OTTAWA - After 20 games, the inconsistent Ottawa Senators are still struggling to find their identity. When they score first, the Senators have a 5-0-1 record, but when they give up the first goal, they are a disappointing 3-8-3. "Well have some bright flashes, well look good for a couple games and win a couple of games and then I dont know," said Zack Smith. "Its getting a little frustrating. Theres still a lot of games left, but at the same time you want to establish an identity and find some consistency in our games." Two years ago, the Senators were known for their ability to come back in games, often in the final minute. Last year they showed resiliency advancing to the second round of the playoffs despite playing most of the season without Jason Spezza, Erik Karlsson, Jared Cowen and Craig Anderson. For whatever reason, this years group hasnt shown the same ability to overcome adversity, especially after giving up the first goal. "Maybe were waiting around at the start of games to see what other teams are doing," said Marc Methot. "I dont think were really initiating the play the way that we probably should be, especially here at home with our fans behind us. We seem to be getting down on ourselves and thats contagious and that happens when you start losing games. Its one of those things that we just have to work our way out of." Senators coach Paul MacLean believes the team would see some overall improvement if they could just find a way to spend less time in their own end. "We play in our end all the time and thats still to me the biggest issue we have is our lack of execution and we play too much in our end," MacLean said. MacLean also talked of the importance of a shift after a goal and admitted the Senators havent been good at all. Too often the team has been guilty of turnovers and poor defensive coverage. "That eats away at your confidence and your mental strength," said MacLean. Following a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, Senators coach Paul MacLean admitted all aspects of the teams preparation would be examined, but Spezza believes its more an issue of mental preparation. "We have to make sure were mentally prepared to have that urgency that we seem to be lacking," said the Sens captain. "We have big emotional games, big emotional wins and then we follow them up with games where we look like we lack a little bit of jump." Spezza admitted there are games that are easy to get up for and then there are those that require a greater awareness. And while its easy to say that for the most part this is the same group of players from the past two seasons those who are new dont have a lot of experience to draw from. "I think we might be showing that were a little bit of an inexperienced team maybe with some of the expectations," said Spezza. "Experience comes with knowing that certain games you need different types of urgency and different types of starts and different approaches to the game." Spezza, along with alternate captains Chris Phillips and Chris Neil will be looked upon to ensure everyone is ready to play. "Were going to lean on them heavy, if we havent already, were going to make some demands of them," said MacLean. "As individuals do a better job of getting themselves prepared and getting the team prepared to play." On Tuesday, the Senators take on the Philadelphia Flyers, who just one week ago shut out the Senators 5-0 in Ottawa. Spezza says this is exactly the kind of game the team needs to be properly prepared for, especially considering what happened last week. "It should have us on notice that we can get licked if we dont show up," he said. "If you thought it was going to be an easier game or a different game because of what their record is that 5-0 game shows us that we better be ready to go into that rink (Tuesday)." After last years success, theres no doubt expectations for this team were high and Smith cant help but wonder if thats actually been part of the problem. "Maybe we thought we were going to be that much better of a team and we wouldnt have to play the team game or work quite as hard," said Smith. "If thats the case well weve been proven wrong. You still have to work hard and work as a team … for some people maybe we overachieved (last year), but I think this year were definitely underachieving to this point." Notes: Phillips was not at practice due to the flu, but will travel with the team to Philadelphia and is expected to play Tuesday. No decision was made on Tuesdays starting goaltender. Neil will play his 800th career game Tuesday night. He has spent his entire career with the Senators. Cowboys #11 Jersey . Dallas running back DeMarco Murray caught a 20-yard touchdown pass with 41 seconds left and Carolina running back Mike Tolbert plunged into the end zone for a 2-point conversion to give Rice a 22-21 win over Sanders in the first schoolyard-style Pro Bowl on Sunday. LaRon Byrd Cowboys Jersey . -- The Anaheim Ducks have recalled goalie John Gibson from their AHL affiliate in Norfolk. http://www.cowboysstore.us.com/Black-5-Dan-Bailey-Womens-Jersey/. Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist as Phoenix held on to snap a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. Troy Aikman Cowboys Jersey . -- Ryan Millers debut for the St. Cowboys #6 Jersey . Less than a day after the NHL handed the Minnesota Wild forward a seven-game suspension for his knee-on-knee collision with Colorado Avalanche defenceman Tyson Barrie, Cooke reiterated to the media Thursday that he had no intention of hurting his opponent. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Houston Astros got a good glimpse of what could happen if Chris Carter and George Springer are hitting well at the same time. Carter connected for two home runs, Springer set a rookie club record for homers in a month and the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 9-3 Wednesday for their fifth straight win. The Astros have been waiting for Carter to take off after he hit 29 home runs last year. "This guy led our offence in home runs and RBIs last year. He had been hot and cold, but we all know when hes hot, he can carry a ballclub because weve seen him do it," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "We definitely would love to get him going. That would be an added boost to our team," he said. Carter, who had been benched the previous three games with a .192 batting average, homered to lead off the fifth. He hit a three-run homer in sixth off reliever Louis Coleman for his fourth career multihomer game and his first this season. "He sat for three days, worked extremely hard in the cage and watched a lot of video," Porter said. "He came in today with a good game plan and understanding the things in which hes worked on the last few days." "I always say this: Its good from a coaching standpoint you put in effort with a guy and the next time he gets in the lineup you see it pay off. Thats good for the player to see the immediate results of the work which hes putting in" he said. Springer homered off Danny Duffy (2-5) in the first for his ninth home run in May. Glenn Davis held the Astros rookie record with eight home runs in September 1985. Springer also walked twice and was hit by a pitch. "Our offence is better," Carter said. "Its been coming around really good. George has six home runs in six games. Im happy for him. I think we have something going here." The Astros, with the worst record in the AL, won three times in Kansas City for their first sweep of the season. Houstons winning streak is its longest since a siix-game string that ended last June 3.dddddddddddd The Royals have lost four in a row. "Its just a bad series, unfortunately, it happened at home," Royals designated hitter Billy Butler said. "Its a tough go right now." Carlos Corporan had three hits with a walk. He drove in a run as the Astros outscored the Royals 21-5 in the series. Jarred Cosart (4-4) gave up one earned run and four hits in five innings, but was pulled when his pitch count reached 95. "I chose a good day to go five and the offence scored nine runs," Cosart said. "I didnt have my best stuff. The offence came out scoring early. I felt pretty good out there. I had a couple of innings with high pitch counts. We have a five-game winning streak going. Weve got momentum. Were going back home to our own ballpark." Duffy allowed six runs on seven hits and five walks in four-plus innings. The first four Royals pitchers combined to walk 10, which was a season high. "He just didnt have anything going for him today," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "His fastball was down to 88-92 (mph) and we kept checking and asking if he was OK. He was fine, but he was going through a little dead arm. He was throwing hard, but it just wasnt coming out. We had to kind of ride it. We didnt have any bullpen help." Brett Hayes singled in the Kansas City fifth to snap an 0-for-27 skid to begin the season. He homered in the seventh, the Royals first home run in nine games. NOTES: Houston 2B Jose Altuve dropped Eric Hosmers popup to shallow right in the sixth inning for his first error of the season. That ended an Astros record of 88 errorless games by a second baseman. Altuve also had a single and tops the majors with 73 hits. ... Butler grounded out four times and is in a 2-for-22 funk, tumbling his average to .235 with one home run. ... Royals LF Alex Gordon batted third for the first time this season and extended his hitting streak to six games with a first-inning single. ' ' '
