Ottawa Senators veteran Claude Giroux is making one thing crystal clear as the stakes rise — the only thing that matters right now is how Ottawa plays its game.
Speaking to TSN's The Drive, Giroux delivered a measured but pointed message that echoes the kind of veteran leadership the Senators have come to rely on. "The focus is on us," Giroux said. "Make sure we play the way we want to play."
It's the kind of quiet confidence that defines Giroux's presence on and off the ice. Rather than fixating on opponents or external noise, the Senators' alternate captain is steering the conversation inward — back to systems, execution, and the identity Ottawa has been building all season.
A Team That Plays on Its Own Terms
For the Senators, the philosophy isn't new, but the urgency is. Ottawa has shown flashes of being a genuinely dangerous team this season — a high-tempo forecheck, strong defensive structure in key moments, and goaltending that can steal a game when it needs to.
Giroux's message reinforces what head coach Travis Green has preached throughout the campaign: stick to your structure, don't chase the game, and trust that the results will follow.
When a player of Giroux's calibre — a Stanley Cup champion, a multiple All-Star, and one of the game's most respected veterans — speaks about focus and process, the room listens. His influence on younger Senators like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Drake Batherson has been quietly invaluable.
Why This Mentality Matters in Ottawa
Ottawa fans have seen plenty of seasons where promise didn't translate to results. This year, though, feels different. The Canadian Tire Centre has been loud and electric on big nights, and the city is buying in.
Giroux's comments are a signal that the players aren't getting ahead of themselves — a crucial trait for a team with a mix of playoff-seasoned veterans and hungry young talent still learning what it takes to win in the post-season.
"Make sure we play the way we want to play" isn't just a soundbite. It's a competitive philosophy. And in Ottawa, where the rebuild has been long and the expectations are finally rising, having a leader anchor that message matters enormously.
What to Watch
The Senators' ability to impose their game — rather than react to their opponent's — will be the defining factor in how far this team can go. When Ottawa controls puck possession, plays north-south hockey, and generates chances off the rush, they're a genuinely hard team to beat.
Giroux knows that better than anyone. After a decorated career across the league, he came to Ottawa with a purpose, and that purpose is winning.
Come game time, if the Senators play their game, Ottawa might just have something to celebrate.
Source: TSN / The Drive via Google News Ottawa
