"It's a little bit of a different role on the bench but in terms of preparing for the game, it's just the same.
"So nerves? No.
"Sunk in yet? No. But getting there."
In terms of artistic merit, Saturday's game was a mucking, grinding victory.
"Good teams, winning teams, they know how manage games,'' said Ward. "Even on nights when you're not having your best effort, defensively and away from the puck you're still good and you find a way to keep yourself in the game a lot of nights win the game.
"For us, it's important we reinforce the progress that we've made because defence needs to be there.
"If you're not good defensively, you have no chance in this league."
Still, in a game largely earmarked by hard graft, contested in incremental inches rather than spectacular swatches, a lovely alley-oop pass from Sean Monahan to Elias Lindholm - think a Kyle Lowry soap-bubble of a lofted pass to Kawhi Leonard for a sinister jam at the rim - behind retreating Ottawa D-man Ron Hainsey snapped a 1-1 tie at a decidedly delicate moment: Only 1:01 after the Sens had hit for the equalizer.
Lindholm would pot his second of the night into an empty Ottawa net at 18:26 of third - during a powerplay - to seal the deal.
"A real good play by Mony,'' praised Ward of the go-ahead goal. "He didn't have much room, made an aerial over the top and Lindy skated onto it.
"We talk about it: If there's no ice in front of you, use the ice behind."