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SNAPSHOTS: Connor Brown can set franchise record by scoring in seventh straight Saturday ... Erik Gudranson thrilled to be a new father

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Connor Brown will try to set a franchise record back in one of his old haunts Saturday night.

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After tying the Ottawa Senators’ mark by scoring in his sixth consecutive game Thursday night in a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at home, the sizzling winger can set the mark if he can fire one home on his former Toronto Maple Leafs’ teammates at Scotiabank Arena Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada.

That would be a great stage to achieve a pretty big feat.

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“It seems like every time he touches the puck it’s going in the net,” said alternate captain Brady Tkachuk after the game. “He’s a great player and an even better guy for our team. He’s been in the league for a bit now and he’s seen some peaks and valleys

“He’s helped us young guys out a lot so I’m really happy for him. I know he’ll keep going because that’s how a great a player he is.”

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Dealt to the Senators in July 1, 2019 as part of a huge deal with the Leafs, Brown, 27, has been given an opportunity to play a big role for Ottawa by coach D.J. Smith. He has 12 goals in 41 games and would be on pace for a 25-goal camp in an 82-game season.

“He’s got the hot stick,” said defenceman Mike Reilly. “With him if you don’t even look at the goals, he’s doing a lot of great things away from the puck. He’s getting in on the forecheck, controlling the puck and he’s possessing it in the (offensive) zone.

“Defensively, he’s quick on pucks and he’s a guy who can kill penalties. He’s definitely chipping in a lot which is great for him. He’s definitely got some under-rated skill and that’s shown lately which is awesome.”

Asked about the streak after five games, Brown indicated he hadn’t done anything like this since he had 45 goals and 128 points playing with the OHL’s Erie Otters in 2013-14. That year, Brown was teammates with Edmonton star Connor McDavid.

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Brown is the second Ottawa player this season to have six-game goal streak. Drake Batherson did it earlier this season to join BobKudelski (1993), Daniel Alfredsson (2007), Dany Heatley (2007) and Jason Spezza (2010) on the list of those who have all completed the feat. Brown had six shots on goal against Edmonton’s Mike Smith and hit the post.

A PROUD PAPA

It was a whirlwind week for alternate captain Erik Gudbranson.

His wife, Sarah, gave birth to the couple’s first child Tuesday when Bennett William was brought into the world. Gudbranson didn’t suit up Wednesday against the Oilers in a 3-2 loss, but did see duty Thursday to complete the club’s season series against Edmonton.

“Everything went well and mommy’s feeling happy and feeling good,” said Gudbranson. “He’s doing well and he’s a cool little kid.”

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He suited up Saturday in Montreal but didn’t travel to Winnipeg for the rescheduled game Monday because getting home for the birth would have been difficult. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

“For those who have kids it’s a beautiful moment and I’m really blessed by that,” said Gudbranson. “Benny’s mom (Sarah) and Benny are healthy so we’re really blessed.”

Sometimes life works in funny ways. Really, this trade to the Senators couldn’t have come at a better time in the 28-year-old Gudbranson’s career. He spent most of last season with the Anaheim Ducks before being moved just after the NHL draft in October and the timing was perfect.

An Ottawa native, he’s also made stops in Florida, Vancouver and Pittsburgh during his career. Being at home to have this kind of moment and be able to share it with family is special. Gudbranson noted to legendary broadcaster Gord Wilson after the game Thursday he might even grab a game puck to mark his first NHL game as a new father.

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“There’s a lot of things that haven’t sunk in yet. He’s only a couple of days old,” said Gudbranson. “My wife and I were talking about it because we have her folks in town, her sister, and with where I’ve been over the last few years the odds are just crazy that we were able to do this with both of our families and having that support around.

“With what we do, you move around quite a bit and it’s just crazy odds that it was able to happen and I couldn’t be happier that he was born here.”

THE LAST WORDS

The Senators will be thrilled to see the last of the Oilers this season. Ottawa finished with an 0-9-0 record against Edmonton while having a difficult time shutting down McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They were held pointless Thursday but combined for 13 goals and 41 points in the nine games against the Senators this season.

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Asked if that’s one of the most complete teams he’s played against in his career, Tkachuk wasn’t sure if he’s willing to go that far.

“That’s a tricky question because they’ve got the best player in the world (McDavid), and that in itself is probably our biggest challenge,” said Tkachuk. “I feel like there were games this year where now I feel like sometimes we didn’t come out ready to play and I think it’s a lot of a lot of the early games are on us and I wouldn’t say what is on them playing great.

“We learned a lot throughout this year with the way we played against them, but we’re playing against the best player in the world and he’s the best for reason. It’s just frustrating that we couldn’t pull this one off because we deserved it.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/sungarrioch

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