When the Ottawa Senators returned from a two-game sweep in Sweden last year, they had a record of 8 wins and 7 losses. One game above .500, as they are now around the same time this season. But whereas last season's eventual implosion seemed imminent, this year somehow feels different.

It could be the Travis Green effect and the structural improvements implemented by the new coaching staff or the depth and experience of the new roster additions. It may be that the talented young core players have reached a new level of maturity in their games and have embraced the small details that separate winning teams from the rest of the league.

The Senators' style of play this year definitely seems more focused on reducing shots against and scoring opportunities, and it appears to be more consistently repeatable as the early season has progressed.

The recent win over the Seattle Kraken is a prime example. Playing on back-to-back nights after losing a game they deserved to win on the road against a top team, the Senators could be understandably vulnerable to a rested Kraken team that was waiting in Ottawa for them. It could be excused if they lost the game and sunk to familiar November territory below .500.

But this year's Senators did what good teams do under such circumstances. They scored early, played hard low-event hockey, and grinded out a win. It was the third game in a row where they held opposing teams to low shot totals and minimized high-danger scoring chances.

There's a long way to go between now and the playoffs, and there are many ways it could all go sideways for the Senators. As with all teams, there will no doubt be a few burn-the-tape-type efforts between now and April, but the early returns in Ottawa look good so far.

Could it really be different this time?