Senators promote goalie coach Justin Peters and reassign Zac Bierk

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The winds of change continued to blow through the Ottawa Senators’ coaching staff Monday.

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Three weeks after head coach D.J. Smith and assistant Davis Payne were fired, Steve Staios — the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager — brought up goalie coach Justin Peters from its American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville and reassigned Zac Bierk to a scouting role.

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The change comes with newly signed Senators goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and the injured Anton Forsberg both struggling mightily this season.

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 goals-against average. The reality is Bierk was brought in by Smith and this is an easy change to make with the club struggling.

“Zac is exceptionally dedicated,” Staios said in a statement. “However, it is our belief that the time has come for a fresh perspective. Justin Peters is highly regarded and will bring strong leadership qualities to our group. He’s deserving of this opportunity.”

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The decision to make this move doesn’t come as a surprise. Neither goalie has gotten the job done and the belief is the Senators could turn to Belleville callup Mads Sogaard on Tuesday night with the Colorado Avalanche in town at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Signed to a five-year, $20-million US deal by the Senators on July 1, Korpisalo has an 8-15-0 record with 3.70 goals-against average and an .884 save-percentage. Forsberg’s numbers are even worse with a 7-8-0 mark along 3.35 GAA and an .889 save-percentage.

The Senators broke a five-game losing skid with a 5-4 victory over the last-place San Jose Sharks on Saturday, but Korpisalo allowed four goals on 19 shots. Sure, he made some timely saves to secure the win, but you aren’t going to win many games with those kinds of numbers.

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Though many have been quick to apologize for the club’s shoddy goaltending this season by pinning it on the Senators’ poor defensive play, the reality is neither netminder has shown any kind of consistency and just haven’t gotten the job done.

It’s 100% true that the Senators have to play better in front of whoever is in the net to have success, however, it does help if you get big saves when you need them. Korpisalo and Forsberg have had a penchant for making big saves, but then allowing a softie.

This is the third time in franchise history the Senators have changed the goalie coach during the season. The first time was in 2010 when Bryan Murray relieved Eli Wilson of his duties in January and then Pierre Groulx was reassigned in 2021 with Matt Murray struggling.

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Again, that’s not on Bierk, but maybe a different voice will help to get the goalies back headed in the right direction.

Peters has plenty of experience at the position. The 37-year-old was hired as the goalie coach in Belleville under Troy Mann to start the 2021-22 campaign. Peter spent more than a month in Ottawa last season working with the goalies while Bierk was recovering from a concussion.

Selected No. 38 overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2004 NHL draft, Peters played 83 NHL games in his career. He finished with a 25-38-9 record in games with the Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and Arizona Coyotes. Peters has done a good job with Sogaard, Kevin Mandolese and Leevi Merilainen.

The club recalled Sogaard from Belleville on Saturday. A second-round draft pick, No. 37 overall, in 2019, Sogaard has had a solid first half of this season with the Belleville, compiling an 8-5-2 record with a .920 save percentage and a 2.48 GAA.

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“It’s good for me to get a shot but that’s a team result,” Sogaard said. “It’s a credit to how they’ve played in front of me and keeping things to the outside. I’m happy to be put in some situations to do well and it’s been nice to be able to string some wins together here.”

Sogaard suited up for 19 games with Ottawa last season, when the Senators used a franchise-record seven goalies because of injuries. He posted an 8-6-3 record with a 3.32 GAA and .889 save percentage.

He’ll be here at least a month, so this will be a good chance to get in some playing time and, given the fact the Senators have a lot of games, Sogaard has a chance to push for more playing time.

Sogaard faced the Avalanche last season. He made 25 saves on 30 shots in the club’s 5-4 loss at home on March 16.

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“I’m pumped to be here, I’m ready to go and I’m ready to help out in whichever way that means,” Sogaard said.

BACK ON ICE

Centre Josh Norris, who has missed two games since he fell awkwardly to the ice following a collision with Elias Lindholm a week ago against the Calgary Flames, was back on the ice for Monday’s skate.

Norris is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, but left after about 30 minutes of the lengthy practice. Interim coach Jacques Martin said it’s a good sign that Norris was on the ice.

Norris was in a non-contact jersey and won’t face the Avalanche.

“He’s getting closer, but it’s encouraging to see him on the ice,” Martin said. “He’s progressing, but I don’t know exactly when he’s going to play.”

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