The Senators will get a boost tonight with the return of Filip Kuba. Kuba has been out of the line up since the season opener and should help settle a struggling power play. Ottawa has lacked a point presence with the man advantage and Kuba certainly gives them that.
Kuba is expected to be paired with Chris Campoli, taking the spot of the demoted Erik Karlsson.
Clouston has also mentioned he will try using Daniel Alfredsson on the point on the power play at times this evening. I'm personally a big fan of this move. Alfie has always excelled as a PP quarterback and gives the Senators a much needed shot threat from the back end. It should help open up the play down low a little bit.
Ryan Shannon is expected to come out of the line up meaning Shean Donovan will play.
Michalek-Spezza-Cheechoo
Kovalev-Fisher-Alfredsson
Foligno-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Donovan
Phillips-Volchenkov
Kuba-Campoli
Picard-Carkner
The Panthers come into the game having dropped three straight including a 5-1 loss to the Flyers in their last outing. They have struggled as of late and will be without two key forwards in David Booth and Radek Dvorak.
Only the Nashville Predators have scored less goals than the Panthers.
Pascal Leclaire will start for the Senators while the Panthers will counter with Tomas Vokoun.
55 comments:
I'm glad Dono is back in the line up. He brings great energy to the team. Look for a solid game by him tonight to stay in the line up. Not saying he is a difference maker, but the team has played great with him in, as not so much with Shannon in. If it aint broke.......
lol, well considering Nashville scored 6 on the sens, I think we don't really care about how many goals they've scored coming in. Love the Donovan move, plays his heart out every shift (now if only we literally light a fire under kovalev to make him skate). GO SENS GO!!! Get Leclaire a shutout 4-0!!!
We can always count on a SC blog around the same time every day! Lunch break?
Didn't Alfie always play the point on the PP a few years ago when Sens were among tops in the league. Mind you he was usually paired with Chara. But it only makes sense to have him back there with Kuba. Campoli also was successful back there last year with Kuba.
Not that one guy makes all the difference, but nobody can say the Sens don't have all the pieces of a great power play. So having Kuba back can certainly trigger a positive change.
Alfie on the point makes perfect sense as well. We've got plenty of other guys to play down low.
Sens should be able to get all 6 points for the next three games (Flo, TB, Atl). Getting these points would go a long way near the end of the season.
GO SENS!!!
Hey SC,
Is there any way that the Sens can trade for Horton? Do you think it would be a good move? What would be a fair trade?
RR
Kuba and Donovan will add a lot to out lineup. I hope Kuba is 100% and has not been rushed. Last thing I want to see is him being hurt again for a long period of time. I think the past 8 games without him have shown how much he is relied on to run the PP and just provide better coverage 5 on 5.
I think the Sens will get 4 out of 6 points in the next 3 games. We will loose to Tampa but win Florida and Atlanta.
RR
Kovalev & 2nd Rounder for Horton
I know he's played there since then but I keep thinking back to that Pomminville goal that knocked us out of the playoffs a couple of years ago, and Alfie was playing the point.
That being said I trust him back there way more than Shannon, glad to see Dono back too.
The presence of Kuba will lessen the burden on Phillips and Volchenkov to play the big minutes and big moments.
It also allows Carkner to be a 5-6 D that gets PK time, which is where he should be (you don't go from 8 y in the minors to top 4D).
PL
re: Anom 1:22 PM
Forget Kuba being rushed, what about the rust on him? He's a welcome addition but I'm not sure he's gonna pot a couple of goals on his first game back.
That being said, its good to see him back in the line up. Ottawa is looking pretty damn good.
Expecting a solid road win tonight a loss would be really sad given the state of the panthers right now. Glad Kuba is back, should solidify the D and the pp.
I'll predict 3-1 sens W
Give Dono more than 6-8 minutes of ice time. Let him play 12-15minutes - mark my words, he'll ignite a fire under Cheech and Kovy!!
Ya the rust may be on, especially since he hasn't practised a lot with the whole team lately.
I want him to shine however. I have him in my pool.
4-1 Sens W
Signed
Chubbs MacGreggor
Glad to see Kuba return. I hope the errors committed in the game against the Bruins and the Preds will be rectified this game.
GO SENS GO!
I like this line - up!
My only complaint is that Cheechoo is ineffective on the first line and should be replaced by Foligno -I know that means they would be playing on the off wing but I still think Foligno would be productive with Spezza and Michalek
Of course if Cheechoo pots a couple tonite I will temporarily stop griping.
3-2 PANTHERS...don't kill the messenger, but Florida will be pumped and going to try and win one for Booth.
GO SENS GO
I've been watching Cheechoo fairly closely this year so far (in person for home games). While he hasn't scored I think his play has been mostly solid. I think he's a good fit on the Spezza line and given a bit more time will start to produce on the scoresheet.
Not that I mind the idea of Foligno up there, but I think Cheechoo will produce.
If they blow a late lead or play scattergories like they did with Nashville, Clouston needs to beat them like rented mules!
This team is way too good to look that bad on a regular basis.
Oh...and about Donovan: Is there really anyone who's a better "value" in the under $2 M club? Barely over league minimum and you always know (and like) what you're going to get.
Three garbage teams, 6 points.
As for Donovan, still not seeing the love but he doesn't kill our team out there.
5-2 Senators, 8-1 against Tampa and 6-3 against Atlanta.
Losing any of these games would be utterly embarassing.
Shutout for Leclair tonight. It's time he starts getting some shutouts, like we saw in Columbus.
Anon @ 2:05
I would agree with Hax. Watching Cheechoo closely as I have, the man cannot buy a goal, but thats not for lack of chances. He goes to the messy areas, and he doesnt skate fast, but actually causes some havoc on the forecheck.
I love foligno, he is always going to give his all, but we already tried him in that spot (on the spezza line) and it was completely ineffective. I dont know if its because of the familiarity between cheechoo and michalek or if its just nice to have a right shot on the right wing, but you cannot deny we have had two dangerous lines since cheechoo was moved to the top.
Now, I will only be impressed with his intangibles for so long. But I dont find myself getting frustrated at the guy (like I did with Vermette and Fisher last year). In fact, I seem to really like what I see, and am rooting for him to pot one in.
my two cents (more like 2 bucks, I ramble)
Dave
Wow, it shows what a sorry state of affairs this team is in when people are getting excited about the return of two slugs to the lineup.
Slugs or plugs? I wouldn't call Kuba either, he isn't the great D-man that many people think he is but he will help the PP for sure.
Donovan is a great fourth liner, sand paper and energy. Looking at the way Shannon is playing, it makes sense.
PS. You sound like a Leaf fan, get lost.
wow one of you are actually willing to trade kovy and 2nd rounder for hornton?!?! wat r u on dude!!!
Any streams for 2nites game?
Kovy sucks, I would trade him to whatever sucker would take that ridiculus $5Mil contract. I am a hardcore sens fan and was outraged by that signing and his play has proved why. He has had one decent game this year against the habs. That 5 mil easily could of got us top 4 D and a scoring threat. Hopefully he changes my mind on this but I don't see that happening.
How does a natural goal scorer like Cheechoo slowly decay to this? We all knew he couldn't skate but he's supposed to have a natural nose for the net... what happened to him?
Good point on Kovy's contract. Would any other GM have paid $5 Mil for him? Do we have to players a premium for them to accept to play in Ottawa?
I have to say I am very happy that Dono is back in the line up. Against Nashville something seemed to be missing and a great energy play from Dono could have at least turned the momentum that much to allow us to hold them off a little more.
That guy has more energy then the energizer bunny on red bull, and for his age and salary I do not know how we can "afford" to make him a healthy scratch.
As for Kuba being back in the lineup he will do fine. I don't think he will do anything spectacular but he will be more solid and less of a pushover then Karlsson. We really need to not push Philchenkov any further then we have. They have relied on them far too much already 9 games in and we don't need them spent before the Olympic break.
Anon 5:24 - I don't see it happening either. You seem to have made up your mind over the summer that you were going to hate Kovalev.
It's going to be hard for many Sens fans to "love" Kovy. In a market where fans typically love guys like Neil, Fisher and Alfie it's going to be hard to accept a guy who plays the game a different way.
Kovalev "picks his spots" (the nice way of putting it) or "floats" (the negative) but he's very smart positionally and makes the other team aware whenever he's on the ice because he can be so dangerous. He's never going to give you shifts like Fisher (where Fisher will pin his ears back and go full speed for 45 seconds straight) but that's not his game.
You may never like him and that's fine, but I think he'll earn his $10M before he moves on. It will come in spurts though.
cheechoo is as rickety on his skates as a 7 year old. he literally cannot skate. im rooting for the guy and hope he can keep up with michalek and spezza, but i dont think he can. 20 goals is a dream right now.
Any streams for tonight's broadcast?
I also can't find stream. Please help!
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/senstv
Try that
anyone care to share the password to get in to watch the sens game on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/senstv
please? thanks. :)
What the frick is with this "bonus coverage"??? If I wanted to watch the stinky leaves stink I'd watch stinkin' TSN1. I mean, I get that without TSN2 we'd have no TV tonight at all, but can't they at least recap the first period? I'd rather watch Canadian Tire commercials for 17 minutes than watch the stinking leaves. I'd rather watch the Panthers first intermission show than the stinky leaves. I'd rather watch the zambonis make circles in Florida than watch the stinky leaves.
God, at least let Dallas score to give me something!!!
Does anyone have the password for the above link??
try
ottawasenatorshockey
i am also looking for the password. come on Sens fans, we need your help.
btw, whats wrong with atdhe.net today? seems like there is always an issue when you want to watch the Sens.
Thx SC!!!!!
where is leclaire????
Just tuned into the TEAM. What happened to Leclaire? Tell me he isn't injured!
Why is Leclaire out?
Still feeling a little sick apparently
Man, he looked ok...hopefully Elliot can get us there.
Kuba looks great out there, can't believe we're not up 4-0 by now.
Ya, let's go get McCabe. ROFLMAO!!!
SC, the streaming dude moved the site! Can you help refind? Thanks.
Weird. Team1200 feed is approx 30 seconds behind TSN2. Still... better than listening to the Panthers commentators!!
I am seeing game live on TSN2 (402 on Bell) - isn't everyone???
Ya Channel 98 on rodgers
What happened to Volchy?
shit, volchy better not be hurt for too long, hopefully leclaire is just sick.
SC,
What is up with Leclaire?
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