Penguins, Senators brimming with confidence amid strong runs
The temperatures may be frigid outside, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are keeping things hot on the rink. Winners of six straight and on a 7-0-2 roll in their past nine games, the Penguins will look to keep the good times rolling when they host the Ottawa Senators on Monday.
Pittsburgh is coming off a 6-5 win against the New York Rangers on Saturday. The Penguins have climbed into second place in the Metropolitan Division and sit seven points behind the Carolina Hurricanes after their win Sunday afternoon.
"I think what we've been showing there is just, it's a team that's going to work at both ends of the ice," Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. "Just relentless in our puck pursuit, relentless in our working above, in our defensive play. Then, we're playing a united game, a connected game, where when we transition to offense, we do it together. We find each other, and then back to being relentless on the attack. Then you press repeat and you do it again."
Anthony Mantha has been a key contributor in the Penguins' run of late. He scored twice against the Rangers and has eight points in a four-game point streak. He's third on the team in points, with his 40 trailing only Sidney Crosby (58) and Evgeni Malkin (42), and his 19 goals are second after Crosby.
The 31-year-old is eight points away from tying his career high (48), reached twice previously -- back in 2017-18 and 2018-19 with the Detroit Red Wings.
"Confidence," Mantha said of his success. "The trust level from the team, teammates, coaches, my work I put in mentally, physically. And good things are happening."
The Senators, meanwhile, are hoping to keep pace as they try to get themselves back in the race for a playoff spot. Ottawa has won three straight, most recently skating away with a 4-1 triumph against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in goalie Linus Ullmark's first start since Dec. 27 following a personal leave for his mental health.
"I felt like I came out of retirement during practices because I hadn't had a real practice since before Christmas," said Ullmark, who had dressed as the backup for two games before his start. "It's been a battle coming back. The same thing happened now: I had been gone for so long, that there was an excitement, I was nervous, which I haven't been in a long time. That's positive."
The Senators entered Sunday eight points back of the final wild card from the Eastern Conference, with three other teams between them and the last spot.
"I feel there's some confidence in our room," Ottawa coach Travis Green said. "You can't manufacture confidence. People talk a lot about it in the NHL, and the best way to get it is to win."
Dylan Cozens has been enjoying a solid first full season with the Senators. The center is fourth on the team, and third among forwards, with 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 54 games. He's on pace for 27 goals and 62 points, which would be the second-highest totals of his career.