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“I mean I had formed a lot more bonds against the team we played tonight and it’s just one of those game you just want to get through and I thought I did that. Again, not good enough. We’ve got a lot of stuff to improve on if we plan on winning more games this year.”

A close friend and former defence partner of Erik Karlsson, the captain admitted it felt a little odd to see his buddy on the other team.

“It was a little weird,” Karlsson said. “I don’t know how much we played against each other. We’re both defencemen so we didn’t see each other too often but it was definitely weird for me and it’s unfortunately something we’re going to have to get used to.”

THIS N’ THAT

The Senators weren’t thrilled with the way the game was officiated in Dallas. First, they blew the play down in the first when Dallas goalie Ben Bishop was injured after teammate Dan Hamhuis fell on him and left the Senators with an open net. Then, Karlsson was given an unsportsmanlike in the third. “We’re players, we play the game, and they decide the rules,” Karlsson said. It’s the second straight game the Senators have gotten an unsportsmanlike and some of that may just be the frustration of a lousy season. As for the Bishop play, the officials have the right to whistle it down and it’s a judgement call. That was the explanation for that one … Speaking of Bishop, the former Senators’ goalie didn’t return in the second period and didn’t accompany the Stars to Nashville as they prepared to face the Predators Tuesday night. Coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters Bishop won’t play before the weekend but he has to be re-evaluated … Coach Guy Boucher noted the Senators still care and that’s why they’re upset. “People are trying to find things that don’t exist in our dressing room,” he said. “The one thing we’ve had all year is zero issues inside our room. I mean zero. The guys have been bringing really good attitudes, sticking together and you saw the game (in Dallas), it’s been a long time we’ve been playing well and I’m glad the guys are getting some rewards out of it.”