Ottawa Senators winger Erik Condra was searching Friday for the ideal way to sum up the latest developments for the injury-plagued team.
Without offensive firepower, the Senators have evolved into a tight-checking, hard-working bunch.
Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza may not be able to help the Senators out on the ice because of their injuries, but they can still add something from off of it.
Perhaps laughter is the best medicine for the Ottawa Senators.
At the end of a rare hour-long Ottawa Senators practice on Monday, Mika Zibanejad stayed on the ice for some extra work. Zibanejed spent time deflecting pucks from assistant coach Jason Smith. After Smith left, Zibanejad took shots on his own.
Minutes into practice at Scotiabank Place Wednesday afternoon, Carolina Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller was barking at his players to pay close attention to opposition defencemen rushing the puck.
“Especially tomorrow,” Muller said in a voice loud enough to be heard well up in the seats, referring to Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
No wonder. It’s the Erik Karlsson factor.
Of course, it wasn’t going to be easy. While the Ottawa Senators kicked off their four-game homestand by knocking off the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday, they needed to dive in front of pucks in the final seconds – and they received a lucky bounce or two — to preserve a victory which seemed to be well in hand when they led 4-1 in the second period.