‘Real smart player’: Cousins brings energy to Senators in win over league-best Avs

By Canadian Press on January 29, 2026.

OTTAWA — Nick Cousins isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of the Ottawa Senators but there’s no denying the impact the 32-year-old has on his teammates.

Cousins was instrumental in the Senators’ impressive 5-2 win over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche Wednesday night.

Ottawa played one of its best games of the season against the Avalanche and Cousins, playing on a line with Shane Pinto and Michael Amadio, played a huge role in shutting down superstar Nathan MacKinnon.

Senators head coach Travis Green added Cousins to the line to bring some energy and he didn’t disappoint.

“You know I shifted the lines a little bit,” said Green. “(Pinto’s) line was just playing OK since he came back from his injury and decided to put Cuz there.

“He’s played up the lineup before in his career and give him full credit though, he’s taken advantage of it and he’s playing extremely well. He’s a real smart player.”

Cousins finished the game with one goal, three shots and one blocked shot, but it’s the intangibles that he brings that make him so popular with his teammates. A veteran with over 690 games to his credit and a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, Cousins is also known to be a bit of a pest.

“He’s annoying,” said Green with a laugh. “He’s annoying on a daily basis sometimes. He’s a fun player to coach. His teammates love him, and I don’t think people understand how smart of a player he is. He really understands the game, the small areas of the game.”

The five-foot-11, 191-pound Cousins is not the most imposing player on the ice, but he plays with heart and his teammates and coaches recognize and respect him for it. Green described him as brave.

“That’s one area of his game where if you’re going to be good and you’re going to be good in tight areas, you’ve got to be brave.”

Cousins’ willingness to play with determination and tenacity go a long way with teammates.

“He’s one of those guys with an engine that it’s hard not to get behind when he’s going,” said Ottawa goaltender James Reimer. “Every night he’s in there, he’s forechecking, he’s hitting guys, he’s blocking shots and he’s a big motivator for us. When he gets a big goal for us it’s even better.”

Colorado admitted the Senators made things difficult for them and they just couldn’t get their own game going.

“Just tonight didn’t really seem like we had it all connected,” said star defenceman Cale Makar. “Don’t know if we just thought we were being a little too cute with it or what. It’s going to happen, but again we’ve got to find ways to get back to the basics and the simple things that make us a really good team.”

Cousins has moved up and down the lineup over the course of the season and has contributed seven goals and eight assists through 52 games. He’s most proud of the consistency he’s brought this season.

“I just try and doesn’t matter who I’m playing with or how many minutes I get, I just try and bring energy, momentum,” he said. “Sometimes if we’re not scoring (I bring) energy and momentum and playing the other teams ahead and making it hard on their D and set the other lines up.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2026.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press