Article content continued

“You don’t want to see guys at that age make a mistake and laugh it off. He’s pissed off, he wants to be better, he’s improved and he’s a great kid off the ice. His natural ability on the ice is going to take him a long, long way. I think he’s going to be the complete package, for sure.”

Brannstrom needs to gain confidence to get to the next level.

“He’s very heads-up and very cerebral,” Borowiecki said. “A lot of those offence-first guys are. He sees the ice in a different way, much like (Thomas) Chabot sees the ice. He and (Brannstrom) have a lot of similarities, and I think he’s going to find his groove here.”

OFF THE GLASS

Playing on a line together Saturday night wasn’t a first for forwards Logan Brown and Brady Tkachuk because they had the chance to do it growing up in St. Louis. “We were linemates back in the day when we were 10 years old,” Brown said before the game. “He was always standing up for me and shoving the older guys. Nothing has changed with him, but it will be exciting to play with him.” … The Senators were without centres Colin White and Artem Anisimov against the Habs. Both were sidelined with minor injuries and will suit up against the Leafs in the season opener. Anisimov took a shot off the foot in practice Friday. “They’re both out precautionary and they’d both play if it was the regular season,” Smith said before the game. “They’re probably 85 per cent, so there’s no point playing them.” The club didn’t have veterans Tyler Ennis and Nikita Zaitsev either because Smith opted to give them rest. Zaitsev had suited up for three straight games. “It’s unfortunate we don’t have our full group, but I think it’s the right thing heading into the regular season,” said Smith. … Winger Rudolfs Balcers, who suffered a leg injury in the club’s 6-2 victory over the Canucks on Wednesday, will be gone for a month. “Hopefully it’s less. It’s nothing season-ending or anything, but it’s tough enough that he’s going to be out a month,” Smith said.