The Senators have collected points in each of their past five games (3-0-2), a far cry from their pace in the first half of the season.
In their past five games, the Ottawa Senators have been a much improved team. They haven't lost in regulation, going 3-0-2, while pushing two of the best teams in the league in Boston and Winnipeg to overtime. That's a stark contrast to the Senators' first 39 games when they posted a record of 15-24-0.
Five games is not a large enough sample size to jump to a conclusion, but it's a nice trend. The stats would suggest this Sens team has been playing very differently than they were before.
During this five-game stretch, they have allowed 2.2 goals per game. Meanwhile, in their first 39 games, they were averaging 3.76 goals a game. Is that just puck luck and better goaltending? The numbers would suggest otherwise.
In the first 39 games, the Senators were almost even in terms of the high-danger shots allowed (468) compared to what they created (470). In the last five games, they've completely dominated opponents in that area. The Sens have had 61 high-danger chances while giving up just 34. That's the largest differential in the NHL since January 18th.
These numbers demonstrate that the Senators have tightened up their defence and playing a better 200-foot game.
But what about goaltending? Has it been been a factor in the last five games? Have they started turned it around?
Yes and no.
The Senators have had the best stretch of goaltending they have had all season. Since January 18th, Korpisalo and Sogaard have combined for a .912 save percentage, a drastic improvement over league-worst .879 in their first 39 games.
However, the goaltending could still be better. According to Natural Stat Trick, none of the 11 goals Ottawa has allowed since January 18th has come from high danger opportunities. It points to the Senators' goaltending being propped up by a team playing well in front of them, limiting the shots to the outside in the past five games.
But it does not indicate that the Senators goaltenders themselves are turning a corner in terms of their play on the ice.
Meanwhile, Shane Pinto has solidified Ottawa’s forward depth. The Senators are a much more balanced, complete team with Pinto. In the three games he's been in the lineup, the Senators have outshot their opponents 99 to 73, not allowing more than 25 shots against in any of the games. They've averaged 3.6 goals for per game in the last five games, which is up from 3.33 goals per game in the first 39 games.
The question all Senators fans have is this: Is the Senators play in the past five games sustainable? That will be up to the players.