Coach Jacques Martin ‘confused’ by ups and downs of Ottawa Senators

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Jacques Martin says he’s “confused” by what’s happening with the Ottawa Senators.

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So, he called off Friday morning’s scheduled practice at Canadian Tire Centre, with the team doing an off-ice workout instead (some players also skated), plus he called a team meeting.

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Less than 24 hours after his team had been demolished in what players called an “embarrassing” 6-0 loss to the Florida Panthers, Martin wanted to get feedback from his players.

“What confuses me is how we can play very well for 5 1/2, maybe six games,” Martin said. “Then, we have a performance like (Thursday). That confuses me. It’s not the first time we’ve had a stretch where we’re playing really well and then we slip and take a step backward.

“I’m trying to get an understanding of how (the players) feel and what their mindset is right now. When I look at our season, we’ve had some ups and downs. As a coach, you have to bring answers, you need to bring solutions. This morning, I just felt I needed to get feedback from them in order to prepare for the last seven games (of the season).”

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It’s almost merciful the season is coming to an end with the April 16 road game in Boston.

Better luck next year, as they say.

As for the 6-0 setback, Brady Tkachuk called it “embarrassing,” Jake Sanderson called it “embarrassing” and if anyone in that locker room didn’t feel that way, he should pack his hockey sticks and suitcases and go home.

Yeah, it was “embarrassing.” Effing embarrassing. 

It’s a word we’ve heard too often in a season that got away from the Senators early. Rinse, repeat. Yeah, this team has been down this road before. Except this time, we and they expected more.

It’s a competitive league. Some nights you’re going to lose to an opposing hockey team that is on top of its game. But the latest loss to the Panthers, yeah, we’ll stick with “embarrassing” — to the players, to the coaches, to the team’s management, to the owner and to the fan base.

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The thing is the Senators and their fan base can point to way too many games this season where they’ve stunk the joint out. Too often, fans don’t even have a chance to settle into their seats and their team is already down a goal or two.

Did you really think the Senators had a chance of digging themselves out of a 2-0 deficit after the first 1:37 of the game?

You’d think after enough bad beatings, the team would figure out a way to prevent it from happening, right?

With their season winding down, the Senators are back at it Saturday with a home game against the New Jersey Devils.

The Senators beat the Devils 5-2 two weeks ago with, outside of giving up two goals in the first minute of the second period, a dominant effort. Yeah, these puzzling Senators are also capable of playing really well.

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In his words to TSN 1200’s Gord Wilson after the previous win over the Devils, Martin called it “resilient.”

That’s what he’s looking for from his team Saturday.

“After (Thursday’s) performance, that’s what I expect,” Martin said.

But, will he get it?

RETURN OF CHABOT

Thomas Chabot hopes to return to Ottawa’s lineup Saturday.

The veteran defenceman has missed 31 games so far this season — with injuries to his hand and the latest, to his “lower body.”

“It feels really good,” he said. “I’ve been skating a lot these past few days. We’re getting there.”

It has been tough, being in and out of the lineup, but he’s anxious to get back.

“It’s part of the game,” he said. “You have to stay positive through rehab and not being around the team. The worst thing in hockey is being in the press box watching the game. You wish you were playing.

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“A game like (Thursday) was hard. You’re playing one of the best, if not the best, teams in the league. We saw why with the way they played. It was one of those games where you have to move on and worry about the next one.”

FAN APPRECIATION

Saturday’s home game (7 p.m. start) is the Senators’ Fan Appreciation Night, highlighted by intermission performances from Canadian singer/songwriter and Juno Award winner Preston Pablo. There will also be more than $250,000 in prizes and giveaways.

The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Tim Stützle bobblehead. There’s also a Fan Appreciation Sale at the Canadian Tire Centre Sens Store location with up to 70% off select items and 40% off sitewide for Season Seat Members from April 6-13.

“(The support) has been been amazing, the fans been awesome,” Chabot said. “This season hasn’t gone the way we wanted, but we really appreciate them standing behind us.

“There are only two home games left (the final one is next Saturday against Montreal), we want to leave on a good note.”

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