OTTAWA -- Ottawa Senators coach D.J. Smith vowed to get his team back on track while also coming to the defense of captain Brady Tkachuk, who took issue with fans after they booed the players and called for Smith's job.
"No matter where you go, there's going to be those pressures. It can affect you," Smith said Monday. "And if it affects you in a real negative way, then probably this isn't the profession for you. So, for me, get our team playing better, be the calming presence for them and get us going right. And I know what it feels like around here when you're winning games. It can turn real quickly, and we've got to get back to that."
Injuries and losses have piled up for the Senators (4-6-0), who are 1-5-0 in their past six games and last in the Atlantic Division.
During a 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home Saturday, fans booed and called for Smith to be fired.
"It's frustrating, the negativity from the outside," Tkachuk said after the game. "The constant booing and the [nonsense] kind of from the crowd tonight was … I understand they're a passionate fan base, I understand, I love it, but when you face adversity, you don't turn your back on the guys out there. We're playing hard. I know it's frustrating right now, but it's not like we're giving up out there. We're fighting to the very end."
On Tuesday, Tkachuk said he is moving forward and focused on Ottawa's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN).
"I said it and to be honest, I've moved right on," Tkachuk said. "My focus has now been on Toronto ever since the game (Saturday). For me, it's important to move forward to the next opportunity. You can't always dwell on the past. Of course, I said what I said. But for now, you can't really hold onto things. You've just got to move on and focus on the task at hand and that's Toronto."
Tkachuk said his passion not only comes from his belief in the team, but from trying to bring the fans of Ottawa a winner.
"I've said this from Day 1 at camp: The belief I have with this group, and how much we want to win for not only ourselves but the community, the fans, we're all in this together," Tkachuk said. "And I know that's what we want to do, that's what we want to accomplish and the best part about it is I know we're going to do it. The confidence is there, the belief is there and every day we're getting better. We have all of the faith in this group."
He said his comments were not planned, rather, it was just his emotions spilling out.
"Didn't know I was saying it until I was in the moment. Yeah, I guess that's what I try to do. I just try to bring the emotion, I guess," Tkachuk said. "I think you guys know, the group knows, the city knows, they know what they're going to get out of me. I want to represent this community well, I want to represent this team well, and try to be the X factor to help us win games."
After Tkachuk received some backlash for his impassioned remarks, Smith came to the defense of the Senators forward and leading goal-scorer (eight in 10 games).
"We don't want to focus on the noise, but I think Brady's passionate, frustrated," Smith said. "But Brady chose Ottawa as his home for a long time. He works with the (local charity) Boys and Girls Club. He's all Ottawa, and he loves the fans.
"I've been coaching for, I think, 22 years this year and he's as good a leader on and off the ice as I've seen. He's the guy that fights for the little guy when no one's around. … That's just the way he is. And you know what, he's going to continue being that leader."
Where the fans would undoubtedly agree with Tkachuk is on the mountain of adversity the Senators are facing. Forwards Ridly Greig (lower body) and Mark Kastelic (high ankle sprain) are out indefinitely, and defensemen Thomas Chabot (broken hand), Artem Zub (concussion) and Erik Brannstrom (concussion) have each missed at least the past three games. On top of that, unsigned forward Shane Pinto is currently serving a 41-game suspension for activities related to sports wagering, and Pierre Dorion was relieved of his duties as general manager Nov. 1.
But while the Senators await reinforcements -- Zub could return against the Toronto Maple and Brannstrom has resumed practicing with a yellow, non-contact jersey -- Smith said Monday was "one of our best practices."
"I think the old-school mentality was you get out there and you skate them for an hour and you yell, and you scream at them, and you tell them to play harder, but nothing gets fixed," Smith said. "The approach we took today is we've got to get better in some areas, and that's what we focused on. And we focused on us as a group, tightening it up, do it our way, do it right, fix it, and then get back to playing hockey. … The guys want to win. I can assure you this, that no one is cheating anyone in effort and willingness."
Smith said he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel any pressure, but he's already his own "worst critic." As for the calls for his termination, he appreciates a passionate fan base and has found a way to take it all in stride.
"I think the biggest thing you worry about is your kids, right?" Smith admitted. "You know, I have a 7 and 3-year-old. And I was laughing, I mean, I joke around quite a bit as most people know me, and with people saying, 'Fire D.J.' I just said to my wife, I just hope they don't yell 'Fire Dad,' because then [my kids] will know they're talking about me. … There's a pressure and privilege to have this job. And I'm very lucky, my family's very lucky that we are where we are. And I'm going to do everything in my power to get these guys going and to do it right."
Tkachuk said he believes the Senators will turn things around.
"I have the utmost confidence in everything we're doing here," he said. "I think, top to bottom, ownership to players, I think all of us are aligned and we all have the same goals. I really do believe that we're right there and that we'll get going here and it's going to be a fun ride."
