(UPDATE 3:07 PM)- A quick rant here about the intermission coverage on CBC. Kelly Hrudey did a feature on three plays where Alfredsson didnt "finish his check". Two of the three plays Alfredsson either came away with the puck or forced a turnover and the other was a PK situation.
Maybe Hrudey should take a look at what actually happened on the play. You dont have to run a guy to win the puck. Alfredsson proved that..
Hrudey and Milbury should be embarassed after that little performance. They are both respected analysts and should know better. Had to get that off my chest. Enjoy the rest of the game folks!
Puck drop is at 2:00 PM.
Jason Spezza will not play for Ottawa. His back has been bugging him all season and the Senators are hoping a little time off (Ottawa doesn't play till Thursday) will help Jason get back to 100%.
Pascal Leclaire will return to the Senators net this afternoon.
Enjoy the game everyone...
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
88 comments:
Don't play again until Thursday!! What is up with this brutal schedule? We to watch T-bay, Florida and the Atlanta (yawn) 3 games in 4 nights and then nothing again until Thursday.
Hopefully the refs don't act like idiots today and have double standards like there has been over the past 5 games.
i like that there is nothing until thursday, more time for spezz and volch and possibly other players to get healed up. To make the playoffs we need everyone healthy
!!
Yeah I don't mind the break with the two obvious injuries, and who knows what else.
Given, I hate not having any games to watch until Thursday, especially seeing as I am stuck working today and am going to miss todays, unless it is REALLY slow and I can just sit in the staff room.
We need this game. I Hope Leclaire is 100%.
Anyone have a stream?
Should be up at http://www.cbc.ca/sports/
Thanks!
And oddly for some reason it considers my work outside canada...UGGG!
LOL
Anyone here try Red Baron Lime? I picked up 6 for the game. I just cracked one and it's not bad. WAY cheaper than Bud Light Lime, same kind of taste.
Kovalev looks like he got jumped in Vanier last night coming out of the Playmate... or like he got his bell rung Thursday night!
Go Sens Go.
Spendzza
I have tried it Spendzza. Not bad at all.
Got the Bud Light Lime right now though. Worth the extra money...
On your point Chirp re: Hrudey's comments, he just confirmed his idiot status. He should stick to being a back-up goalie with greasy hair. Alfie's a way better player than Hrudey ever was. Hrudey's just grasping a straws, trying to find some bullshit to talk about to make the Sens look bad.
And Milbury is probably so busy buying up Nortel stock that he is just blindly agreeing. Not surprised here. Let's not forget that he actually INTENTIONALLY traded for Yashin...
Sick save by ATL goalie on Mickalek just now.
Go Sens Go.
And Go Red Baron Lime Go.
Spendzza
How are they looking?
off to hopefully catch some of it in the staff room.
2-0 thrashers, not to be negative because they were playing well, but man missing spezza setting up those goals that are easy to finish
Ottawa had a strong second period. Kovalev and Cheechoo are making their presences known. Cheechoo has to be a little more careful with the give aways, otherwise a good effort on his part.
Ruutu is playing better every game. If they come out with the same effort in the 3rd we may witness another comeback!
I think Milbury was on to something 2nd intermission video evidence doesn't lie.
But seriously what is with all the anti sens babble no matter what network we watch them on.
Kovalev needs to be better, no doubt, but the package Milbury showed was ridiculous.
He delayed on that one shot to get Pavlec to go down. On the other play he made a good move to create space and just didnt click on the pass. That happens.
Give it a rest Milbury. You were a far better GM than you are an analyst and thats saying something.
This anti-Senator bull shit on the CBC is a disgrace.
Hrudey is one to talk, he was a horrible goalie and Millbury... well we all know what a great GM he was.
Play-by-play guys now praising the Leafs. Amazing.
Wow what an onslaught just can't buy a goal. Why do I have a feeling if that was in the sens end there would of been a penalty some where in there.
some one should tell the Sens that ppl pay good money to see them play so they should put in a eford, i am glad i did not pay money today
the sens put up a good effort tonight... Amazing goaltending stole the show
Anon @ 4:21, were we watching the same game? 51 shots is a bad effort? Come on buddy, just shut up if you have nothing constructive or realistic to talk about.
You're whining about something you haven't even done (go to the game),and about a bad effort (errr, check the boxscore).
Maybe try and pull your head out of your rear buddy.
Such an odd feeling when you watch your team dominate a game and still lose
Will be nice to see Lee, Campoli, Kelly and Picard not on this team next season. Hope Murray can do something our D by the deadline or next summer. Get better soon Volkie.
If the Sens continue to struggle against subpar teams Murray might be looking for a new job next season. Why he signed NoShow Kovalev to that contract is mindboggling. Oh well...looks like another struggle to make to playoffs this year.
What a frustrating game to watch. Lets hope they can pull everything together and get some wins this coming month!
I think Milbury is a good addition to HNIC as long as you ignore what comes out of his mouth.
This guy is so bitter at anybody who has skill. Unless at player is dropping the gloves, chipping the puck off the glass, or taking a run at someone, he'll find something wrong with him. Why? That's all he could do as a player.
Every opportunity he gets, he rips good players. Watch how he rips Spezza. He has to. He's still rationalizing to himself that trading for Yashin was a good deal.
Murray needs to be fired for the Kovalev contract and for brnging Cheechoo here. (Even though I like Michalek).
Both those guys are useless and having a few key guys out is truly proving that.
Those 2 are not top 6 guys but are sooooooo being paid like it.
Sorry, but getting 2 out of the 6 points against Florida, Tampa and Atlanta is just unacceptable. A lot of fans were speaking of depth at the begining of the season, but if we truly had depth we wouldn't have lost the last few games the way we did. Buffalo is a great example of that, No real superstars outside of maybe Vanek but look at their performance!
Cheechoo played well today.
problem is people thought foligno-cheechoo and shannon would notch between 15-20 each. Foligno might reach that goal but the other 2 might not reach 10. On top of that kovalev doesnt care, it looks like it might be a long struggle to make the playoffs
i like cheechoo, hes a solid role player, and he will pick it up, hes 3rd on the team in shots and can control the play, as for milbury and hrudey they both have always been goofs who never quite made it so no one should ever listen to a word they say
I was at the game, just got home.
Definitely wasn't the best game we've played, and still we were in their end most of the night. The shot count of roughly 50-20 backs that up.
But there were so many easy, open-net chances that should have been buried. Don't get me wrong, Pavelec played crazy well. But a couple of times, he was down and out, sprawling...while our players were getting rebounds back on their sticks and just couldn't buy a goal...one of those games I guess.
I just hope we don't start getting into goal-drought woes like we did most of last season.
Is Murray on vacation or in town????
i am a sens fan, but not a Murray Fan so i like the loses and we are going to have many many more, we will finish in the basement but will end up with a number one draft pick and Murray will be gone. then i will start going to games again.
Murray needs to go on tool academy
He is an absolute idiot. Ottawa is were all of the washed up canadian players go....Last year it was Comrie, this year Cheechoo. Hope Murray gets the boot!
Say what you want about Milbury, but he's been a better player, a better coach, and a better GM than Murray. Look it up, facts don't lie.
sooo many trolls on here...when did this happen? But i never saw this game, i only have the stats to looks at, but realistically they should be burying at least a few of those. if spezz was dressed we may have had a different result, but oh well...Chirp, Im sorry but I must scorn your comment about Mike Milbury being a "respected" analyst. He's a joke, he was a joke GM and he's a joke as a commentator. Show me 12 people who respect him and I'll show you a dozen goofs.
I see Halloween has brought out a few people dressed up as Sens Fans.
Terrific!
Wow! Loving the Murray bashing... What is wrong with you people? Especially anon 6:31, you call yourself a Sens fan?
You basically just stated that you want the Sens to lose to prove that you're right and Murray should be fired. If more fans were like you we wouldn't have a team. Seriously bud, go cheer for the leafs, correction the bruins, seeing as they'll, in all likely hood, be getting the number one.
For the rest of you Murray bashers, could you have done any better in the situations Murray has been in? I think he has done exceptionally well as our GM, a million times better than Muckler.
Dave
Good to see Shannon play well for the first time since his concussion.
Looks like Ottawa will be in tough to make the playoffs this year.
Man, you got to love this. I just LOVE the fact that everyone is claiming that BM will be fired by the end of the season. Which leaves me one question for you all... Are you well?
The guy has done wonders for our team. He traded away one of the biggest cancers we had for an exceptional player in Michalek, and Cheechoo. Sure, Cheech is playing fairly rough as of late but come on. He's been playing better in these last few, and I have seen him frequently active on the forecheck. With the loss of A-Train and Spezza, the whole team will suffer.
Now Kovalev. Are you really calling for BM to be fired over this? Because he signed a guy who has gotten 149 points in the past two seasons, to play as a top 6 threat? Yeah, I'm sure his lack of scoring is definately Bryan Murray's fault. Hell, Clouston will be gone LONG before BM. It's Kovalev that is the problem. He has no desire to play in Ottawa, and it shows. He wants to be in Montreal. Lastly, it's not like he's got a great playmaker to work with either. I want to see Kovalev play with Spezza. Give them some time and see what happens.
and @ Anon 6:31 -
You are the people that give Sens fans a bad name. I'm fucking sick of it. The first 5 words of your post is bullshit when you further read the rest. To enjoy the losses after 11 games in? And what kind of logic is it to fire Bryan Murray before the draft. Good idea! Not like Bryan Murray is any good at that. I hope you never come to a Sens game you fickle piece of shit.
Summary:
Murray is here to stay. Melnyk isn't a moron and he knows what Bryan has done for this organization. He has brought them to the cup and they are in a re-building stage as of now. He is by far the best General Manager the Sens have ever had. And considering he's buddy-buddy with Melnyk... yeah, he's staying. Get over it you fickle fans, with the constant negativity. I dont know if you guys pick it up from CBC (The offical ANTI-SENS channel) or TSN (Runner-up), but if you're going to complain about nonsense then go cheer for the Leafs.
- oO Karlsson Oo
(Great effort tonight boys, 51 shots doesn't lie)
SensChirp,
A Sens fan is allowed to bring up legit criticism about the team or the GM. There's no sugar coating it, they have not produced to expectations.
Wow you guys need to lay off guys like Lee, Kovalev and Cheechoo. Lee has been up for what 2 games. Give this guy a few games to adjust. He's a much better defense man then both Campoli and Picard and will likely be on this team next year. What is he like 21 or 22 give the kid a break.
As for Kovalev if you guys were expecting anything more out of this guy. You all were expecting far to much. He plays his style of play and that's it nothing more nothing less.
Cheechoo, has been solid. Yes, he's taken a few bad penalties and what not but he has been getting his chances. They just have not been going in for him. It's still a long year and if he can get some lucky bounces instead of unlucky 20 goals is still a possibility.
And why all the negative. Why not focus on all the good things, like Spezza playing hard, Alfredsson not losing a step. Fisher rebounding and Regin having a good start to the year. Like really people get over yourselves.
Hey all, was at the game today and a few comments...I can't believe how many faceoffs the Sens lost, say what you want about Spezza but not having him on the big draws was huge.
Cheechoo was one of the best players on the ice tonight, he needs to pot a few and get his confidence going, do not give up on this guy yet. I can't remember ever seeing the Sens dominate that much and lose, Pavelec was absolutely unreal today..
I can't believe that they allow Mike Milbury on television. CBC should be ashamed, everything he says is a joke. He was by FAR the worst GM in the history of the NHL, how can anyone listen to him speak and think he's credible?
I have half season tickets so I get to see the Sens in person quite a bit. I don't know if it's the section I'm in this year or what, but I'm really starting to dislike the people sitting around me. They only open up their mouths when the Sens don't capitalize on their opportunities. Calling the players bums and other negative comments are so annoying. You're there to CHEER on the Sens. Save your taunting for the other teams. /RANT
See what happens when a player like Heatley plays for a team that actually has a couple of lines that are legitimate NHL lines....
Heatley has 9 goals...Murray traded Heatley for Michalek.
What a dope!!!! Heatley was and will be a 50 goal scorer. Cheechoo is worse then Comrie. guarantee you Spezza is out of here after this season. Book it.
I would like to thank Senschirp for his/her elloquent analysis of the 1st inermission analysis by the monkeys at CBC, bang on!
For the haters: Take your shots because we know you have nothing else to ease your sleeps.
As for the so-called fans, if you can't comment without making yourself look like an idiot, than maybe you should follow teletubbies instead (Harry Neal and Bob Cole),
Murray has been dealt a shitty hand from the start, and is trying to clean up the mess that Muckler left him. I think he is doing a decent job, although he has made some mistakes along the way. Heatly was not one of them, and getting Cheechoo, Mickalek and a 2nd for a cyst is pretty good in my books. The only way a deal could have been reached with SJ would have to include Cheechoo as the cap hit had to be close to equal for both teams. So whether Cheechoo was wanted or not, he is here, appears to be committed and is working hard. Can't ask for much more. Worst case scenario we have Cheech, and Kovalev off the books in two yeaars. Best case scenario they play to their potential and hopefully some of these haters will shut up.
"They are both respected analysts and should know better."
When I read this, I couldn't stop laughing.
12 games in guys calm down, this team is above .500. Maybe that isn't good enough, but they are not only missing Volchenkov (best defense IMHO) and Spezza (best playmaker on team), but a lot of the players are battling that flu that Leclaire probably spread around the room. People are going to say they can't shoot but most of the shots Ottawa took were easy saves, they have games like that.
I'm glad they're off until next thursday, I'm confident Spezza will be back and Volchie who is only supposed to be out 1-2 weeks should be back as early as next saturday (not saying it's likely, but volchenkov has been known to heal quickly).
Until next Thursday, let them get pissed at themselves for losing this one and come out strong!!!!
GO SENS GO!!!!
Anon 7:02, what were your expectations of this team exactly? The Murray haters are the same idiots who think this team will contend for the Cup each season. Wake up people, this is a team that will be on the bubble. And right now, they're 6th in the East and on pace for 96 points. Which means they're on pace to finish ON THE BUBBLE. If you don't like where the team is at this point hop off the bandwagon and climb on with Pittsburgh or Chicago or whoever else will finish 1st this year. This team won't finish in the top 4 of the conference, they'll be lucky to get a playoff spot, deal with it.
man
emotional pms-ing sens fans haha
on a more serious note, for people bashing kovalev and cueing from mike milbury and kelly hrudey's comments:
everyone can recognize that kovalev maybe does not look the sharpest most loyal player at times, but i think he more than compensates for it by creating the amount of space he does for alfredsson and fisher and vice versa. its just been 12 games, let these guys click, they will be a force to be reckoned with. kovalev is a definite weapon and asset for this team and people should not get so hasty in burning down on him. i mean just look how he dominates on the PP. its an automatic upgrade. the setup he gay fisher on the PP goal was amazing, very few people have that skill, that panache from the wall that he possesses. he is all kinds of threat. definitely need to be patient guys we are still second in the division, and only by three points.
cheechoo: this guy is going to be an amazing story. i mean just based on the heart he brings he is an amazing piece in the heatley trade. the guy clearly is missing legs because of however many surgeries. but no matter where clouston puts him, he gives his best, he is dedicated and commited and you can tell in his play. and you can tell he is working hard to improve. cheechoo deserves a chance on this team, whether its on the fourth line or the first line.
lee: clearly looked more in control this game compared to the tampa game. i think tampa game he was all nerves.
all in all......i guess because it hurts to lose to a lower placed team. i do wish they brought the world down on atlanta atleast during their earlier PPs. just maybe more edginess and traffic when in the other team's zone. i guess they are holding back a little with the edge factor against the opposing team because of the string of referee ineptitude in the past three to five games.
regardless the shot count shows the deeper story that the foundation is good. lets hope the beat the crap out of tampa.
-was a good effort today without spezza or volchenkov. 50 shots shows they were giving a solid effort
-cheechoo was actually good today. i still think he is good for 20 goals.
-why does mcllean and milbury on hot stove think any one gives a shit about the nhlpa? every week they talk about it as if anyone cares. show hockey highlights and analysis.
-the leafs are 1 and 11. and every supposed analyst had them finishing ahead of ottawa?? suck it TSN.
Anon 7:02
just shut the fuc up would u - have not produced to who's expectaions - your lofty ones i guess - they are 2 games above .500 so they are meeting expectations.
love cheech, the production will come, it will come
same with shannon - great game today
51 shots - most often will win when that happens
you trolls need to be smacked with a stick
we are all a little hard on the team, we have two more years left on cheechoo & Kov contracts by then we will have a new GM and a good draft pick so relax we will be alright.
Cheechoo clearly has the heart and is working ridiculously hard (his line kpe tth epuck in the zone and tired out Thrasher defenceman many many times). I am shocked how many people criticise this guy just because he's not going to score 50 goals like he did with SJ. Big deal, he is still a solid player and is much better than Kelly or Winchester who still bring a solid game to the table as well.
Key point nobody here is talking about: 51 shots without our best centreman in the lineup. That's something to build on. You don't see teams getting 50 shots in today's NHL.
Wow, Beautiful game tonight, and Pavelic absolutely stoned us... Gotta say, if we play like that with two of our best players out, I look forward to the future. I also feel bad for cheechoo, and the one thing I've always noticed is that he is trying, he is working, but its just not going in, hope he can pot one and get the fans off his back.
Brian Murray though, has proved himself too often to me as a patient guy who drafts very well, and has done great things to our minor league system. My only complaint has been the neil signing, but one complaint amongst the the total re-building of our farm and the looks of our team depth atm makes me happy. (also, we got robert lehner AND leclaire for vermy? Daayyyum... By the time sens fans run leclaire out of town, Lehner will take over, or Elliot will be ready, either way, he has insurance vs Ottawa fans and media)
Karlsson poster is right in that Murray will be here, but not for the reason he thinks.
He will remain our GM for the rest of his natural life because to fire him would mean Melnyk was wrong in giving him the job in the first place.
Murray is a lifetime loser (30 years, 0 Cups) but he IS great at sniffing out young talent (Karlsson, etc) and he is a decent coach.
Let's let the season play itself out. If we miss the playoffs, we'll see how Melnyk reacts. Personally, I expect a 5-10 year extension to Murray, full honours to the "Don't rock the boat, don't take a risk" Senators policy.
A loss against Tampa next Thursday and Closton needs to bagskate these babies till their feet bleed!
Losing to Atlanta? UNACCEPTABLE.
Losing to Tampa? UNACCEPTABLE.
Start winning some games and dominating you stiffs!!!
I was at the game today. Kovalev had an average game, nothing Special.
Alfredsson is a monster.
Brian Lee actually had a good game. I was watching him throughout his shifts
Derrick: Bang on about Shannon. He's getting his stride back and will challenge underacheivers on the second and first line.
The Ruutu|Kelly|Donavon line is consistantly our second best line out there which will be great when we DO make the playoffs. All you Kelly haters have nothing to say. You're all idiots.
I think as a publicly funded network, CBC is obligated to hire visible minorities, hence the fat midget and the intellectually challenged oaf.. Either that or they over paid for Cherry and couldn't afford a proper support cast...
Schubert with 22 minutes?? I'm so happy for the guy- get's traded to a team that gives him a REAL chance and look how well he has done already. I looked at his stats and he's getting 15+ minutes per game and has looked good. Ottawa totally mismanaged this guy. Despite what many fans think- giving him 2 games on defense with rookies and then switching him to 5 minutes a night as a forward is NOT an opportunity. Good luck Schubie and congrats for getting out of this organization and onto a team that actually uses you properly!
If the opposition's goalie stops 50 of 51 shots, not much you can do. Most nights you'd be winning 6-1.
Alfredsson is slowing down.
He looked disinsterested in Florida and while he played well yesterday, we need more from him.
If Alfredsson had crashed the net with the puck, running the goalie, we would have had a dirty goal and won. Instead, he was all perimeter, no penetration.
The fact is, this team shouldn't be losing to Florida or Atlanta or Nashville and the captain is a big part of that.
Alfredsson has the veteran help he needed from Kovalev though. Kovalev is money in the playoffs.
Time for Alfredsson to deliver a championship...
I was at the game. We dominated the whole thing and Atlanta got two ridiculous lucky breaks on the first two goals. Super annoying. We are a playoff team for sure though and we're proving that. We dominate the weaker teams and we match up quite well toe-to-toe with most of the elite teams.
The only complaint I have about the game was the fact that Shannon was yet again put on the point. I mean for fuck sakes I was so pissed when Clouston through him out there. The play before he draws a penalty, but couldn't even raise the puck to finish an easy scoring chance after his side-step to the side of the goal. On the following shift where Clouston puts him on the point he flat out misses no less than 3 easy goals/wide open nets. This guy has absolutely no finish. It's time for us to admit he doesn't have an NHL shot already. Putting him on the point just because you have a boner for him from his AHL days is not good for our hockey club.
Hey Cossack(6:45pm),
Remember that time Milbury traded Luongo and Olli Jokinen to Bryan Murray for Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish?? Look it up, facts don't lie.
I agree with the hot stove comment on HNIC-You tune in and are expecting hockey highlights, rumours, and analysis. Instead they start going on about the nhlpa?? I mean who cares?? This is the third or fourth week of it, and it is boring as shit. Talk hockey!!!
I understand bashing Cheechoo but Kovalev is an amazing player. I really hope they both start to show more on th score sheet and there is no doubt in my mind that Kovalev will. Its true 5 mill is a bit overpriced but come playoff time he will pay off.
Anon 7:56
Get over Heatley -- he did not want to be with the Sens. He quit on the team and his teammates when things got rough. Sure he has 9 goals -- 6 on the power play -- so 3 goals 5 on 5. Michalek is a faster skater, way better fore & back checker, maybe not the hands of Heatley -- but when the games get tough -- he will stand out over Heatley. As Michalek plays the whole ice -- Heatley sits in the slot with this stick in the air.
I have a suggestion for you Anon 7:56 -- go cheer for San Jose -- jump off Sens band wagon and stay off. You can be disappointed when San Jose gets knocked out of 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs.
As for Alfie not playing well.. -- he has 16 points in 12 games.. what's wrong with that.
Some of you so called fans are idiots.
cheechoo played really well last night.i do like that guy he has heart and he will prove some of you f***ers wrong. cheers
true, this team shouldn't be losing to Florida or Atlanta or Nashville. the real teams are coming up. I don't see how you think we can make the playoffs? and why should we ? we would lose in the frist 4 or 5 games, what this team needs are draft picks, i would rather rebuild, Alfredson is getting older, we have two years left on Cheechoo and Kov contract. finsh low win high with some good picks for the next 2 years.
Hey anon @ 12:03pm,
Remember that time in 1997 when Murray traded away his first round pick for Viktor Kozlov. That pick ended up being used to select Vinny Lecavalier first overall.
That's right, Vinny was selected with Florida's pick. That is the worst gaff in NHL history and it never gets talked about. He's the type of guy that franchise could have used on and off the ice.
Bejamin: I can't believe your one complaint is about Shannon. He was one of our best players out there and generated tons of chances for everyone. Had any of the other players scored during those chances, he would have been praised but because of the lack of finish from a few (i.e. Kovalev, Cheechoo), it's all for nothing.
Shannon may not have the best shot from the point, but he moves the puck well along the line, hussles to get puck when it's shot down to our zone and has great passing skills. We haven't had a big blasting defensman from the point since Chara, and before that Salo.
We don't score on the PP that way so there's no use pretending that we will.
well its a good thing i didn't waste my money getting centre ice for this season, the fact that we will miss the playoffs has never been so clear...
Most of the successful powerplay's having a booming shot(Montreal from a few years back, look what Boston did to the Sens last Saturday or the Stanley Cuper winners with Gonchar). The Sens have the worst Powerplay in the league for a reason, they are missing a key component. The Sens don't score many redirect goals or get any "lucky" bounces for the same reason. Most NHL goalies can stop the first shot unless it is redirected or screened or shot by a sniper(Ovie,Kolchuck, Heatley I hate him to but I have to admit he feasted on the powerplay) Putting a small player like Shannon on the point results in perimter hockey with no goals. Murray has to address this need at some point, if the point is to win this season then a trade is needed if the Sens wants to rebuid then drafting such a player is neccesary. Look at how a team decimated by injuries such a Boston can win by getting a few shots from the point on net, or the first goal scored by Atlanta.
Personally I would like to see the Sens aquire Shea Webber he would add both a Physical element and offensive skill. If Murray does make a move I hope it is bold one, there's no point in aquiring spare parts like Campoli again.
mikep: agree with you on that.
mtl infact now has three bombs on the back end as far as point shots are concerned: hamrlik, bergeron and markov. and the same goes for other teams too, atlanta has kubina, bogosian and hainsey too.
i think thats the next logical move for this team. i like all the other pieces. especially up front. i like the lines and its great to see that they are all legitimate scoring threats. the goaltending seems set, although elliot could ofcourse do just a little more to keep the burners on leclaire (refer: tampa game and some soft ones). but yea all in all it seems well rounded.
I love how everybody bashes BM for signing Kovalev, when MELNYK TOLD HIM TO.
Mikep & Anon 5:01:
Don't get me wrong, a bonafide point man is useful on any team. I was the one hoping Heatley to Edm would result in Visnovsky coming back. We've needed a point producing D since the decline of Redden but I think you guys are confusing a point man with any player with a hard shot.
There are only a number of bonafide blasters in this league: Green, Chara, Souray, Pronger, Phaneuf and Weber. These guys are a dime a dozen but have good R.O.I. Players like Beauchemin, Sami Salo and many others have strong shots but that means nothing if you're never on target.
Then there are bonifide point producers without having that kind of major shot: Markov, Gonchar, Streit, Boyle, Kaberle and Visnovsky. These players are successful because they see the shot. They don't need to muscle the shot but they have great accuracy.
Some teams can get away with putting a forward on the point to get that desired outcome. I'm not saying Shannon is the best option but there are some positives about having a player like him there (see previous post). Obviously, Clouston is not an idiot.
Well, it has become obvious to me that it's just not worth reading any sens forum after a loss. The whining around here is unreal!
They lost. Whoop de do...it's not even close to last years performance. The sens will be fine.
Well, it has become obvious to me that it's just not worth reading any sens forum after a loss. The whining around here is unreal!
They lost. Whoop de do...it's not even close to last years performance. The sens will be fine.
I agree Graham, a lot of these posts are just straight up pathetic
Matt, I think Clouston is doing the best he can given the personel he has. But let's be honest it's not working, our powerplay is rated as one of the worst and the Sens have been playing a majority of games against teams with non-playoff expectations. Kuba will help but not to the degree that is needed. A defensemen with an accurate shot and the ability to use it is needed if this team is going to seriously compete. I will admit to being a Chara fan and I know he's not available. But I am rooting for Murray to undo Muckler's mistake, I would like to see this team aquire a dmen that combines offensive flair with defensive intimidation. This is why I suggested Webber as the ideal canidate. Murray should consider trading off draft picks and/or prospects to give Alfie a team capable of competing for the cup, by the time Karlson and Cowen are developed age will begin catching up with the Captain.
mikep: i think kuba would classify as the senator's markov if you use Mat's standards. and that is true indeed, the guy doesn't have a bomb shot but he does have an admittedly accurate shot which he apparently does get through traffic. however, kuba has shown some rust in the past few games, which ofcourse is because he missed the first seven.
however, it could be argued that with Kuba's frame, he could actually have a bomb, but it probably won't be as accurate.
i think Mat's argument is correct that the guy with the bomb shot and good defensive capability is very rare to find. i think the answer remains in karlsson. he can be our version of drew doughty hopefully. he could be the second guy who can create the troubles on the powerplay and have a good shot. lets hope he turns out to be just as fast a learner as he is a skater in the AHL. although i think the biggest thing that guy needs to do: gain serious mass. 175 for a defenseman is very very underweight.
and long term i think cowen could be that guy with the shot. although I havent really seen him play, but he seems to be a big point producer in junior.
Honestly Mat I don't disagree that Shannon had his best game of the season. I just don't agree with putting someone on the point who isn't a threat to shoot. It just makes it so much easier to kill the penalty off when you know one of the guys back there isn't going to be able to blast it from back there or be able to finish a backdoor play.
it makes me wannah cry.
I can't afford season tickets...hell i spend beyond what i should only one time a year to see my team play...good or bad!! 9 and a half hours in snow most years to watch the team i choose as my own. I like many have bitched pissed and moaned about games reffs players and the evil cap, but still if i could i would see every game a season brings because i am CANADIEN and i am a SENATOR.
Owner+GM+Coach+Player+Fans=GOSENSGO!
I would add a little to rant about TSN's coverage of the Tampa Bay game. I thought it was odd that during both intermissions they chose to speak to Lightning players. A Canadian network covering a Canadian team and they can't interview a Senator?
Shannon is not the solution on the point, I realize that. My point is he is not the one responsible for our PP woes. If anything, he's one of the better players out there; creative, hussles, etc.
I really don't know what kind of temporary solution Murray has until Karlsson is really ready to go. And by ready, I expect at least 2-3 years. This is no joke. A lot of people have unrealistic expectation about this guy. He will need time.
I think Anon 8:48 is right in saying that Kuba is supposed to be that fix. Maybe he needs more time. And maybe the Sens need more PP opportunities. If i'm not mistaken, we've been spending more time in the box than our opponents on most nights...
Murray: Not a loser...best GM the team has had so far. Well respected around the league as a wiley trader, drafter, evaluator.
CBC: Totally biased against Ottawa. Milbury is terrible, Hrudey should stick to goalie talk.
Cheechoo: 20 goals is a pipe dream, but will go on a few small streaks and remain solid until his buy out.
Alfie: Unassailable. This guy is the captain every team wishes it had.
Kelly: WTF is with you guys? He has hands of stone...so what? He does everything else very well and more than fulfills every role he's given. He's not even going to be traded, Murray likes the guy. He even earns his salary. He was offered more by several other teams.
Kovalev: He's been a floater for 17 years. There's no changing him. Murray got him and paid him $5 M because he knows he usually dominates and wins about 5 games a year. Right now, he's not getting what he wants and is sulking a bit. He's stretching his shifts (longest on team by like 20 seconds, I think. Over a minute, anyways.) Kovalev wants to play RW even strength and especially PP. He's always been there when successful. He wants to play with guys that will get him the puck and let him keep it. He wants to play with guys that will back check for him. Time will tell if Clouston sees fit to rearrange the whole roster for a sulky floater with exceptional skills. Who knows? Maybe he needs a walk with Murray.
Right-on, Gordo. I'm so glad you pointed that out. I was more disgusted in CBC's performance on that broadcast than the Senators. This is supposedly our national station for Canadians, and all they did was bash a handful of Senators and the organization (e.g. for signing Kovalev and dealings with Heatley). All the in-between and post-game analysis was "negative" towards the Senators, while nothing but positives for every little thing the Thrashers did. Clearly a lot of bitter Leaf fans at head office. Milbury is an idiot and I never expect a worthwhile comment from that guy (he's as good as a commentator as he was as a GM!) but I've lost so much respect for Kelly Hrudey for that ignorant bit on Alfredsson. :(
Two of the three plays Alfredsson either came away with the puck or forced a turnover and the other was a PK situation.
Maybe Hrudey should take a look at what actually happened on the play.
Hrudey is an especially dull man even amongst a rather dull lot of CBC hockey analysts. Isn't the point of checking to recover the puck or force a turnover? These dullards can't see the forest for the trees. These jobs shouldn't just be for retired players, they should be for people who *know something about hockey*. Yeesh.
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