The Ottawa Senators have an exciting young core of players but have yet to transform into a winning team.
The team’s biggest flaw is an inability to generate a sustained push when trailing by one goal.
The more OTT attempts to play fast, force pucks up the boards and oversupport the ensuing battle, the less they are able to create advantages leading to entries, shots and sustained OZ sequences.
In contrast, the Boston Bruins make the most of an imperfect roster by treating each puck possession with care as the clock winds down. In contrast to the haphazard Sens, the Bruins are diligent in improving the condition of the puck and are therefore more effective at generating chances when trailing late.
An excellent way to illustrate the differences in philosophy and execution is to compare the teams’ performance in recent down-by-one-goal situations.
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