‘You don’t want to be in these spots’: Travis Green frustrated with Senators’ playoff run
The Ottawa Senators must feel as though they’re experiencing some sort of cruel deja vu. For the second straight season, they find themselves down 3-0 in their first-round series against their division champion opponent.
Last season, they managed to win Games 4 and 5 before ultimately falling in Game 6 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, they’ll again try to climb out of an 0-3 hole against the Carolina Hurricanes, with hopes of winning four consecutive games to take the series.
During his media availability ahead of Saturday’s Game 4, Senators head coach Travis Green expressed his dissatisfaction with being on the brink of getting swept for the second straight year.
“That’s a nice story, but you don’t want to be in these spots,” Green said. “But it’s where we’re at, and it’s about winning one game.”
Green wasn’t shy about identifying where he believes his team has faltered over the first three games against Carolina, and where they need to improve.
“We talked about (the power play) a lot yesterday,” Green said. “I think we’ve played sporadically. I think we’ve got a little bit away from our checking game at certain times of the game that have cost us a couple goals here and there. In this type of series, that’s the difference. The margins are small.”
He continued to discuss the need for the Senators to play a more disciplined style of hockey to get back into this series.
“I think we’ve been running a little bit to be physical at times,” Green added. “Running out of position. Also playing with a lot of energy. We’ve kind of got away from just the simple stopping, starting at certain moments of the game.”
There’s been speculation as to what lineup changes Green will make for Game 4 to give his team a spark, but he’s not letting on as to what those might be before puck drop.
“I know who’s playing, but I’m not going to divulge our lineup,” Green said. “That’s why you’ve got to pay the ticket to come watch the game.”
Travis Green pre game 4 media avail. Won't announce lineup changes. "Not happy that we are in this spot. It's where we're at and it's about winning one game." #gosensgo