Hartsburg To Senators: Wake Up

He did it in the preseason, and he's back at it again now.

Ottawa Senators head coach Craig Hartsburg broke up the top line of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson before practice on Monday. In the first five games of the season the trio have put up an impressive 17 points. On the downside they are a combined minus-5.

The Senators first line will now consist of Mike Fisher centering Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson. This is a change of sorts considering it was Alfredsson who was always removed from the first line when there was a shake-up needed. Jason Spezza now finds himself on a line with two youngsters in Nick Foligno and rookie Jesse Winchester.

Hartsburg's message was loud and clear. "These players should be able to adjust to different line combinations rather than stay together because they're comfortable," he told TSN on Monday.

After enjoying six days off the Senators came out flying against the Phoenix Coyotes as they took a commanding 4-0 lead after two periods. A lackluster finish to the game gave the Senators a win, but not on a good note.

Ironically the same Sens team that finished the third period on Friday was the team who showed up the next night to face the Boston Bruins. The Bruins got out to an early lead and went on to defeat the Senators by a score of 4-2.

The one thing that has been painfully obvious to anybody watching the Senators thus far is that the potential is there but the effort isn't consistent. They haven't been fore-checking, haven't been finishing their checks and are not making smart decisions with the puck. That is a big reason they've been on the wrong side of close games.

With that being said, there is still reason for optimism in the Nation's Capital.

The power-play and penalty-kill rank fifth and sixth in the league respectively. Martin Gerber has turned up his game since poor performance on opening night. Filip Kuba has answered the call for a puck-moving defenseman as he's picked up seven assists over five games.

If anything these new lines should spark some fight in the Senators offensive zone efforts. Mike Fisher is one of the best skaters in the NHL and is bound to generate energy towards the always-crafty pair of Heatley and Alfredsson. Spezza will also look to regain the hop in his step while guiding a pair of youngsters in Foligno and Winchester.

It has not been confirmed but it is believed that Antoine Vermette, Chris Kelly and Chris Neil will make up the third line. Jarkko Ruutu, Shean Donovan and Dean McAmmond or Christoph Schubert look to be the remainder of the players who can suit up on the fourth line.

The Senators will host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Place.