Shane Pinto would add some extra depth to the lineup, but his absence isn't why they're in a slump right now.
For the past month, Senators' fans have been clamouring for a resolution in the Shane Pinto contract dispute. In the end, there was a resolution, but it was one that nobody expected.
On Thursday, Pinto was suspended 41 games for violating the NHL's gambling rules. The Senators now know he won't play until at least mid-January when his suspension ends.
Through 7 games, the Senators have a record of just 3-4-0. Nonetheless, even without Pinto in the lineup, they have the sixth most goals per game (3.86) in the NHL. They're second in the league in shots on goal per game. And they've outshot their opponents in 6 of their 7 outings.
The explanation for this success is not the team's star first-line centre, Tim Stutzle, who has been predictably excellent. Nor is it the long-awaited return of the second-line centre, Josh Norris, who is still finding his legs.
Instead, it may be the breakout play of their third-line centre, Ridly Greig, the least seasoned of this young trio. An early example of Greig's skill came against Tampa Bay when he knocked the puck out of the air in traffic and dished a between-the-legs pass to a wide-open Vladimir Tarasenko.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61br6LyUyPg[/embed]
Greig has established himself as an NHL-calibre player with 5 points in 7 games. He is centering what is arguably Ottawa's best line, skating between Tarasenko and Mathieu Joseph. Greig's line is 1,2,3 in team plus/minus. (Greig +7; Tarasenko +6; and Joseph +5.)
So far this season, the Sens' problem has not been down the centre--or anywhere on offence, for that matter. It has been their porous play on the defensive side of the puck.
Goaltending is obviously a huge issue. Although the Senators are giving up the 5th fewest shots in the league, they're 23rd in goals against, allowing 3.43/game. The team's save percentage is 27th with .878.
It's not just goaltending, however. The Senators have also had bad defensive breakdowns at crucial times. For example, when they played the Islanders Thursday night, Mark Kastelic was slow to retrieve a puck behind his own net, turned it over, and the Islanders capitalized.
It's hard to see how Pinto would solve that problem. He had a plus-minus of -21 last year. Pinto's role on the Senators would have been to drive depth scoring, and right now, they don't need that. They're getting that in spades from Ridly Greig and his line.