It's only been two weeks since Jacques Martin took over as manager of the Ottawa Senators, but the Franco-Ontarian's frustration is already starting to set in, especially given performances like those on Tuesday night.
At the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, the “Sens” allowed five goals in the first period and lost 3:6. The damage was quickly done and the late comeback was of no use.
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It's a scenario repeating itself for the Ottawa team, which has also missed comfortable leads since Martin took over on Dec. 18. The interim coach tries to limit the damage with a 3-4-0 record, but he's slowly having enough.
“It's a lesson we've learned about the level of competitiveness we need to have. We just have to do things faster. […] “We win a game and then we are the team we were before,” he explained at a press conference.
“At a certain point in the season or in your career you can no longer make excuses,” the 71-year-old continued about his team. They have to decide what they want to be. It's not like there are a lot of first years on this team. They've been through this before, so I think they need to make a change. Above all, they must change their state of mind.
Constancy
The frustration is at least shared by the other team members. In Martin's opinion, it's not one or two players who need to give more, but most of them.
Quebecer Thomas Chabot is not to blame, he is perhaps the best of his team since returning to play on December 31st. The defender picked up three points and maintained a +3 lead in two games.
“You’re not going to win a game in the National Hockey League if you allow five goals in the first period,” he said. It's clear and simple. Especially not against a team like Vancouver, which has had a lot of success this year.”
“It's really frustrating at the moment, but I believe in this group,” Claude Giroux continued. We have the potential to win ten times in a row if we work throughout the game, if we are consistent and if everyone participates. I fully believe in it.”
Against the Canucks, Anton Forsberg allowed four goals on nine shots before giving way to Joonas Korpisalo with four minutes left in the first period. The Finn gave in a minute later.