"Cold out, eh? Well how do you think Sergei Gonchar feels?

It's a very chilly minus-14 in his world.

The Senators highest priced defenceman entered Tuesday's game against the Habs with a plus-minus rating that was tied for 729th best — out of 734 skaters — in the NHL.

With a minus-14, Gonchar is in sniffing distance of James Wisniewski's league worst minus-18.

"To be honest with you, I don't think anybody would be happy having that stat," Gonchar boldly stated after the morning skate. "At the same time, I'm old enough to understand some time these stats aren't showing exactly what you're doing."

Of course not. An opponent can score just as you're stepping off the ice. Or while your goalie is on the bench for an extra attacker. Or during one of your powerplays, which happened to Gonchar Sunday in New York.

Coach Cory Clouston would later sprinkle the blame on both winger Bobby Butler and Gonchar, saying the rookie wasn't doing what he was supposed to be doing and the veteran was covering up.

Others just saw a very soft pinch by a guy who should be better than that.

"You have to stick with it, just play your game, make sure you stay positive and make sure you try to do your best," Gonchar said of his plan on getting out of this rut. "If you're so focused on those minuses, it keeps hitting you in the head and it's going to get worse and worse. Just go out there, and hopefully ... we've put a few games together now and if we're going to continue this way, opportunity is going to present, we're going to score a few more goals and the pluses will come. That's the focus I have."

Me, I can't get my eyes off that ugly 14. It's like an accident, which is what signing Gonchar to a three-year deal sometimes looks like."