I know, I know. Its only the third game of the season and the Senators first at Scotiabank Place but tonight's game against the Islanders marks the beginning of a key early season stretch for a team that expects to challenge for a playoff spot this season.
The visit from John Tavares and the New York Islanders begins an early season home stand where the Senators will play 6 of their next 7 at The Bank. Ottawa plays their next four at home (NYI, ATL, PIT, TB) and then goes to Montreal next Saturday before returning home for two more against the Predators and Bruins.
If the Senators can win four or five of their next seven they would set themselves up for a very solid month and get their season off on the right foot. If they falter during this early season home stand, they could find themselves playing catch up right out of the gate.
People have talked about giving this team some time to gel and thats fine. With so many newcomers in the line up this season the Senators will need some time to develop on ice chemistry. With that said, Ottawa needs to pick up some wins here on home ice if they want to stay competitive in what will most certainly be a tight Eastern Conference.
After a brief swing down south to play the Panthers and Lightning, the Senators again return home for a spell and in total will play 15 of their next 19 games at Scotiabank Place.
A win tonight against the Islanders would be the right way to kick off an important stretch in the Senators schedule.
A few line up notes heading into this one. Filip Kuba and Ryan Shannon will both be out again for Ottawa. Jesse Winchester is back on the ice for Ottawa but will not play tonight. Jason Spezza missed practice yesterday but will suit up tonight.
Pascal Leclaire starts in goal.
79 comments:
Any idea what is wrong with Kuba? I have him, Kovalev and Leclaire in my pool, so far only Leclaire had got me any points!!!
Matt Carkner has been a real pleasant surprise. He isn't flashy but he makes the smart, simple plays and shoots when he gets the chance. Also he is freakin' huge which is good to have.
Should be a good game tonight.
Hopefully, the game plan is to take nothing for granted, to never look past any opponent, and no matter what never ever consider any game as a guaranteed win.
If they stick to the plan the same way they did against the Leafs, they should be able to pull out a win. The Islanders are on the cusp of becoming a good team, but they're not quite there yet. They have better scorers than the Leafs, but their defense is not as good. So, could be a few goals tonight, and I expect the Senators to be a disciplined group.
Prediction: Ottawa 4, NYI 2.
Excited for the game...Was given two tickets last night!
I anticipate a good effort, 4-1 Ottawa with an empty netter. Leclaire will have a good solid game.
Any hero predictions tonight? I called Donovan for the last game as a standout. Tonight I predict Spezza will be the hero with at least 3 points.
Bob McCowan makes a great arguement in his book that the playoff teams are mostly decided in the first 20 games of the season. There are exceptions, but generally the teams you see in the top 8 at 20 games will get in the playoffs.
So basically the Sens need a good start!
Prediction: Kovalev will post his first goal tonight.
Should be an exciting game tonight. I'm thinking there is going to be a lot of back and forth hockey with Pascal standing on his head. I'm also hoping our top 2 lines will have a coming out party for the Ottawa faithfuls!
GO SENS GO
Prediction: Sens 5 - 1
SensChirp - you should start posting the amount of tickets left for home games (i.e. how many remain for tonight). Would help!
I was just looking at the Islanders roster and I noticed that Dean McAmmond isn't with the team anymore. Does anyone know where he went? I was about to say that we were going to have to watch out for him tonight as I'm sure he'd put forth a spirited effort against his former team.
Is Donovan in tonight? Have you heard anything?
Donovan is playing tonight.
Final score- 5-1 Sens Kovalev GWG
anybody know where the game will be streamed tonight?
thanks
Mike
You clearly have a computer, have you thought about visiting www.ottawasenators.com, they MIGHT just have some ticket information left considering that's where you can buy them from.
I would much rather JC found out about the information the average guy doesn't know about rather than busying himself with crap that you're too lazy to get off your ass and do for yourself.
3 - 0 Senators.
It's time for Snoopy's first shutout.
I bought tickets today - seems to be lots left at each price point (well not ALL).
Last night to stomp on Heatley's jersey before it gets tossed for good. Or spit on, put your cigarette out on, spit your gum on, dump your beer on etc. Anything short of setting it on fire I think is fair game. See some of you out front.
Bring your Heatley jersey to Sports Expert, they have a promotion going.
Hax, you forgot using the Heatley jersey as toilet paper...
Any one else notice Kovalev has been pretty invisible? I hope he does something tonight.
Scott - thanks for the wonderful advice, but no I don't see the information on the sens website. if JC listed that stuff, he might get more people visiting his website since there aren't any real trade rumours at this time.
It was a friendly suggestion, not a complaint. Get off your high horse.
Cheers.
synthetek said...
"Donovan is playing tonight."
Where did you get that information? I found this article saying that he is not with the team anymore.
http://www.thespread.com/nhl-hockey-top-stories-600/2010-new-york-islanders-odds-to-win-nhl-stanley-cup.html
sensible - McAmmond must not have been re-signed. NHL.com does not associate him with any team. Did he retire? Anyone know anything about Dean?
To Jamie D:
If it is indeed streaming, you should be able to find it here: http://atdhe.net/index.html
However it doesn't appear that anyone is planning to at this point unfortunately.
Mike, I think you have to go to capitaltickets.ca the Sens website is a little messy if you ask me.
so here's a question that i don't know if anyone can answer:
i won tickets to the thrashers game on saturday night on the team 1200 and picked them up just now.
they are for section 120, row k, seats 11 & 12.
does anybody know (i know this is ridiculous to ask, but i'm curious) whether these are the last two seats in the row?
thanks folks!
Losing games and blaming it on lack of chemistry is a weak excuse in my eyes 2 points now are as critical as 2 points in march.
Im hoping A-train can give Johnny T the same treatment Stalberg got... Go Sens
To synthetek:
Wow...Sorry about that man. Mark my last comment down at the bonehead comment of the day. I don't know why I read Dean McAmmond when you wrote that Donovan was playing tonight.
I'm going to go eat some humble pie...
Geoff - Looks like he is currently an unrestricted free agent. I can't picture him going over to Europe at this point in his career. Might be considering retirement (Although I think he still has gas in the tank).
Section 120, Row K seats 11 and 12 are in the middle of the section right next to the tunnel. So no extra leg room but some elbow room for the person in seat 12.
section 120, row k has 20 seats in the row
Dean McAmmond became a UFA at the end of last year, and no one has picked him up, so I guess you could say he's retired.
i'm the guy that asked the seating question - thanks to all those that replied :)
Is the game on Ottawa Rogers cable?
The player I hope will stand out the most tonight is Milan Michalek. He started to look better and better in the Toronto game and should get a few points tonight.
Prediction: Ottawa-4 Islanders-1
anyone going to stream the game for us overseas fans?
hey guys i live in sarnia so understandably i wont be getting todays game on cable.
anyone have an online streaming link.
thanks in advance!
I agree. Clouston's job is on the line - a losing record after 20 games and he's done.
now available on atdhe.net!
Sports network has it for Rogers chan 27
Not working on ShawDirect (starchoice) its blacked out in the Ottawa area. Anyone else having the same problem on ShawDirect or other providers?
WHAT A SAVE!!!! 5 mins left in the 2nd on the PK.
FUCK he's good.
Ok what the hell is this reffing?
I just watched Jon Sim hang onto Karlsson's stick. No call.
Campoli gets taken down. No call.
Then Karlsson gets called for interference, 4 pks for Ottawa in a row. NYI still no PK.................
WTF.
/endrant
Cheechoo is really starting to empress me.. along with regin...
there line has been deadly tonight...
i find kovalev really screws up the rhythm of our game... i think he has to be put with spezza...
kovalev spezza alfredsson
michalek regin cheechoo
foligno fisher neil
3-2 OT
Fisher scores in OT for a win 3-2!
WOW...The Isles just wouldn't quit tonight. Hard fought win for our Sens. Once again, a sloppy/chippy win but I will take a win like that any day of the week over an unspirited lose.
For anyone who thinks that Carkner doesn't belong on this team...you are crazy! He is all toughness, plays with a TON of heart and smarts!
My sens 3 stars tonight:
Carkner
Neil
Cheechoo
Honourable mention to Fisher (for scoring in OT)
Keep the wins coming boys!
GO SENS GO!!!
did spezza play tonight? I didn't see him out there
Shity calls by the refs , the sens should have won it by at least 4-2, but im not complaning we got the win ^^
sorry for the anonymous
Phill
For those of you who will undoubtedly bash the Sens for barely scraping by a weak team like the Isles, let me give you a little history. A few years back, the Sens completely dominated the Isles and won something crazy like 16 straight games against them. Last year the Isles finally broke that habit and owned the Sens in 3 of 4 meetings. The Isles had a lot of confidence going into this game tonight.
Pretty happy with that game...They kind of faded in the middle of the til end of 2nd then the first half of the 3rd.
Notes...
Karlsson, very up and down game but overall pretty happy with it, again he gets better every game... kind of a stupid penalty though.
Regin, amazing, i love this guy i think he will be something special in this league... i love the way he uses his body and the way he thinks the game great passes...
cheechoo, great game he is going to get one soon... tons of pressure, a few good shots they will come..
neil great game, lots of hits, some good passes thats what we need from him every game. (good crashing the net)
spezza... pretty good game... he could have cleared the okopso goal he was standing right there in the crease watching it... awesome pass to kovalev on the PP at the end of the game.. i really think they need to put them together... Im not a huge fan of the idea, but honestly i dont no who else kovalev can play with, he really throws off the speed of that line...
alfredsson very good game... i think they should put him on regins wing... i see regin turning into an alfredsson like player and i think if would be good for him (maybe that is too big of shoes for him to feel but that the style of play i see from him right now)
phillips volchenkov... another good game
carkner played awesome ...
4th line was not as good as it waas against toronto..
foligno and fisher both had good hard working games
michalek is getting chances, needs to start to finish them though...
lines i think should be tryed....
michalek spezza kovalev
(clouston is really trying to force chemistry with spezz and michalek playing them in every situation PK, PP, and even... i think that is a good idea for it helps both there games.. michalek is the work horse creating space for spezz and kovi)
cheechoo regin alfredsson
(I like the chemistry that regin and cheechoo are developing they are really finding each other... alfredsson is a great all around player and would really really help regins game)
foligno fisher shannon (neil)
why mess with a good thing... it worked very well before (neil til shannon is back)
ruutu kelly neil (dono)
QUICK! Everyone go look at the NHL Standings. It's a breath of fresh air seeing us first in our division! I know it's early but it just feels good doesn't it!? :)
GO SENS GO!
So where are all the people that were saying this team was SH!T after the first game / loss of the season. this team is starting to gel and really come into it's own...
Way to go Matty Carkner!!! Cheechoo is starting to find some confidence, that line with regin and neil was a force tonight!!!
yeah
yay boys!!!
I just got back from downtown and I saw the city planners get ready for the parade - where should they finish it? Parliament Hill or Town Hall?
For those who want to put Spezza and Kovalev together - is there a rule change that allows 2 pucks? These guys both want to lug the puck - I can't see them happy playing together full-time. Late in a close game or PP - sure.
Lucky for us the Isles kinda suck or we'd have lost tonight. Refs were brutal (in both directions but some bad calls against us).
When was the last time a Sens goalie got a standing O while play continued?? WOW!
Nice win. However, Karlson is getting way too much ice...no way in my books he's better then Brian Lee.
For those who want to put Spezza and Kovalev together - is there a rule change that allows 2 pucks? These guys both want to lug the puck - I can't see them happy playing together full-time. Late in a close game or PP - sure.
Lucky for us the Isles kinda suck or we'd have lost tonight. Refs were brutal (in both directions but some bad calls against us).
When was the last time a Sens goalie got a standing O while play continued?? WOW!
Nobody is talking about Spezza being a -3 this year. I was @ the game tonight and notice him stretching out his back on many occasions. I hope his back isn't acting up on him again!
michalek-Spezza-Kovalev
Fisher-Regin-Alfie
Foligno-Shannon-Cheechoo
Ruutu-Kelly-Neil
Could see these lines eventually settling into threats.
Please don't put Kovalev on the top line god damn he is way to lazy and slow. Can anyone honestly say they are impressed with him?
Way to go Carkner !!
Leclaire is damn good love his quickness!
Great game for Regin Neil and Cheechoo!
A-Train's hit on Tavares was sick. Highlight of the game for me. That and Fish's goal.
Go Sens Go.
Spendzza
crap..heatley's filling the net tonight.
How the hell does Heatley already have the same number of points as Ovechkin?
Ovechkin's ok, but i really love Semen.
I really hope Spezza gets his game together... I sincerely hope the loss of Dany isn't taking a toll on him. I know he can do well this year but I guess it will take some time.
FYI, if anyone watched the Sharks game tonight, Dany's line combined for over 9 points.. add that to the previous 3 games.. 24 points in 4 games..
Dare I say it ?
Matt Carkner - Rookie of the Year !
Hat TRICK! So hows ChooChoo and Milan working out?
Dan-y, Dan-y, Dan-y
Kovalev will not produce on a line with Foligno and Fisher....he needs people who can finish. He has to be a top line guy, period. Drop Michalek back and put him with spezz and alfie....yes i know spezz and kovy both like the puck, yada yada...they'll adjust their game for more points.
Carly said...
Ovechkin's ok, but i really love Semen.
You MIGHT want to check your spelling on that second name, if you don't want people to get the wrong idea....
@ Carly - Oh wow, that is funny!
I think that's the kind of team we're going to see all year - battling it out in lower scoring games, and winning them. Last year, and in years past we haven't been able to win those types of games, but with Leclaire and Philichenkov playing the way they are, we can get the wins. When the scorers start scoring, we're going to be a very tough team to beat. Chris Neil (so far) is showing us why he was signed to that contract. Note to rookies playing the Sens - keep your head up when A-train is on the ice.
The save at the end of the second was UNREAL....Everyone was on their feet! It had to feel good, I hadn't seen the crowd that into a game since our few games in the finals.
Highlight of the night for me was Carkner on the bench after scoring, they showed him on the jumbo tron and he honestly looked as if he had just won the Stanley cup!
Gotta love Sens fans though.....we lose game one, and they call for everyones head....we win two in a row and noone is complaining.
Who ever said Cloustons job is on the line, I VERY highly doubt we will be switching coaches again this season. We have done more than enough of that lately.
here is to hoping that one or all of: bieksa, mitchell, phaneuf, regehr and kronwall give heatley the ride of his life each time he plays against them.
what a prick. my stomach churns when i hear he scores even one goal.
go sens
regardless, sharks wont be winning a cup this year because they got more wimpier on their first line.
it is funny I guess I think we all kind of where concerned about the Defence now look they are the best part of the team. I would mix up the lines just to take some pressure of them just for a short time I would play:
Regan-Spezza-Alfie
Ruutu-Kovalev-Cheechoo
Foligno-Shannon-Michalek
-Kelly-Neil-Donnovan
I like the 2nd line when Ruutu is on the ice he demands a lot of attenation from the other team, this would give Kovalev an Cheechoo more time and the 2 of them have soft hands. no real centre but ? i think it would work
I really want Karlsson to be the real deal. I believe in time he will be. If you are honest in your evaluation of him, it is clear he is being man-handled in the defensive zone.
Last night the Sens had a very difficult time breaking out of their zone almost everytime Karlsson was on the ice.
Send him to Bingo for a season.
I still think it's a bit early to really know what we've got here. Someone above said this but yes I'll go there ... Sens have beaten 2 teams they should have. I'll chalk the Rangers loss up to rust/nerves/whatever. Too early to gauge what the Sens really are. If they'd trounced the Leaves and Isles I'd be more convinced.
Leclaire has been awesome. I love having a goalie who actually makes saves rather than fortuitously being in the right spot for it to hit them.
Defensive gaffs have been the cause of pretty much all the goals. They need to make the opposition pay the price for coming in front of the net. Haven't really seen that yet. The Campoli headlock from last night doesn't cut it. It is nice to see the Sens making it difficult on the opposition to get into our zone though, again haven't seen that in a while. Perhaps they've solved the puck moving dilemma at the expense of some toughness?
I think the offense will come. It's been a week of real games with a lot of new faces/combinations.
Loving the depth.
@ Anon 10:08 PM,
I really like those line combination. Makes sense to try...
10:12 am - so, um, is Fisher going to play defence on your team? Those lines are crap my man.
To Hax:
No silly...Fisher is backing up Pascal! ;)
You're right, sorta throws a wrench in 10:08's errrr 10:12's dream lines. I wasn't crazy about the ruut/kovy/cheech line anyway. you need a centre there somewhere.
Really guys, we can bicker over line combos all we want, but the truth is we have at least 13 guys that could play in the top 9. And 9 of those guys are legit top 6.
So really, it's more about what happens in practice and how guys "feel" with each other that will dictate the lines. I'd rather see them go with relatively set lines for 5-8 games and see how they respond rather than change them every period.
Depth is a good problem to have!
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