OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have faced their fair share of hurdles this season, but that’s nothing new for this franchise. An injury-riddled start to the 2017-18 invokes memories of the Senators from a year ago, and those of 2013.

Case in point: Last year, the club rallied around goaltender Craig Anderson after his wife Nicholle was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer. A galvanized Senators team rallied around Craig, who after leaving the team for two months, returned to make a 33-save shutout against the New York Islanders in February.

Three years prior, Erik Karlsson tore Achilles, Anderson deal with a sprained ankle, Milan Michalek has a serious knee injury, and Jason Spezza was limited to five regular season games after back surgery. But the “Pesky Sens” not only made the playoffs in 2013, but also upset the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

Fast forward to the present. Despite injuries and illness that have kept some of Ottawa’s most important players out of the lineup, the 5-1-5 Senators are off to their best start in 10 years.

Minus the league’s most-dynamic defenceman in Karlsson, whose debut was delayed due to offseason ankle surgery, the Senators opened 3-0-2. Over the past nine days, Ottawa has lost top-six forwards Bobby Ryan (broken finger), Zack Smith (upper-body injury; missed three games), and Kyle Turris (viral infection).

MORE: Another bad break for Senators' forward Bobby Ryan

In spite of all that, the Senators are one of three teams in the NHL with only one regulation loss, along with the Vegas Golden Knights (9-1-1) and the Los Angeles Kings (8-1-0).

“We can’t ask much more from our guys,” said head coach Guy Boucher. “We have points in 10 of 11 of our games. I’ve never had that happen as a coach before. That’s dedication from the players, no matter what the circumstances are, whether it’s Erik (Karlsson) missing the first five games, Bobby (Ryan) now and [Turris].

“We’re in survival mode. We’re tested. Everyone is contributing.”

MORE: How the Senators thrived without Erik Karlsson in lineup

The Senators are receiving contributions throughout the lineup. Ten goals have come from defensemen, though none of them scored by Karlsson. Minor league recalls have combined one goal and five assists in 13-man games.

No player promoted on a fill-in basis last season earned a point in 48 games played.

Filip Chlapik and Chris DiDomenico each notched their first NHL points (assists) on Dion Phaneuf’s power play goal Thursday in a 5-4 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Friday, DiDomenico scored his first NHL goal and added an assist playing on a line with former QMJHL Drummondville Voltigeurs linemate Mike Hoffman. His goal tied the game with 37 seconds remaining in regulation against the New Jersey Devils, and though the Senators lost 5-4 in overtime, secured a point.

DiDomenico is familiar with Boucher, who coached him at the junior level for Team Canada. So while it may have come as a surprise to some to see a rookie on the ice chasing a one-goal deficit in the closing moments of a game, Boucher was confident in the decision.

“I know what this guy can do,” Boucher said. “Just by getting more games and time, he’s starting to get comfortable. That’s why he’s getting a chance.”

Thrust into larger roles, forward Tom Pyatt and Nate Thompson are two players who’ve also taken advantage of opportuinities.

Nate Thompson, whom the Senators signed this offseason to play a depth role, has doubled the point total he posted with the Anaheim Ducks in 30 games last season (2) in 11 games with the Senators (4).

Boucher has also leaned on Thompson and Ottawa’s fourth line to play a defensive role, giving them the bulk of the Senators defensive zone starts.

“Our fourth line is contributing, whether it’s Thompson or (Tom) Pyatt,” Boucher said. “That’s the depth you have to have in the NHL to gain a playoff spot.”