As first reported by Brent Wallace, Donovan will miss at least 6-8 weeks. After that time he'll test out the knee and see if there is any further damage. The good news, if there is any, is that surgery is not required.
Donovan has done a great job on the Senators fourth line this season and has given the team a boost of energy every time hes been in the line up.
Meanwhile, life goes on for the Senators as they face a huge test tonight in the NorthEast leading Buffalo Sabres. Ottawa will also be without Alex Kovalev tonight who has returned to Russia for personal reasons.
The Sabres played last night in Buffalo so hopefully Ottawa can jump on them early on.
With Donovan and Kovalev out, Peter Regin and Ryan Shannon will both get a chance to jump back in the line up.
The lines will look something like this...
Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson
Foligno-Fisher-Shannon
Ruutu-Kelly-Neil
Cheechoo-Regin-Winchester
Puck drop is 7:00 PM.
36 comments:
Why is Clouston putting a 3mil player on the 4th line? How can he improve playing only 10min a game. Cheech should be playing with Spez and Mich. Alfie with Fish and the Italian Stallion.
With Kovalev out, I like Cheechoo on the first line better, to move Alfie to the 2nd line and spread out the offensive threats. Maybe Cheechoo would play with a bit of confidence coming off a game in which he scored.
I just don't get Clouston's ridiculous refusal to change this first line. Spezza has no points in 6 games now. The chemistry up there is not getting better and if anything it's getting worse. This is purely stupid.
Alfie and Fish have chemistry. He should bump Alfie down just to make sure we have two lines tonight. Then Cheechooo can come back up and Shannons minutes can be minimized.
I don't get it. It's so damn obvious. The line was working great before. Spezza was getting 1-2 points a game and Michalek 1-3 breakaways. Come on man!
I don't understand, why Shannon, keeps being put back on the second line. He was a healthy scratch for a reason! Clouston seems to have a bias towards his Shannon. The "top" line hasn't been succesful either, Spezza needs a line mate willing to shoot, why not give Cheechoo another shot? Michalek is a talent, but I'm not certain if his game complements Spezza's. Maybe this is why Murray keeps mentioning the desire to pick up another top 6 forward. Spezza's role as playmaker is similar to Kovalev's both require a shooter to be effective, at the moment the Sens only have one player filling that role (Mike Fisher). In the unlikley event, Atlanta is willing to trade Kovalchuck, Michalek + ??, might be a deal that benefits both teams. Assuming the reasonable extension could be arranged.
When Kovalev returns I'd be interested to see how the top lines as
Chechoo-Spezza-Alfie
Michalek-Fisher-Kovalev
Would have to agree with Anonymous (12:22 pm) on this. Cheechoo isn't going to get any points playing where he is. You have to give him his chances or he's never going to produce. Same with Regin. The guy has 2nd line center potential but how's he going to reach that playing on the 4th line. Mind you it is hard to give him that time when Fisher is playing so well as the 2nd line center.
First line has been disappointing... but what can you do? FFS line is reunited - they played well at the end of last season so why not see what they can do tonight?
I do agree that Cheech shouldn't be on the fourth line or he wont' produce. So i say leave the top 2 lines the same and for the Bottom six it should be:
Cheechoo-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Winchester
Ill be going tonight - hoping for a good solid victory tonight. Hopefully we can take advantage of the Sabres fatigue from last night's game. GO SENS!
Not to mention Patrick Lalime will be between the pipes.
I think clouston is being a total idiot, that first line sucks together, we need to get spezza going, change it up and put alffy with fisher.
Donovan's our worst player and couldn't make at least 25 other teams. So no big deal. Clouston should try Shannon and Regin on the top line with Michalek to see how they respond. Put Alfie with Fish and Foligno, and drop Spezza to the third line with Cheechoo and one of the remaining scrubs.
I agree with the above post.
Foligno-Fisher-Shannon, this line was really good last year! I would say give them another chance of a puck cycle clinic. If it does not work, then drop Alfie down to the 2nd line.
LALIME!! I hope the crowd gets into his head early!
Is it true Chirp are old buddy Lalime is starting? if so, it's gonna be a good game tonight.
Yep. Lalime it is
To win, Spezza needs to get going. No points in six/seven games won't cut it for the Sens to be succesful.
i think chris phillips should play on the first line with spezza and michalek
then bring up zack smith.
elliott for sharp
it is a done deal.
Cheechoo won't find his game on the fourth line.
I agree with previous posters. Put Cheech with Spezz and Milan.
Alfie with Fish.
pfft at Anon at 3:09, the Blackhawks are not that dumb...next trade Neil for Crosby...lol
Points aren't everything. The top line had been playing well until recently (last two games really). They aren't getting points but they are playing well. Alfie has missed practice lately so obviously he isn't 100%. I don't see how everyone can call Cloustan and idiot for giving them a shot.
Saying Cheechoo belongs on anything but the 4th is crazy. He is useless and skates like a Timbits player. Let Cloustan do his thing and stop pretending like you know what's going on more than him. It's amazing how this city has so many NHL caliber coaches circling the blogs...
Tomas.....no. just no. A 7 million dollar playmaking center on the third line? Must be a leafs fan, because no sens fan would be capable of such idiocracy.
Troll.
i think the elliott for sharp deal benefits both teams and lets face it, chicago may not be in the best barganing position. elliott may look like a steal 2 or 3 years from now.
i bet if murray called burke and said elliott, kelly, and a second for kadri it would be done.
Chirp, anything new on the Chicago trades rumour mill ?
Thomas at 1:33.. you are so massively confused your embarassing yourself. Donovan has been the heart and soul of the sens this year. The games he sat in the press box we've looked sad and pathetic. You clearly don't watch the hockey gmaes. There are so many other players on the sens that I'd trade before getting rid of grit, leadership, salary cap affordable 4th liner. Learn your roll Thomas, if you read any of the comments on senschirp you'll find out quickly how wrong you are. Run along hater.
Cheechoo won't find his game (well, the one commenters keep going on about) on the first, second, third, fourth or seventeenth lines.
The most horrible thing about losing Chum AND Kovy is that it creates a true fourth line (Cheechoo-Regin-Winchester), something the Sens have managed to avoid all season. No-one will be afraid to be scored on by this line unless Regin and Winnie find some spark.
Can the Sens pull out a "Fourth Jersey" that is Blue and White to scare Lalime?
Win one for Chummy, Sens! You certainly haven't won many without him... Go Sens Go!
Honestly, SC u have any idea wats on Clouston's mind?? why is he playing Cheechoo on the 4th line??!!! that is insane. not a smart move by Cory.
wats ur opinion on this, Chirpy?
Lalime starting tonight is a Godsend for Ottawa. Miller is basically the only reason their record is so good. With the other goalies in net they are like 0-5 or something terrible.
Also nice that we get them on the back end of 3 in 4 nights. Hopefully we can push hard early.
Alfie and Michalek have very little chemistry together and basically try to play the same role/position when they are on the ice. They need to be put on two separate lines and things will start to gel again. I think the best way to do this is to push Cheechoo up and drop Alfie down into Fish's line. We'll see I guess. Clouston seems stubborn :(.
Cheechoo has been given enough opportunities on the top 2 lines. I agree with Clouston...and since his coaching record would indicate that maybe, just maybe he knows what the hell he is doing, maybe then we should trust his judgement until he proves otherwise. Let Cheechoo claw his way back up from the 4th line and prove that he belongs in the top half of the lineup based on merit rather than past rep. His legs look weak out there and if I were the GM I'd be sending him off to Greco next off-season with a sleeping bag, an oxygen tank, and a bucket to hurl in as his arse gets whipped back into tip top shape.
Neil for Crosby, I'd even throw in a second round pick to get that - obviously SJ's 2nd and not ours though
I think Cheechoo is pretty much done as a top 6 here. Clouston prefers Foligno or Shannon up there if there's a choice.
Clouston needs to open his eyes, Cheechoo should not be on the 4th line! this is getting ridiculous, give the guy consistant minutes for a longer period of time ( at least a month) and see if he can pick it up, we all know he still has it in him and he gets alot of chances so the goals will come with time!
Cheechoo sucks....He is slow as mollasses and does not deserve to be top 6 forward, I have never seen him play well since he's been here.
Everyone else is playing well or has improved somewhat but he just stinks. He should be traded for a bag of pucks in the offseason.
Anon (9:02): Clouston's eyes are wide open, I believe it's yours that are covered (along with Anon 12:22, 12:40, BeJamin, mikeP, 3:31 and 4:26.)
Cheechoo is permanently done as a top six NHL forward. In fact, he's done as an NHL player. San Jose could see it last year and Ottawa knew it before he even came to town. That's why Murray refused every deal with Cheechoo until he was forced into caving by Heatley.
CAN YOU GUYS JUST GIVE HIM A BREAK? Just let Cheechoo wind down his career with grace. He's a top notch guy but not a top notch scorer...on ANY NHL team. He's slow (surgeries) and has no more scoring touch than Chris Kelly. After he's bought out this summer, he might manage a contract at league minimum...or a bit higher if he takes a 2-way deal.
Look for other options when trying to play coach...the Cheechoo thing just makes you look silly.
People who keep questioning Clouston need to shut up and look at the bottom line (which is the number of wins).
@anon 10:23 you do have a problem with cheechoo like so many others sure he doesnt score a lot but i think he plays well , look at alfie plays not good either but whatever they win now and everybody is happy with the coach and his decisions. i do get up evey morning at 2 am( german time) to watch that team i used to like but now i do understand heatley because this coach might get a couple wins but he has no charisma and will disappear like the whole team because the the have no heart and soul. i do rather follow cheechoo into the minor leagues because he has charisma than follow this team that never ever will win the cup. i thought heatley is a wanker but he was right to get out of this shithole. cheers from munich
Anon 6:52....I think you are just bitter because Schubert is gone....you german prick.
Anon 10:38---> Best one line post EVER! Still laughing...thanks so much!
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