The Ottawa Senators are heading into the final game of their three-game road swing with some fresh adversity - and a fresh face in the lineup.
Veteran winger David Perron will be sidelined for the next five to seven weeks after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia. It’s a tough blow for a team that’s been finding its rhythm lately, but the Senators are turning to youth and momentum to help fill the gap.
Enter Stephen Halliday.
The 21-year-old forward was recalled from Belleville on Thursday morning and immediately slotted into the fourth line during the team’s morning skate in Nashville. Head coach Travis Green likes what he’s seen from Halliday so far, and with the season entering a critical stretch, the timing of this call-up is no coincidence.
“He’s played well,” Green said. “He’s still a young player, but he’s growing almost game-to-game. We’re getting to that point in the year where we need players to be sharp, and this is going to be a good opportunity for him to get another look.”
Halliday’s recent play in the AHL certainly earned him this shot. Since being loaned back to Belleville, he’s riding a five-game point streak - one goal and six assists - and has been a key piece in their current four-game win streak.
It’s not just the numbers, though. It’s how he’s been playing.
“I’m pretty excited just to get back up here and show what I’ve been working on the past few weeks down in Belleville,” Halliday said. “There were things I needed to improve from my last stint up here, and I feel like I got the chance to work on those - taking more draws, playing in different situations, just trying to grow my game.”
For a young player, that kind of self-awareness and willingness to adapt is exactly what coaches want to see. And with Perron out, Halliday will have a real chance to carve out a role - especially if he can bring some of that AHL confidence to the NHL stage.
Meanwhile, the Senators as a whole are trending in the right direction. They’ve picked up eight of a possible 10 points in their last five games - a strong stretch that’s helping them stay competitive in a tight race.
One of the key drivers of that recent success? The second line.
Ridly Greig has found real chemistry alongside Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens. In the last four games, Greig has tallied one goal and five assists, all at even strength. He’s not just fitting in - he’s thriving.
“I try to play the same way,” Greig said. “Obviously both those guys can score and make a lot of plays, so it’s always nice.
I try to get them the puck as much as I can. I feel like we’re holding onto a lot of pucks in the O-zone.
We all play in a similar way in a sense, but yeah, we’ve found some chemistry, so it’s nice.”
That line’s ability to control play in the offensive zone has been a major factor in the Senators’ recent surge. With Greig acting as the glue guy - making smart passes, winning battles, and keeping the puck alive - it’s allowing Tkachuk and Cozens to do what they do best.
So while the loss of Perron stings, the Senators aren’t short on storylines to follow. Halliday’s return adds some intrigue to the bottom six, and the second line continues to hum. If they can keep building on this momentum, Ottawa might just be hitting its stride at the right time.