Three Takeaways From Senators 4-1 Victory over Dallas

The Ottawa Senators defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Thursday night, limiting Dallas to only 15 shots in a complete shutdown.

Here are my three takeaways from the game

1. Josh Norris

After Josh Norris's time on ice significantly dropped to 13 minutes in the last two games, interim head coach Jacques Martin decided to realign Norris with Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig on the supposed third line for Ottawa. 

Norris came out flying, scoring the team's first two goals of the night. 

The Hockey News spoke to Batherson before the game, and he explained he was really confident in the line and raved about its skill. He was right to be confident.

4:12 into the game, Norris beautifully redirected a Batherson lob shot past a helpless Jake Oettinger. Later on, Norris scored again on a nifty breakaway goal going five-hole on Oettinger. Batherson led Norris into the breakaway with a beautiful saucer pass. After the game, Norris credited Batherson’s excellent golfing skills.

“I think something that might have to do with it is his golf game,” Norris said. "He's got really good mitts around the green.”

Norris spoke about the self-assurance he builds from scoring goals.

“Yeah, whenever you score, I think it helps with your confidence,” Norris said. “But confidence has a lot to do with scoring those too.”

2. Chabot’s charge

Thomas Chabot has had an up and down season with multiple injuries. But since returning from his lower-body injury to start the new year he has been much better, especially offensively, which is his calling card. 

Chabot has registered 15 points in his last 23 games since coming back and now he's scoring goals. Chabot got his second goal in as many games with a rifle of a shot into the top corner over Jake Oettinger. That was the last nail in the coffin for Oettinger’s night. Chabot has been able to restore his creativity and playmaking and it's showing in the win column.

3. Playing with the Best… again

The Senators played a Stanley Cup contender for the third straight night and Thursday's game was arguably one of their best games of the season. They suffocated the neutral zone, limiting Dallas to less offensive zone time than they are used to leading to only 15 Dallas shots on Anton Forsberg.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Ottawa was able to get whatever they wanted as the newly minted Josh Norris line was everywhere, contributing two goals. Meanwhile, Tim Stutzle was able to show off his superstar skills all night, and the Senators power play was able to produce with a nifty Shane Pinto goal from his knees.

The Senators' coach said after the game that the team is improving, and that his three top lines were working off each other, pushing each other through “internal competition.”

Martin described what has changed of late for the team, as the Senators played three of the best teams in the league in four days and got five out of a possible six points.

Martin says the Senators’ maturity level “has been a lot better.”

“I think this is a group that is getting more resilient,” said Martin.

This Senators team is improving in front of our eyes. The problem being it's almost assuredly too late. Nevertheless, this Senators team is playing like a playoff team and it’s great to see.