Some news, notes and conversations from Ottawa Senators practice Thursday morning.
After a 4-2 win in Toronto Wednesday night, the Senators' Thursday morning practice started off with a Thomas Chabot sighting. Chabot wore the green practice jersey but didn’t participate in main practice. Meanwhile, Claude Giroux left practice early.
After practice, head coach Jacques Martin updated the media on the status of both players.
“Yeah, I think (Giroux) is fine. I just had talked to him before practice and I don't know like last night he was one of the forwards that got the most ice time,” Martin said. “So I think he just went out there and just felt that he'd be better off saving his energy for tomorrow. So he’ll be fine.”
Chabot returned to the ice for the first time since getting injured on December 2nd against the Seattle Kraken. Chabot has only played in two games since October. Meanwhile, Rourke Chartier is skating again as well. He's missed the past two weeks after getting hurt in the loss to Dallas.
“I think they're getting closer but for sure not ready yet," Martin said. “But at least to be on the ice – to get a chance to get some work on their fitness level, get a feeling for the puck again and hopefully join the team at some point shortly... But at least the fact that they're on the ice is a good sign.”
Another interesting tidbit from practice was that Anton Forsberg was in the starter's net following Korpisalo’s strong performance in the win against the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night. Martin shared how he plans to deploy his goalies.
“Well, I think what I've done is, with the goalie coach, try to establish a plan for the goalies," Martin said. “Let them establish who's going to play the most and I think we're probably going game by game, but I like what I've seen so far. I think they're both battlers. They both have their strengths and I think the key is to work at getting better every day.”
Drake Batherson has been heating up with 18 points in his last 15 games. He scored two goals, including the game-winner against the Leafs on Wednesday night.
“I gotta give a lot of credit to my linemates Vladdy and Timmy. They've set me up a lot this month," Batherson said. "Timmy’s given me about four tap-ins and so he's all over me. I owe him a few. So, I feel like I can give him a few back. And same with Vladdy. he's been playing great and setting me up too. So I can't thank them enough.”
Batherson told The Hockey News Ottawa he's learned a lot from his friend, Sidney Crosby, who he hung out with when the Penguins were in Ottawa last week going to dinner. According to Batherson, he and Crosby talk plenty of hockey.
“Yeah, all the time," Batherson said. “Nate (Mackinnon) and Brad (Marchand), we go for lunch pretty well every day in the summer and hockey is the main topic all the time.”
Batherson says he's been leaning on Jacques Martin for his advice and coaching.
“Like the other night, I think I had a 2 on 1 and just hesitated and put it right in the goalie’s chest,” Batherson said. “And he said if you get another shot, just let it rip and trust your shot. It ended up working out a few shifts after that.”
Parker Kelly scored his first goal since the first game of the season against the Leafs on Wednesday night. Kelly says his 28-game goalless drought was not weighing him down.
“It’s not too much of a relief," Kelly said. “Obviously, it's nice when you're contributing and helping the team out. But for me, I'm just happy with where my game has been recently. I kind of feel like I'm back being confident with the puck, making plays and being a good 200-foot player. And that's ultimately what my job description is.”
One last little interesting tidbit from practice was that both Angus Crookshank and Jacob Bernard-Docker told The Hockey News Ottawa that both of their first NHL goal pucks are currently being professionally framed.
Lines at practice:
Tkachuk-Norris-Giroux
Tarasenko-Stützle- Batherson
Crookshank-Greig-Kubalik
Smejkal-Kastelic-Kelly
Sanderson-Zub
Chychrun-Hamonic
Brannstrom-JB
Forsberg
Korpisalo
The Senators will host New Jersey on Friday night.