Senators Monday wrap: Flu bug the latest setback in whirlwind season

In the 1970s, NHL teams would routinely get bad cases of the ‘Flyers Flu,’ an affliction that kept certain players out of the lineup against a nasty Philadelphia team known as the Broad Street Bullies.

The Ottawa Senators suffer from a different kind of malaise in 2021-22. It’s more of an ongoing pattern of illness, injury and setbacks that have rocked their roster right from the start of the season and through to today.

The latest news is that the club cancelled practice in Florida Monday, due to a flu bug that first surfaced on the weekend in Ottawa and apparently circulated widely during Sunday’s team flight to Tampa Bay.

If the Senators looked a little sluggish against the Montreal Canadiens in a 2-1 loss at the Canadian Tire Centre, there was an explanation. Not only did Thomas Chabot and Nikita Zaitsev have to miss the game at the last minute, due to illness, four or five other Ottawa players were also feeling weak.

Head coach D.J. Smith said that eight or nine players now have the flu, and cancelled the skate in Tampa today on the advice of the medical team.

Here they go again, a team that has been hit hard by COVID-19 and still has three top forwards sidelined by injury.

“If there are standings for sickness and adversity, we’re on top of ‘er,” Smith said, smirking.

Defenceman Thomas Chabot said he lost THIRTEEN pounds in 24 hours from stomach and intestinal issues over the weekend.

Chabot spoke on Monday morning about the non-Covid viral adventure going around. It is virulent.

“I’m feeling good, it was probably the worst 24 hours,” said Chabot. “It feels better this morning. Now it’s just about getting some food and liquid back into me. That will make me feel better and be ready to go tomorrow (vs the Lightning).”

Chabot says he is passing along his flu intel to his teammates, with roughly half the roster just starting with it.

“It’s short term but it’s not fun,” Chabot said, of a virus that hits “both ends,” he added. “It’s another one to add to the list (this year). It’s going to happen. We wash our hands and try to be careful, but we’re so close, we fly on the plane together, we’re at the rink together so it’s easy to spread.”

Smith says he is not a scientist, but he has heard the theories of why hockey teams are vulnerable to getting sick.

“When you’re indoors as much as we have been, and then you go back (to more normalcy) and get the regular viruses guys haven’t had for a couple of years,” Smith said. “We’ll be back to normal.”

But it won’t be overnight.

Smith said it is “guaranteed” some of these sick players won’t play on Tuesday. How many players the team will have to call up depends on how some of the less sick players respond.

“But you know what, you keep going.” Smith said. “We battled through ten games in 16 days and I thought the guys did a good job with all the guys we have out. Now, we’re in a new month, real tough with the teams we have on this road trip, and then we get home again.”

The Senators’ five game trip has stops in Tampa Bay, Sunrise (the Panthers), Arizona, Vegas and St. Louis.

With some of his teammates low on energy, Colin White provided a badly needed burst in his first game of the season, Saturday, after returning from shoulder surgery. White played 14:30, at centre and left wing and had four shots on goal, while scoring Ottawa’s only goal in the 2-1 loss. White also hit the post and was the Senators best player.

“To be back out there with the guys, and go through the emotions through the game and after the game, just to be with them again and on the ice, is great for me,” White said.

It’s great for his teammates, too, who love White for his off-beat humour and mumbling dialogue. As usual, winger Connor Brown put it best about White.

“He’s one of those glue guys,” Brown said. “He’s a goof, but he’s also a total pro.”

In fun, the players hid White’s helmet before the game so he would be forced to skate in the warmup with his unique bare head, longish hair with receding hairline. White seemed to relish the prank.

Too bad the business side of hockey has to enter into it. Unfortunately, White, 25, was overpaid in term and sum for one good season (41 points in 71 games, 2018-19) and carries a cap hit of $4.7M through the 2024-25 season. According to CapFriendly, White could be bought out this summer at a cost of $5.25M and a savings of $10.5M. It will be interesting to see if this is the path the organization chooses.

White is a solid two-way player, adding depth and versatility at forward. But at nearly $5M, White is earning Drake Batherson money and Batherson is a top-line player. If he were to stay, White would have to at least be in Ottawa’s top nine, either on the wing or centre. And the future at centre has Josh Norris, Tim Stützle and Shane Pinto ahead of White at the moment.

Andrew Hammond, who authored one of the greatest goaltending runs in NHL history with Ottawa in 2014-15, returned to sting the Sens on Saturday. Suddenly thrust into the backup role with Montreal, ‘The Hamburglar’ stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Montreal Canadiens’ 2-1 win.

“I have no animosity or anything like that (regarding the Senators),” Hammond said. “But I think it’s natural anytime you’re playing your former team, you’d like to win.”

Is the Hamburglar – so named for his ability to steal wins seven years ago – at it again? Hammond’s numbers with Montreal in two starts: 2-0, 1.44 goals-against and .949 save percentage.

In 2014-15, Hammond was Ottawa’s third string goalie, an emergency starter due to injuries to Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner. Hammond posted a 20-1-2 record and lifted the Senators into a playoff spot.

Now 34, Hammond has mostly toiled in the minors since 2017 and so it was nice to see him receive a video tribute Saturday, a salute from Ottawa fans and even hamburgers tossed on the ice, as they were seven years ago.