Browsing: Stutzle

Evidence in favour of the pairing was produced on the first shift of the game against Dallas on Tuesday when Stutzle and Batherson rushed into the Stars zone, leading to a Batherson goal.

The two were first paired up against the New York Islanders on Oct. 20. Since then, they have played together almost exclusively. The duo has combined for 30 points in the team’s last 12 games.

Itâ€s much-needed offensive production for a Senators team without Brady Tkachuk.

Before this season, the two had played together for 31 per cent of Stutzleâ€s five-on-five ice time over the last three years. This season, itâ€s 53 per cent, which includes the first five games where they mostly played on different lines.

Many players and coaches will tell you playing with Stutzle isnâ€t easy because of his dynamic play and skating ability. Batherson can keep up with Stutzle and has the talent to mesh with the German.

“Obviously he’s a special player, and plays different from other players,†Batherson said. “So, it just takes time, the more time you spend with (him) the easier it gets. The longer we go, the better off we’re going to be, too.â€

The Senators have outscored opponents 9-2 at five-on-five with the duo on the ice while outchancing opponents 57-45.

“Most of my goals have just been in around the net area, so just trying to win battles in front, get the rims back from the point, little things like that. To just create space for Timmy,†Batherson said.

Stutzle loves playing with Batherson.

“I think he’s a hell of a player. I told you guys that many times. I think he’s one of the most underrated players, one of the best playmakers in the game, in my opinion.â€

Batherson has 17 points in 14 games. At age 27, heâ€s just entering his prime. Both players are improving and when Tkachuk returns, how about a top line of Tkachuk-Stutzle-Batherson? In three seasons from 2022-25, the trio outchanced opponents 302-258 at five-on-five with a respectable 53-per-cent expected goal rate.

We will see. Regardless, the line could become this era’s version of the Pizza line that carried the Senators in the 2000s with Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson.

There is a reason coach Travis Green has maintained his third line of Michael Amadio, Shane Pinto and Claude Giroux while switching up his first two lines all season. The trio has the seventh-best expected goals percentage of any line in the NHL this season at 65 per cent. Itâ€s no coincidence that the Senators have a point in 10 of the 11 games since facing Edmonton on Oct. 21, the game the line was put together.

“That line is probably the only line that I haven’t touched for a little while. You guys know me that when that happens, some good things are happening,†said Green.

The third line is routinely tasked with shutting down the opponents†star players such as Mikko Rantanen, David Pastrnak and Alex Ovechkin. Theyâ€ve outscored opponents 9-3 at five-on-five, which is outstanding considering their matchups.

The line is not just analytically dominant. Amadio recently had four goals in four games, Pinto is on a four-game assist streak, and Giroux brings an added playmaking element that makes the line effective defensively and offensively. Giroux is on pace for more points than he had last year at age 37. The unit has combined for 22 points in 11 games — including Amadio and Giroux setting up Nick Jensenâ€s goal on Tuesday against Dallas.

When Tkachuk returns, we know what line will stay together.Â

The Senators only have three NHL-calibre left-shot defencemen. Now, their depth on the left side likely will be tested. Thomas Chabot left the game after the first period against Dallas with an upper-body injury. Green had no update post-game, but said the injury was caused by Chabot reaching out for a puck in the first period.

With the injury, the Senators likely will have to pair two right-shot defencemen together, which is unusual.

With Donovan Sebrango waived and claimed by Florida, Ottawaâ€s next best left-shot defenceman in its system, at least for now, is Jorian Donovan, who is at AHL Belleville. No slight to Donovan, whoâ€s played well in Belleville, but heâ€s not ready for the NHL with only 78 career AHL games under his belt. Maybe the Senators given 2024 first-round pick Carter Yakemchuk a look? But with six NHLers available to Green not including Chabot, who would Yakemchuk replace in the lineup and is that better for his development than continuing to marinate in the AHL?

We are sure GM Steve Staios will try to address the need for another left-shot defenceman at some point before the deadline, but will it be soon if Chabot is out for a significant period of time? If Chabot is out only briefly, the Senators should be fine, but an injury to Tyler Kleven or Jake Sanderson would really test their depth.

Sens doing just fine without Tkachuk

Tkachuk was seen without a cast on his injured thumb on Tuesday. Could that mean his return is sooner than we think?

Meanwhile, the Senators have points in 10 of their last 11 games without Tkachuk. According to Sportsnet Stats, the last time the Senators had points in 10 of 11 was off the blocks in the 2017-18 season (Oct. 5-27, 2017) when they went 5-1-5. Ottawaâ€s season has been more ugly than pretty so far, grinding out results without its captain. Racking up points early could define the season for the Sens.

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PHILADELPHIA — The Ottawa Senators tried and failed to play keep-away with a one-goal lead and had to go to overtime to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Saturday.

While the Senators neglected to post a shot on goal in the third period until only 1:26 remained, the Flyers got a game-tying goal from Jamie Drysdale to send the game into overtime. Then Tim Stutzle reached a loose puck and scored with 1:41 left in OT.

Ottawa (7-5-3) went without a shot from 2:43 remaining in the second period until Dylan Cozens†attempt with 1:26 left, his team up 2-1 at the time. They started fast with 37-year-old David Perron passing to a wide-open Stutzle, and he had an easy time snapping a shot past Flyers goalie Sam Ersson 5:14 into the game.

Only 1:05 later, former Flyers captain Claude Giroux, also 37, fed winger Michael Amadio, and he went right down an unprotected slot to slip the puck past Ersson for a 2-0 Senators lead.

The Flyers (8-5-2) got on the board when Matvei Michkov spun away from Ottawa defender Jake Sanderson, then cut through the slot and put one home at 11:23 of the second to bring the Flyers to within 2-1.

It was Michkovâ€s second goal in two games, after heâ€d gone the previous nine without one.

While goalie Linus Ullmark (20 saves) worked to keep that score intact into the third, his club switched to a pure defensive effort in the third period.

That worked only until Drysdale found a loose puck in the slot and rebounded it home with 10:05 left in regulation to tie the game.

Senators: Get right back into action Sunday night, hosting the Utah Mammoth for the first of a four-game Ottawa homestand.

Philadelphia: Will host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

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OTTAWA — Tim Stutzle has been the Robin to Brady Tkachukâ€s Batman, but even without Tkachuk, Stutzle has shown he is every bit a force of nature.Â

“Heâ€s nasty,†said teammate Drake Batherson about Stutzle — meaning it in a good way, of course.

Stutzleâ€s talent has never been questioned. Heâ€s a dynamic, silky skater with unbelievable hands and a bit of an edge. But, at times, Stutzleâ€s play has felt like empty calories — lots of beautiful plays but lacking the production to match the finesse. The question became, Would Stutzle’s play wane or elevate without Tkachuk?

We appear to have the answer: Stutzle has 13 points in 10 games without Tkachuk while riding a five-game point streak.Â

The Germanâ€s goal against Montreal epitomized his toughness infused with skill.

Sometimes, young uber-talented star centres focus on points over wins. Not Stutzle. Heâ€s become an excellent all-around player, which is back up by the stats. According to Evolving Hockey, since the start of the 2024-25 season, Stutzle is fifth in the league in WAR (wins above replacement). The names in front of him are Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrnak and Thomas Harley. One stat doesnâ€t tell the whole story, but that is a stratospheric list.Â

Something the greats in any sport need is belief-in-self while understanding the need to work on their shortcomings.

One Senator last season told Sportsnet.ca that Stutzle is one of the most confident players heâ€s ever played with.

“I know what I can bring to the table, and I just got to stay confident,†said Stutzle.

His adjustments this season include a new tape job. Stutzle used to have a thin layer of tape on the bottom of the stick blade. But following the advice of the GSOAT (Greatest Senator of All-Time) Daniel Alfredsson, Stutzleâ€s entire blade is now covered in a white band of tape.

Alfredsson believed the new tape would allow Stutzle to hold onto the puck rather than “fumbling it 10 times,†as Stutzle mentioned had happened before. It seems to have worked, Stutzle has seven points in 10 periods with the new setup.

If you ask Stutzle about Alfredsson, his face lights up. “Heâ€s awesome,†said Stutzle. The pair frequently pass the puck around to begin practice.

“Learning from the Hall of Famer, he always has some tricks on the ice, off the ice, and he’s just such a smart person,†said Stutzle. “So, it’s just really fun to hear his opinions. And he doesn’t always agree, which is great too.â€

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Stutzle has also elevated his game in the face-off dot. Before this season, he had never had more than a 47 per cent winning percentage in a season. This season has just started, granted, but he has skyrocketed to 60 per cent.Â

“Face-offs, just for example this year, he’s one of the best in the league, and he really put that commitment, time and effort into getting better,†Tkachuk said.Â

Plus, Stutzle knew and stated on multiple occasions that he needed to shoot more this season, after having a career low in shots per game last season. He now leads the team with 40 shots. Heâ€s been rewarded with six goals in 13 games, on pace for 37 goals. He had 24 last season.

The best players sacrifice themselves for the team. Stutzle shifted to the wing for three games last month, and in that time his centreman, Dylan Cozens, had two goals.Â

“He’s such a phenomenal player that said he can play anywhere, any position with anybody, and heâ€s a dominant player in that fashion,†Tkachuk said about Stutzle. Â

Stutzle never complained about playing left wing for the first time since he made the NHL.Â

“Doesn’t matter who’s playing centre, who’s playing wing,†he said.

Subsequently, Senators coach Travis Green slotted Stutzle back to centre and he thrived with Nick Cousins and Batherson on his wings. The trio have a 64 per cent expected goals share, the best of any Senators line this season thatâ€s played over 20 minutes at five-on-five.Â

Stutzle has made Cousins almost as effective as Tkachuk, which would have sounded like an absurd sentence earlier this season. Cousins has two goals in five games on the line.

But, more importantly, the kinship between Batherson and Stutzle has led to Ottawa going 4-2-2 since being united. The duo has combined for 26 points in eight games. Heater.Â

For years, the Senators have been trying to find the rightÂright winger for Stutzle. They’ve found him now. Batherson works off Stutzle tremendously well because he can keep up to his pace, provides elite playmaking and skill with a good scoring touch.

“I think he’s a hell of a player. I told you guys that many times,†said Stutzle about Batherson. “I think he’s one of the most underrated players, one of the best playmakers in the game, in my opinion.â€

The good problem for Green will be, when Tkachuk returns, is whether to overload the top line. Could we be seeing shades of the Pizza Line (Daniel Alfredsson-Jason Spezza-Dany Heatley)?

Thereâ€s no question Stutzle wants to be one of the best players in the world. The Senators have weathered the storm without their captain because theyâ€ve had “the guyâ€Âand need that to continue to make the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Eastern Conference.

Senators fans have affectionately nicknamed Stutzle “Timmy Superstar.â€

Heâ€s living up to it.

Bathersonâ€s blunder: We spoke glowingly about Batherson earlier, but hereâ€s some hard truths. We canâ€t dismiss the gaffe Batherson had against Montreal that led directly to Montrealâ€s overtime winner by Alex Newhook on Saturday.Â

After the game, Batherson declined to talk to the media. It was a similar blunder to when he lost Max Domi in transition in Game 2 of last yearâ€s playoff series against the Maple Leafs, leading to Domiâ€s overtime winner. Itâ€s funny how one mistake changes the discourse around a player. But there is no doubt Batherson has to become a more complete player.Â

Jordan Spence loses his spot: Five points in five games and the best expected goals per cent of any Senator defenceman wasnâ€t enough for Jordan Spence to keep his spot. But Green reinserted Nikolas Matinpalo with Tyler Kleven on Saturday. The two were caved in with a putrid eight per cent expected goals share against Montreal. However, on the season, Matinpalo and Kleven have done a good job in sheltered third-pairing minutes but have not been on the ice for a five-on-five goal for the Senators. Meanwhile, Nick Jensen and Thomas Chabotâ€s underlying numbers are all right, but the eye test suggests Jensen is a 35-year-old coming off major hip-surgery and both were also caved in late against Montreal, which led to Ivan Demidovâ€s late equalizing goal. Maybe it would be fruitful for Jensen to sit a game and let Green see how a new look backend would look.Â

Sandersonâ€s impact: While sifting through analytics, we found a fascinating statistic: Jake Sanderson ranks first among all skaters in the NHL in Wins Above Replacement, according to Evolving Hockey. The Senators have survived the absence of Tkachuk; we are not sure they would similarly survive a Sanderson injury.Â

–Some statistics from Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick and Moneypuck.com.

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Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle each had two goals and an assist to lead the way for Ottawa (5-4-1), while Leevi Merilainen made 27 saves — a redemption effort of sorts for the 23-year-old after letting in seven goals against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 15 in his only other start this season.

Morgan Geekie scored on the first shot of the night by Boston (4-7-0) after a defensive-zone turnover by the Senators, but that was all the offence the Bruins could muster — until their final shot of the game when Viktor Arvidsson slipped one into the Ottawa net with less than 10 seconds left.

Jeremy Swayman made 17 saves in a losing effort for Boston.

Bathersonâ€s first goal of the night, scored on the power play, tied the game 1-1 at the midpoint of the first period, while Claude Giroux netted his second of the young season at 1:08 of the second period for the go-ahead goal.

Nick Cousins and Fabian Zetterlund padded the scoresheet for Ottawa with goals of their own in the third frame.

Ottawa fans did plenty of cheering as Monday night beyond their hometown squad.

Itâ€s not often a Toronto team gets hearty roars in the Nationâ€s Capital, but the Senators made an exception Monday as they played the World Series game — with full broadcast audio — during the first and second intermissions, with the majority of the fans remaining in their seats.

A playful note on social media from Ottawaâ€s official account supporting the Toronto Blue Jays was approved by senior management before posting, according to Senators vice-president of communications Ian Mendes, given the Ontario teams†longtime rivalry.

Senators: The offence is clicking for Ottawa this young season. Monday marked the first time since February of 2023 theyâ€ve scored more than six goals in back-to-back wins, after potting seven against the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

Bruins: Boston was cold on both sides of the puck Monday and remain in last place in the Atlantic Division.

Bathersonâ€s equalizer early in the first killed any semblance of momentum to start the game by Boston after the Bruins scored on their first shot of the game.

Monday marked the first time in his career Batherson has scored two or more goals in at least two games in a row.

Bruins: Host the New York Islanders (4-3-1) on Tuesday.

Senators: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks (4-3-2) on Tuesday.

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OTTAWA — When does a hockey player become a superstar?

Thereâ€s no magic star beside a playerâ€s name on NHL.com to indicate a player has reached that level, nor is there a generally accepted statistical threshold, such as 50 goals or 100 points.Â

Itâ€s unquantifiable, yet we all know one when we see one.

“He is a superstar,†Senators goalie Linus Ullmark said recently of Tim Stutzle.

Probably not yet, in most observers†eyes. But can he be?

“I would say (I) consider myself so young in this league,†the 23-year-old Stutzle said, in an interview with Sportsnet.ca. “I can still work a lot on my body to get stronger and faster. So, I think I have a big upside.â€

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Senators fans already believe in their top centre, affectionately calling him “Timmy Superstar.” He got that nickname in large part thanks to scoring 39 goals and 90 points as a 21-year-old. After a down 2023-24, the young German rebounded, clawing back his offensive game with 24 goals and 79 assists while transforming his defensive play from porous to elite. In 2024-25, Stutzle had an expected goals allowed at five-on-five of 2.25, which ranked him 122 out of 704.Â

“Well, any championship team that wins, their star players don’t just play offence; they donâ€t cheat,†said Senators coach Travis Green, in reference to Stutzleâ€s defensive growth.

“They play at both ends of the rink. They’re able to create offence and have good defence.â€

But to join the upper echelon, 79 points wonâ€t do. Stutzleâ€s challenge is to showcase his offensive capabilities like he did in 2022-23, while maintaining his defensive repertoire.

“I want to win more games, and it doesn’t do the job if you score 50 but you lose every game,†Stutzle said.

“It helps when I produce. We’re winning the games.

“But in the end, I think that if I played better defensively and shut down other guys, we have the same chance to win games too.â€

Meticulous hard work matched with a stringent diet and competitive fire would do the trick.Â

In the off-season, Stutzle gained muscle and continued working with his personal chef. Although he shies away from asking the chef to make traditional German delicacies, new teammate Fabian Zetterlund felt right at home when he moved in after last season’s trade deadline and requested Swedish meatballs.

Despite a great 2024-25 campaign, the star German centre didnâ€t feel he got off the right start last season.

“I like playing at the same weight that I played at last year,†said Stutzle. “I was a little bit heavier (last season). I didn’t feel as good. I trained (this off-season) and got more muscle, more strength, and while still feeling that quickness.â€

Stutzle says heâ€s never felt better.

But he also needs to shoot more. In 2024-25, Stutzle had the lowest shots per game of his career, at 1.97, matched by his second-highest shooting percentage of his career, at 14.8 per cent. Senators fans have roared “Shoooot!†when Stutzle gets into the slot but decides to pass it off.

A self-proclaimed playmaker, Stutzle knows his mindset needs to change.

“I’m always getting chances,†he said.

“Trying to get that groove again and where you’re playing games and knowing what decision to make, and if you have a shoot-first mentality, you find the right play.â€Â

Itâ€s easier for anyone to score more with more ice time. Simple math. Stutzleâ€s ice time took a dip in 2024-25 to just over 19 minutes a night. However, in this pre-season, his coach has thrust him onto the penalty kill. The trend around the league is for superstar players to display their talent to defend but also able to hurt opponents short-handed: look at Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

If youâ€re a superstar, you kill penalties.

“(Killing penalties) came from the coaching staff, (they) tried me out and I love that,†said Stutzle. “They believe in me, and I think they saw that I took big steps defensively last year. And, obviously, as a PK guy, you got to bear down defensively, but there’s also chances for rush opportunities, and you have your skill guys on the ice, I think you can get chances.â€

All is set for the ultra-skilled Senators centre to leap from star to superstar.Â

“Tim’s a real committed player,†Green said. “He doesn’t go home at the end of the season thinking that this is his best version. He knows that he’s young, but he also wants to be as good as he can.â€

• Ottawa announced a slew of cuts on Thursday. One notable name not included was Carter Yakemchuk, still aboard with the roster sitting at 32. Another strong pre-season start has been rewarded but the competition will intensify as the season inches closer.  More seasoning in the AHL still looks like the likeliest outcome and the right one for Ottawaâ€s elite prospect to develop.Â

• Drake Batherson will be out for at least two weeks with an upper-body injury after pulling a muscle in practice. The regular season is two weeks away, so itâ€s unclear whether Batherson will return by opening night, on Oct. 9. For now, his absence simplifies the choices on the wing. Both Zetterlund and David Perron will likely be inserted onto the second line. That reunites the incredibly effective third-line trio from last season: Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio.

Before Bathersonâ€s injury, Ottawa had 10 forwards fighting for the top-nine spots and was poised to have one man standing when the music stopped. For now, itâ€s Batherson in the stands looking on.Â

• Lars Eller has recovered from his abdominal and sports hernia procedures to be a full participant in practice on Thursday. Heâ€s close to game action.

“Is it going to be a week from now?  I don’t know. We haven’t put a timetable on that, but it’s probably not too far away,†Eller said, about his return to playing date.

• Tyler Kleven and Nick Jensen will travel with the team to Quebec City for the Senators’ two pre-season games; itâ€s still unclear whether either will feature but itâ€s a promising sign.Â

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