That's how long it's been since the Senators have scored a goal. Why is that? The Ottawa Senators are one of the last few teams whose coach insists on the dump and chase. Most teams' coaches would much prefer their players carry the puck in and get creative. Unless of course the coach doesn't trust their players' creativity and consistence attacking the blue line.



Let's face it, dumping the puck in is basically a giveaway on which you try to regain possession. If you fail, the dump in and chase was for nothing, and puck control was just handed over to the other team. D-men are getting better and faster at getting to the puck and making a good play with it, or keeping attackers outside the slot long enough that no play on the net is possible. The result is that when the attackers get frustrated at the lack of scoring, all three forwards wind up battling for the puck behind the net, while their d-men guard the blue line. That leaves the entire space between the blue line and icing line in the hands of the defense. If the puck is coughed up, there's no-one else but defenders to take possession, because a defense pinch is too risky.

By comparison, carrying the puck in is an art that holds some dangers: a team with a good transition game can take advantage of a turnover at their blue line and make you pay dearly. But leading teams in the league (Chicago, Philadelphia, even Buffalo who isn't much of a leader) prefer to carry the puck in, using the neutral zone to gain the proper separation from the opposing blueliners. Once this is accomplished, forwards can enter the zone, criss-cross, pass back to a trailer, and get creative for some plays on the net. Worse comes to worse, there's still the option of dumping it behind the net.

Cory Clouson either seems to be a big fan of the dump and chase, or doesn't trust his guys to carry the puck in properly, or wants to simplify the game as much as possible until his guys have proved that they are ready for more. And so the Sens' preferred game is still the chip and chase, which is too easily countered. As long as the opposing D-men are willing to take a little punishment on the back boards, that is.

The Senators have gotten so used to the dump in that when they have an opportunity to carry into the zone, they are out of position. Noteworthy during the Buffalo game was a 3-on-2 where all 3 Sens attackers were in a line abreast, making the defense job of blocking passing lanes far too easy. Where's the trailer curling into the slot behind the play? Where's the criss-cross that makes blueliners fall out of position? Where's the sudden change of direction that separates the defense?

The Senators need to get less predictable in the attack if they are to have success. Carrying the puck in gives you a lot of options, dumping it in gives you precisely one option only.