The Ottawa Senators took on the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa January 8, 2012. Ottawa Senator Zack Smith tips the puck toward Ilya Bryzgalov from the Philadelphia Flyers during first period Sunday night in Ottawa. Tony Caldwell/Ottawa Sun/QMI Agency
Less than a week from the one-year anniversary of his last goal, Zack Smith received what might seem like an obvious tip from a teammate.
He was told, by Jason Spezza, he was squeezing his stick too tight.
Gee thanks, right? Commonly stated of all players anxious about a lengthy slump is they're gripping their weapon harder than normal, trying too hard to break out of their funk. Heading into last Wednesday's tilt with the Maple Leafs, Smith hadn't scored in 43 games, dating back to March 8, 2012. So Spezza wasn't exactly offering up insight Don Cherry would have overlooked.
