Sens Stocks: Ersson Struggles, Stutzle Adds Another in 5-3 Loss to Red Wings

The Ottawa Senators had a tough outing against the Detroit Red Wings, falling 5-3. While the Senators were without their top defensive pairing and starting goaltender for the game, it was within reach, but they weren’t able to grab hold of it and take over.

Playing their third road game in four days, the Senators looked like it was catching up to them. They started the game hot, but didn’t look inspired again until late in the second period and for parts of the third.

Here, we will look at the Sens Stocks, and which players’ stocks went up and which ones went down.

William Eklund – Stock Up 📈

After getting so many great looks in the first two games, William Eklund was able to bury his first goal with the Senators. It wasn’t a highly skilled play or anything, but Eklund has been all around the net generating dangerous scoring chances, and this one happened to go in from behind the goal line.

Eklund leads the team in expected goals by a wide margin, with 2.7 through just 54 minutes of play. Not only does that lead the Senators, but it is third in the league.

Expected goals mean very little compared to actual on-ice production, but what it shows is that he is generating a great amount of chances. He has been a fantastic fit in the Senators’ top-six so far.

Tim Stutzle – Stock Up 📈

This has been an excellent start for Tim Stutzle, who scored his third goal of the season against the Red Wings. Just under three minutes into the game, Stutzle was nearing the end of his shift, looking for an opportunity to clear the puck.

As he skated to the neutral zone, he saw a gap to beat Red Wings defender Axel Sandin-Pellika, and rifled a shot past Ben Chiarot and John Gibson to score.

Stutzle has looked like he has reached a new level so far this season. With six points in three games, he is going to look to continue the hot start.

It isn’t just the offense for Stutzle, though. He has been throwing hits, playing well defensively, and his skating looks as good as it ever has.

Ridly Greig – Stock Up 📈

Ridly Greig played his first game of the season against the Red Wings after serving a two-game suspension to start the year. While it wasn’t the best game Greig has ever played, his return served as a great reminder of what he brings to the table.

With the Senators needing a burst of energy at the end of the second period, he delivered a strong reverse hit on Alex DeBrincat, resulting in a brawl. Trying to bring this kind of energy into the team is what Greig does best.

That isn’t all he did, though. The Senators’ fourth line struggled through the first two games, and with him spending time in the bottom-six, it looked like a much improved group with more speed and had some better defensive coverage.

Senators’ Power Play – Stock Down 📉

The Senators’ power play was what cost them the most in their disappointing playoff appearance last season, and the game against the Red Wings was a prime example of that.

Yes, the Senators got a power play goal, but outside of that, through five power play opportunities, Ottawa didn’t look very threatening. There is a lot of perimeter passing going on, they aren’t finding clear passing lanes, and the shots to the goal aren’t generating anything, either.

With Jake Sanderson out, top unit responsibilities have been passed on to Thomas Chabot. That isn’t the reason for the whole unit struggling, but the way Chabot plays the facilitator role is very different from how Sanderson does. The adjustment could be part of what made for some tough looks.

Nick Cousins – Stock Down 📉

Nick Cousins isn’t supposed to be the play-driver of the team or anything, but in his role as a two-way role player, he hasn’t been as effective as hoped.

Of course, Cousins made headlines after taunting Dylan Larkin for losing the captaincy. Getting under the skin of the opposition is what he is best at, and he did that well.

The on-ice efforts just weren’t enough, though. When the rest of the team is firing on all cylinders, they can afford for a player to play that role, but not in a game like this one.

Sam Ersson – Stock Down 📉📉

In his first start with the Senators organization, Sam Ersson allowed four goals, including two quick ones to start the second period, deflating the team.

Ersson was one of the worst goalies in the league last season, based on analytics, and through just four periods of play, isn’t instilling much confidence.

The Senators waived and lost Leevi Merilainen in favour of keeping Ersson on the roster. While that is a much different conversation, it shows how the team is putting all of their eggs in that basket.

Puck control seems to be the biggest problem with Ersson. Multiple goals have been a result of him leaving the net to play the puck, mishandling it and giving the opponent a grade-A scoring chance.

The Senators host the Philadelphia Flyers for their home opener on Oct. 8, and heading into that game with a 2-1-0 record is nothing to be concerned about. The Senators have looked good, but got caught playing slowly and disorganized for much of the Red Wings game.