Justin Peters biggest job is to bring stability to Senators’ crease

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Goaltending is under the microscope with the Ottawa Senators.

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As the Senators prepared to face the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, Justin Peters took over his new role as the Ottawa goaltending coach after he was brought up from the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville on Monday afternoon.

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Peters, 37, who has been in the organization since 2021, took over from goalie coach Zac Bierk, who was given the dreaded reassignment to “a scouting role” after putting the goalies through their drills during Monday’s lengthy 57-minute skate Monday morning.

The reality is Bierk, who has been on the job since 2021, was fired because the goaltending has been an unmitigated disaster. It’s not his fault that newcomer Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg have struggled, but general manager Steve Staios felt he had to do something.

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So, it’s out with the old, in with new.

By all accounts, Peters, who suited up for 83 games in an NHL career that made stops in Carolina, Washington and Arizona, deserves this opportunity. He’s worked hard and it just so happens one his star pupils is the Senators’ top prospect, Mads Sogaard.

“He’s helped me find the way I play,” Sogaard told Postmedia before facing the Avs. “He’s a guy I’ve worked very close with. The past two summers, I’ve gone to Toronto to skate with him. He’s an unbelievable guy. He’s been helping me with everything about turning pro.

“It’s been awesome. He’s very deserving of this call he’s gotten. I’m 100 per cent certain he’s going to do well here.”

Talk to anybody in the Senators’ organization and they’re quick to tell you that Peters is well respected. Sogaard travels from his home in Denmark during the summer to work with Peters at the goalie school he conducts in Toronto with former NHL prospect Andy Chiodo.

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“It’s just a chance to skate, get on the ice and work on some details of the game that you might not have time to do when there’s so many games,” said Sogaard, who stays with Peters and his wife during the camp.

The fact Sogaard happened to be here when Peters got the call to take over the reins from Bierk is just a bonus for both of them.

Peters is dedicated to his job. We saw that last season first hand when he was brought up to Ottawa for six weeks while Bierk was recovering from a concussion after taking a puck in the head in San Jose.

“It’s a coach that you can look to and he works as hard as the players in terms of being prepared,” Sogaard said. “He’s always at the rink. He works crazy hours; he’s there early in the morning and late after games, making sure that the video is prepared and we get certain drills.

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“I might come in one morning and say, ‘Hey, I want to do some post (practice) work tomorrow,’ and the next day I come in and he’s got all the post drills set up for me. He works just as hard as anyone. I don’t know if everybody in Belleville saw it coming, but he’s so deserving of it.”

Judging by the goaltending numbers in the AHL, Peters has done a good job with prospects Leevi Merilainen, Kevin Mandolese and Sogaard. The situation in Ottawa has been difficult and frustrating because the Senators have struggled to get key saves at big times in games.

Signed to a five-year, $20-million U.S. deal by the Senators on July 1, Korpisalo has an 8-15-0 record with a 3.70 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage, while Forsberg’s numbers aren’t much better with a 7-8-0 mark, a 3.35 GAA and an .889 save percentage.

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The situation is even more difficult because Forsberg was placed on long-term injury reserve with a groin ailment he suffered last Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The good news is he’s back on his feet and was walking the hallways of the rink Monday afternoon.

Through 38 games, Ottawa is ranked No. 31 in the NHL with a disgraceful .882 save percentage and are sitting at No. 30 with a 3.67 GAA. If you needed any proof there’s been a changing of the guard with this club, then look no further than the decision to start Sogaard against the Avs.

Korpisalo has a 4-3-0 lifetime record versus Colorado with a 3.58 GAA and an .895 save percentage. Interim coach Jacques Martin has always been the type to look at those numbers and he felt it was best to give Sogaard a chance.

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“I feel we have a better chance of winning with the kid going in the net,” Martin said. “I feel he’ll give us a good opportunity and then we’ll see after the game for the next game.”

That’s a pretty eye-opening statement.

When the Senators signed Korpisalo in the summer, they were hoping he’d help stabilize the crease with Forsberg. That hasn’t happened, and right now it’s frightening this club has a five-year commitment to Korpisalo.

Peters can’t fix what’s wrong with this club all by himself, but he can play a role in helping the goalies get back on the road to recovery. Show me a good goalie and I’ll show you a good coach.

Right now, saves and wins would help solve the Senators’ issues in net.

BGarrioch@postmedia.com

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