The Odyssey - NHL 22 Player Franchise

[GoldenJet]

October 17th, 2023 - Dallas Stars at Ottawa Senators
Venue - American Airlines Center [Dallas, TX]

The Bounce Back
Senators’ stars, led by Batherson’s pair of goals, leave Stars dazed

OTTAWA, ON - The Ottawa Senators’ offense - which was declared missing in their last game against the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday - decided to show back up at home, leading to a thorough 5-2 beatdown of the hapless Dallas Stars.

After going down midway through the first period, the Senators were able to even things back up in the second period thanks to a tipped slapshot in front of the net for Senators’ forward Drake Batherson, seemingly fitting in well to his second-line center position behind newly acquired star Claude Giroux.

Speaking of Giroux, he would pick up his first point as an Ottawa Senator in the form of an assist on the powerplay early in the third period, helping team captain Brady Tkachuk pick up his second goal of the season. The third-period rout was on, with his first goal as an Ottawa Senator coming for Alex DeBrincat and another goal from Batherson. Despite a goal from Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn, rookie Travis LeBlanc would pick up his third on the season in as many games with an empty netter.

Cam Talbot would bounce back admirably with a 28-save performance after being shelled against the Maple Leafs yesterday. Backup goaltender Anton Forsberg is expected to start his first game of the season against former captain Erik Karlsson and his San Jose Sharks on October 21st.

1st Period
DAL - 11:03 | Michael Raffl (1) - Assisted By: Radek Faksa

2nd Period
OTT - 8:02 | Drake Batherson (2) - Assisted By: Travis Hamonic & Logan Shaw

3rd Period
OTT - 4:16 | Brady Tkachuk (2) - Assisted By: Claude Giroux & Drake Batherson
OTT - 11:08 | Alex DeBrincat (1) - Assisted By: Brady Tkachuk
OTT - 14:48 | Drake Batherson (3) - Assisted By: Travis LeBlanc & Tim Stutzle
DAL - 18:28 | Jamie Benn (2) - Assisted By: Roope Hintz & Joe Pavelski
OTT - 19:10 | Travis LeBlanc (3) - Assisted By: Tim Stutzle

3 Stars
OTT - Drake Batherson (2 goals, 1 assist)
OTT - Brady Tkachuk (1 goal, 1 assist)
OTT - Travis LeBlanc (1 goal, 1 assist)

[GoldenJet]

October 21st, 2023 - San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators
Venue - Canadian Tire Centre [Ottawa, ON]

Pinto plays Hero
The rookie’s late go-ahead goal would send the Sens past the Sharks

OTTAWA, ON - Despite getting severely outshot (the San Jose Sharks managed 36 shots to the Ottawa Senators’ measly 23), and spending far too much time in the penalty box - leading to five powerplay opportunities for the Sharks - the Ottawa Senators somehow managed to slip away from the Sharks with a 4-3 victory thanks to rookie forward Shane Pinto’s late, third-period goal.

“We know we need to be far more disciplined,” commented head coach D.J. Smith in the post-game presser. “We’re giving teams way too much room and far too many opportunities to hurt us with all of the penalties we’re taking. We’re going to get spanked soon and it's going to be a very rude awakening for our guys.” The Senators are justly the most penalized team in the early stages of the NHL this season and seem unable to keep out of the sin bin.

Offensively, the Senators picked their chances while unable to gather too many opportunities thanks to playing on their heels for most of the game. The team got goals from Alex DeBrincat, picking up two more after getting his first as a Senator in their last game. Tim Stutzle picked up his first goal of the season off of a slick pass across the crease on his backhand from rookie Travis LeBlanc, who has not been held off of the scoresheet yet this season.

The Sharks got goals from Timo Meier to open up the scoring, as well as Luke Kunin and Oscar Lindblom; with former Senators captain Erik Karlsson being held off the scoresheet.

The Senators invite former Senator Mika Zibanejad and his New York Rangers to the Canadian Tire Centre on October 23rd.


1st Period
SJS - 1:33 | Timo Meier (3) - Assisted By: Mathieu Perreault & Mario Ferraro
OTT - 2:30 | Alex DeBrincat (2) - Assisted By: Brady Tkachuk & Artem Zub
SJS - 14:55 | Luke Kunin (1) - Assisted By: Nico Sturm

2nd Period
OTT - 19:10 | Tim Stutzle (1) - Assisted By: Travis LeBlanc & Thomas Chabot

3rd Period
SJS - 0:43 | Oscar Lindblom (1) - Assisted By: Nico Sturm
OTT - 1:44 | Alex DeBrincat (3) - Assisted By: Brady Tkachuk
OTT - 19:40 | Shane Pinto (2) - Assisted By: Austin Watson & Jake Sanderson

3 Stars
OTT - Alex DeBrincat (2 goals)
OTT - Brady Tkachuk (2 assists)
OTT - Shane Pinto (Game-winning goal)

[GoldenJet]

[GoldenJet]

October 23rd, 2023 - New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators
Venue - Canadian Tire Centre [Ottawa, ON]

Igor brickwalls Senators
Sherstekin turns aside an eye-popping 55 shots as Rangers beatdown Sens

OTTAWA, ON - The Ottawa Senators, still riding the high of their narrow victory over the San Jose Sharks just two days ago, will be returning back to the drawing board after a disappointing 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers. The Senators threw everything they had offensively at the Rangers, but their All-star netminder Igor Sherstekin decided to put forward an MVP effort with 55 saves on 58 shots.

Meanwhile, the Senators got an embarrassing effort from starter Cam Talbot, who was pulled midway through the first period after allowing three early goals. The Senators turned to backup Anton Forsberg, who did not fare much better, allowing two more goals.

The Senators’ offense didn't muster up too much offense, again shooting themselves in the foot with 29 minutes in penalties - which the Rangers were able to turn into two powerplay goals from Filip Chytil and Mika Zibanejad.

The Rangers also got goals from Kappo Kakko, Artemi Panarirn, and Vitali Kravtsov while the Senators picked up two powerplay goals of their own from Alex DeBrincat - who continues his hot start with goals in his third straight game -, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stutzle.

The team also lost Claude Giroux, who received a game misconduct due to a hit from behind on Rangers’ Ryan Lindgren and will undoubtedly receive a call from the league for his dirty hit, and they also lost defenseman Jake Sanderson early with an upper-body injury.

Updates will be received before their home game on October 26th against Alex Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals.


1st Period
NYR - 5:00 | Filip Chytil (2) - Assisted By: Alexis Lafreniere & Mika Zibanejad
NYR - 5:22 | Kaapo Kakko (2) - Assisted By: Filip Chytil
OTT - 12:57 | Alex DeBrincat (4) - Assisted By: Thomas Chabot & Travis LeBlanc
NYR - 13:17 | Artemi Panarin (1) - Assisted By: None
OTT - 14:19 | Drake Batherson (4) - Assisted By: Brady Tkachuk & Artem Zub

2nd Period
NYR - 0:42 | Mika Zibanejad (2) - Assisted By: Artemi Panarin

3rd Period
OTT - 8:29 | Tim Stutzle (2) - Assisted By: Josh Norris
NYR - 19:47 | Vitali Kravtsov (2) - Assisted By: Samuel Blais & Filip Chytil

3 Stars
NYR - Igor Sherstekin (55 saves)
NYR - Filip Chytil (1 goal, 2 assists)
NYR - Mika Zibanejad (1 goal, 1 assist)

[GoldenJet]

[GoldenJet]

SIMULATED GAMES

OTT 3 - 4 WSH

Goalscorers
OTT: Travis LeBlanc (4), Mathieu Joseph (2), Erik Brannstrom (1)
WSH: Dylan Strome (1), Nicklas Backstrom (1), Evgeny Kuznetsov (3,4)

Notes: D Jacob Bernard-Docker will miss two games with an abdominal strain, D Nikita Zaitsev will replace him in the lineup.

DAL 2 - 4 OTT

Goalscorers
OTT: Josh Norris (1), Logan Shaw (1), Travis LeBlanc (5), Alex DeBrincat (5)
DAL: Roope Hintz (1), Joe Pavelski (3)

Notes: None available.

[GoldenJet]

Senators announce D Thomas Chabot out for two months with fractured ankle

The Ottawa Senators' head coach DJ Smith announced at his morning media scrum that star defenseman Thomas Chabot will be out for approximately two months with a fractured ankle that he suffered in the Senators’ 4-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. Chabot, the Senators’ 25-year-old defenseman who scored 7 goals and 38 points in an injury-shortened 56-game season, has struggled to stay healthy in his last few years.

In September of 2019, Chabot signed an eight-year contract extension worth $64 million after finishing the 2018-19 season as the Senators leading point-scorer following the mass exodus of talent that included former forwards Mark Stone and Matt Duchene being dealt at the trade deadline. Chabot had 14 goals and 55 points in 70 games before signing his big ticket.

Chabot was lost for the majority of the second half of this past season after a hand injury in March of 2022 knocked him out for the remainder of the year. Coach Smith commented briefly, stating that Chabot would be evaluated at the beginning of December and would then be considered “week-to-week”. Rookie defenseman Jake Sanderson will be back in the lineup after spraining his wrist last week. Fellow rookie defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker is considered “day-to-day” but has been confirmed to be out for tomorrow’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

[GoldenJet]

November 11, 2023 - Ottawa Senators at Chicago Blackhawks
Venue - United Center [Chicago, IL]

Despite narrow victory, Senators suffer unfortunate loss
Rookie LeBlanc stumbles down tunnel, doesn't return in Sens' victory in Chicago

OTTAWA, ON - The Ottawa Senators made their first trip of the season to the Windy City to battle against former league MVP Patrick Kane and his rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks, eager to continue their hot start. The team managed a quick goal from red-hot forward Drake Batherson - getting a sweet feed from rookie Travis LeBlanc as he cruised through the neutral zone.

The team added another goal as the first period drew to an end, as team captain Brady Tkachuk got in on the fun and snapped home a goal of his own, assisted by Batherson as he picked up his second point of the game. This would prove to be the end of the fun as the game took a negative undertone later in the second period.

Despite Claude Giroux snapping home the Senators' third goal of the game less than a minute into the period, the next shift would shake things up.

18-year-old Travis LeBlanc would try to pivot from up the right side of the ice and did not see Chicago Blackhawks' winger Max Domi coming, who delivered a monstrous hit. LeBlanc would remain motionless on the ice for a few moments before his crumpled body would make any movement. He would eventually make his way off the ice thanks to teammates Shane Pinto and Tim Stutzle.

"It's always hard to keep going after a guy goes down like that," commented Pinto after the game concluded. "He's such a good guy, and obviously he's a super talented player. I really hope he is able to get back on the ice soon."

Blackhawks forward Colin Blackwell would break Cam Talbot's shutout bid early on and Max Domi would actually score the only goal in the third period as the Senators managed to hold onto their narrow 3-2 victory to escape Chicago with another W.

LeBlanc is not expected to suit up for the Senators' game tomorrow against the Minnesota Wild in Minneapolis, as he is expected to instead fly back to Ottawa for more evaluations. Austin Watson is expected to draw into the line-up.


1st Period
OTT - 12:31 | Drake Batherson (5) - Assisted By: Travis LeBlanc & Nikita Zaitsev
OTT - 19:57 | Brady Tkachuk (3) - Assisted By: Drake Batherson & Jake Sanderson

2nd Period
OTT - 0:53 | Claude Giroux (1) - Assisted By: Artem Zub & Jake Sanderson
CHI - 7:36 | Colin Blackwell (4) - Assisted By: Max Domi & Patrick Kane

3rd Period
CHI - 19:38 | Max Domi (4) - Assisted By: Colin Blackwell & Taylor Raddysh

3 Stars
OTT - Drake Batherson (1 goal, 1 assist)
CHI - Max Domi (1 goal, 1 assist)
OTT - Jake Sanderson (2 assists)