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The way the Senators see it they’re passing up on opportunities to shoot and, as a result, they’re not getting good chances.

Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia

“I just see a lot of plays that are wide open that we don’t make,” Smith said. “You score one and you’re going to get a bunch after that but power plays are a big time skill in the NHL and the guys that are on that power play. If you’re not getting it done then somebody else has to get an opportunity.

“We have to certainly look at that.”

The biggest issue with the power play is because of the lack of success the pressure is starting to build and players are starting to grip their sticks tighter. Blueliner Thomas Chabot is the quarterback with the man advantage and if he’s been held scoreless through the first five games of the regular season.

“You hope that one goes in and then it just kind of follows,” said winger Bobby Ryan.

You get the feeling that if the Senators could just get one goal then that would just lead to more success because the players they’ve got should be better than this and they did have some good looks Saturday in the club’s 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. They had only one good power play in five attempts vs. the Wild.

“We know (the numbers) as well as everybody else so I think when you’re a power play guy you kind of put it on your shoulders and take it a little too personally at times,” said Ryan. “You over-grip the stick, you over-analyze every pass and sometimes you just have to forget that stuff and just kind of play.