Senators centre Shane Pinto's only goal is to get back to scoring

2 hours ago

Ottawa Citizen

'I know every athlete goes through it and I think it's eventually going to be over. It will work itself out.'

Ottawa Senators - Figure 1 — Photo Ottawa Citizen

Published Dec 11, 2024 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 4 minute read

The Ottawa Senators' Shane Pinto went into Wednesday night's game without a goal in 18 games. Photo by Troy Parla /Getty Images

Shane Pinto has received lots of advice during his scoring slump.

Article content

Do this. Try that. Maybe approach it this way?

The Ottawa Senators centre had heard it all as he prepared to face the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night at the Canadian Tire Centre with only one goal in the 19 games he’s played this season.

“I’ve gotten a lot of advice,” Pinto said after an off-ice workout Wednesday morning. “I think just sticking with your daily routines and not trying to think too much about it. When you’re an athlete, you want to do so well that you care about the results.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Ottawa Senators - Figure 2 — Photo Ottawa Citizen

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors

Article content

“But you worry about the results too much, that’s when they don’t come. You just have to stick with the process and, eventually, it all turns. Just not thinking about the results has been a main point of emphasis for me.”

Pinto went into this one without a goal in 18 games. The last time he scored was in the club’s opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 10 at home. Since then, he’s missed opportunities on rebounds, great saves by the goalie or shots that have hit the post.

Being used mostly as a third-line centre by coach Travis Green, Pinto ranks No. 11 on the Senators with 29 shots this season. He’s played much better since Green placed Nick Cousins and Michael Amadio on his wings on Dec. 1 in Anaheim, but now he needs to contribute offensively.

“I know every athlete goes through it and I think it’s eventually going to be over,” Pinto said. “It will work itself out. You’ve got to stay positive.”

Green is trying to help Pinto with support.

“It’s not easy what he’s going through,” Green said. “He’s a much better player than I ever was, but I remember going through streaks where I hadn’t scored for a while. You have a lot of people trying to help you and telling you not to worry about it.

Ottawa Senators - Figure 3 — Photo Ottawa Citizen

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

“It’s not easy mentally. His game is improving. Sometimes you just get a lucky bounce that goes in and you’re feeling a lot better and a lot lighter.”

Pinto is currently on pace for four goals this season, and that has to change for Ottawa to have success. Good teams need to have production from everybody and the Senators are no different.

Pinto has scored in the past so the ability to put the puck in the net on a nightly basis is there. He finished with 20 goals and 35 points in 82 games in 2022-23, his first full season in the National Hockey League.

Last year, after being suspended for half the season for breaking the league’s gambling rules, Pinto returned in mid-January to finish with nine goals and 27 points in 41 games.

Green is trying to keep Pinto on an even keel.

“I honestly tell him not to worry about scoring and just worry about playing his game,” Green said. “He’s playing well, he has confidence in himself and when you’ve got a lot of people to tell you that you’re (struggling) it starts to weigh a little bit heavier.

“That’s the way the business is, when you haven’t scored in a while you feel a little pressure. I look at (Pinto) like he’s relatively young in the league and he probably hasn’t gone through a stretch like this. But if you play well, you’re going to get more chances and good things are going to happen.

Article content

“I’ve seen his game improve, and I have no doubt he’s going to score again and he’s going to be fine.”

Pinto isn’t the superstitious type so he hasn’t changed anything or tried something different to see if that might help him emerge from this slump.

“I have my routines but I don’t do anything too crazy,” Pinto said. “I’m not changing to white tape, I’m keeping my black tape, and I don’t really change too many things up.

“I’ve never been superstitious and I don’t like being superstitious. It just doesn’t work for me. Some guys it works for, but I’ve just never been a superstitious guy.”

We’ve seen in this city in the past that desperate times can call for desperate measures.

Former Senators forward Bruce Gardiner, mired in a terrible goal-scoring slump in the early 2000s, dipped his sticks in a toilet bowl in the dressing room and that worked so he kept it up as a pre-game ritual for a while.

Just for good measure, a few of his teammates followed in Gardiner’s footsteps.

That kind of behaviour caused former Ottawa captain Alexei Yashin to remark that he “would never treat his sticks with such disrespect” and Pinto isn’t willing to go that route.

“Maybe I’ll put it in the garbage for a greasy one, a greasy goal, but other than that, nah, I don’t do any of that,” Pinto said with a laugh.

Pinto noted later the last time he’d stuck his stick in a garbage can was in “mite hockey” so nothing should be ruled out.

[email protected]

Recommended from Editorial

Tim Stutzle on torrid place for 100-plus point season as Senators prepare to face Ducks

https://ottawacitizen.com/ottawa-senators/tkachuk-determined-carry-stanley-cup-down-bank-st

Article content