At the Senators’ Black, Red & Gold Gala on Thursday night, the mood was light, the banter was flying, and Tim Stützle was right in the middle of it. When asked who has the best chirps in the locker room, Stützle laughed and gave the nod to his stallmate - none other than Nick Cousins.
And if you’ve been around the team at all, that tracks. Cousins has a reputation for keeping things loose, even taking playful shots at Ottawa’s in-house reporter, Jackson Starr, whenever he spots him.
It’s all part of the camaraderie that’s quietly fueling something bigger in Ottawa right now.
Because while the team was having fun off the ice, on the ice, they’ve been all business.
In a pair of back-to-back statement wins this week, the Senators clamped down defensively and took out two of the league’s top-tier teams - the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights - while allowing just three goals combined. That’s not just winning hockey. That’s playoff-style hockey, and it’s coming at a time when Ottawa needs it most.
This isn’t just about goaltending or a hot scoring streak. It’s about the full buy-in from the entire lineup.
Every forward line, every defensive pair - everyone’s pulling in the same direction. And if anyone knows what that looks like when it matters most, it’s Nick Cousins.
He was part of the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup-winning squad in 2023-24, and he sees the early signs of something familiar.
“I truly believe that’s how you win,” Cousins said. “I think once May rolls around, and you’re getting into the second, third round of the playoffs, I mean, injuries happen, it’s a long year.”
He’s not wrong. The NHL grind is relentless, and this season’s condensed schedule has only made things tougher. The injury bug has bitten across the league, and depth isn’t just a luxury anymore - it’s a necessity.
“You need guys to be able to come in, plug in and play important roles,” Cousins added. “When you’re playing into June, the last two teams are usually the deepest teams.”
That’s the blueprint. And right now, Ottawa is showing signs they might be building toward something real. The swagger is back, the defensive structure is tightening, and the belief - the kind that only comes when you start knocking off Cup contenders - is starting to take hold.
It’s still January, but the Senators are playing like a team with May in mind.