Three Thoughts: Batherson and Stützle shine as Sens hot April continues
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The Sens were driven by fantastic performances from Drake Batherson and Tim Stützle as the team's impressive April continued, as Three Thoughts details.
Batherson scores overtime game-winner
Drake Batherson's first career overtime game-winner sure was memorable.
On his second goal of the evening, Batherson finished brilliantly in tight after turning Ty Smith inside out at 3:17 to give the Sens a 5-4 win.
"What a goal by Drake to get us the win," Tim Stützle said.
Batherson's 17 goals this season matches his career high set a year ago although this year it has taken him 12 fewer games. His 27 assists and 44 points are already new career bests.
"When it was on his stick, he was magic," Sens head coach D.J. Smith said. "Every time he had it, it looked like he would score.
"When he's going like that, we're going to be on the scoreboard a lot."
Of course, Batherson has missed 36 games this year due to a variety of issues including a 28-game absence due to a high ankle sprain as well as a bout with Covid-19 and a non Covid-19 illness.
"It was tough with the sickness I had rather than coming off the injury," Batherson said. "The 10 pounds I lost, I just had no jam for a lot of the games and I'm almost back to my normal weight now … I feel like I'm getting my jam back."
But his on-ice impact for the Sens is immeasurable. His first goal of the night came 11 seconds into the second period as he scored from the low slot off of Brady Tkachuk's feed before he'd give the Sens the two points with his overtime beauty.
"I got a nice pass from Timmy and I didn't have the speed to beat him wide so I got his feet turned, I tried a move and got lucky that it went in," Batherson said of his winner. "It was fun to get the win and make it four in a row."
Stützle's four-point night
Tim Stützle's threat on the penalty kill is officially noted.
The German centre scored his first career shorthanded goal Tuesday night as he picked off a pass in his own zone and skated in to beat Mackenzie Blackwood on a breakaway.
"He was unreal," Batherson said. "He scores so many nice goals. That breakaway goal, everyone thought he was going five-hole but he brings it back to the backhand.
"And that breakaway speed, I'm going to have to ask him where he does his skating lessons."
Stützle has been slowly pushed into a penalty killing roll in the second half of the season and the 20-year-old has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.
"I love killing penalties," he said. "It gets you in the game especially if there's so many penalties. If you don't play PK, you just kind of sit there. I think my skating and ability to read the play helps … if you play power play yourself you can try to read their power play."
Of course, his shorthanded goal was just part of his contribution Tuesday. He also scored on the power play and added assists on Thomas Chabot's power play goal as well as Batherson's over-time winner to register his first career four-point game.
"He's so dynamic offensively and he's so good on the power play," Smith said. "He had chances all over the place. That's going to be a heck of a hockey player and we're lucky to have him."
His sophomore season has seen him tally 22 goals and 57 points in 77 games this year. His 25 power play points this year leads the Senators.
Sens win fourth straight as hot April continues
The Senators concluded the 2020-21 season with a 9-2-1 record over its final 12 games.
This year, the Sens are going out in similar fashion as they are 9-4-1 in April and have won four-straight.
"We're going to give it our all until the very end," Tkachuk said earlier in the week. "It's an opportunity to keep putting positive steps forward for next year."
Ottawa's nine wins and 19 points in April are tied for the sixth most in the NHL. The Sens have scored 3.57 goals per game, their highest in any month this season.
On the back of two power play goals Tuesday, the Sens man advantage ranks eighth in the league this month at 24.4 per cent.
Josh Norris and Stützle each have eight goals this month while Tkachuk has six goals and 18 points in 14 games. Anton Forsberg is 6-3-1 with a .910 save percentage.
"It's great that even though we're out, we're still pushing and we're still trying to get better," Tkachuk said. "We're going to finish hard and leave a positive note not just for ourselves, but the city and the fans, to be excited for next year."
