fell in a 2-0 deficit.
What followed in the next two periods was the exact identity and pace of play Montgomery has been preaching to the team. Jake Neighbours gave the Blues life after capitalizing on a rebound from a Justin Barron slap shot - marking Barron's first point with St. Louis. Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice and Jonatan Berggren netted the game-winning goal to give the Blues a 4-3 lead in the third period. Pavel Buchnevich capped the comeback effort with an empty-net goal to seal the 5-3 victory.
Dylan Holloway had three assists, Jordan Binnington made 20 saves on 23 shots faced and 10 different Blues players recorded at least one point - including all three members of the top line.
"Good defense led to their offense," Montgomery said. "Usually when you're not getting results, you cut corners there...it was good night for them but it was a good night for a lot of people."
In his locker room interview, Holloway said that getting a win on home ice before the team's road trip is huge for their momentum.
"I think we've been playing well as a team and we've been growing each game," he said. "It was nice to play a full 60 [minutes]. We gave up two in the first and got a little flat, but we responded really well and that's a testament to our team and how we're growing. To come back and win that game in that fashion, it's great for us."
SENATORS Last season, the Ottawa Senators finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 44-27-11 record and 99 points. After clinching a second consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance, they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
The biggest roster move from the Senators this offseason was trading their former captain, Brady Tkachuk - who requested a trade at the end of Ottawa's season - to the Florida Panthers in exchange for three first-round picks and a second-round pick.
With a vacant captaincy, General Manager Steve Staios announced defenseman Thomas Chabot as the team's 11th captain in franchise history on Sept. 29. The Senators also made their fair share of trade acquisitions, bringing in forward William Eklund from San Jose, forward Andre Burakovsky from Chicago and goaltender Samuel Ersson from Toronto.
Additionally the Senators solidified their core and depth by signing several players to contract extensions. Forward Claude Giroux signed a one-year contract while Errson and forward Nick Cousins both secured two-year extensions. The biggest internal commitment came on defense as Drake Batherson signed an eight-year extension through the 2034-35 season. Former Blue Sammy Blais also joined the roster as a free agent, signing a two-year contract.
On Oct. 9, Head Coach Travis Green announced that Eklund would be sidelined for an "extended period" after suffering an ankle injury during the team's Oct. 8 game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Defensemen Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub are also sidelined with injuries but are expected to return to the Senators' lineup soon.
Ottawa has begun the season with a 5-1-0 record. Tuesday's game will be the second of a back-to-back set for the Senators, who return home after a 4-1 road win against the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
Defenseman Nikolas Matinpalo left the game in the first period after sustaining an upper-body injury and did not return, per Sens Communications.
