(UPDATE 6:02 PM)- Thanks folks. Word is Kovalev will play tonight and leave after the game.
(UPDATE 2:35 PM)- Alex Kovalev will miss the next couple of games. He has returned to Russia after the death of his wife's mother. All the best to Alex and his family during this difficult time.
(UPDATE 2:35 PM)- Alex Kovalev will miss the next couple of games. He has returned to Russia after the death of his wife's mother. All the best to Alex and his family during this difficult time.
Shannon will take his place in the line up.
The Penguins have won their last two outings but continue to battle all kindsof injuries. It was beginning to look like it would be Mark Eaton and 5 AHL call ups on the Pens blueline for tonight but they are apparently expecting Gonchar to return to their line up in time to face the Sens.
Meanwhile, no lineup changes to report for the Senators. That means Pascal Leclaire gets the nod in goal with Ryan Shannon and Peter Regin as the healthy scratches.
Here are the lines, courtesy of the Senators official Twitter Feed...
Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson
Foligno-Fisher-Kovalev
Cheechoo-Winchester-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Donovan
Tonight is the beginning of a rough stretch for the Senators on home ice. They face three Eastern Conference powers in the Penguins, Sabres and Capitals and could use some fan support. Word is there are still tickets left for this one so get yours HERE.
Awhile back I mentioned that there may have been a team that was showing interest in Chris Kelly. After doing some digging, word is that team may have been the New Jersey Devils. They lost Madden in the off season and were looking to replace that void in the line up.
The Devils have since signed veteran Rob Niedermayer and also have Dean McAmmond in the organization so I'm assuming their interest in Kelly has dwindled.
76 comments:
if only kelly could start winning faceoffs more he wouldnt look so overpaid.
I agree with HQ.
Kelly hasnt shown that he's very excited. He makes sloppy plays, loses faceoffs and looks sluggish.
However, Foligno and Ruutu have been pretty exciting to watch considering theyre 3rd liners.
I'd like a little more contribution from our topline. It seems that even an allstar line like Michalek/Spez/Alfie has some struggles.
if you recieve any update on Gonchar's status, please post. He could be the difference between a win and loss in this one.
Yea it looks like he will play. Talbot is expected to return as well.
I will be satisfied aslong as the Sens make the Pens earn it tonight and hopefully they can pull off the upset. Another close 1 goal game wouldn't surprise me.
We should go to the airport with baseball bats and welcome the Penguins to Ottawa. :)
Word is there are still tickets available? Big surprise...get used to it. Our fans are incredibly spoiled. Pretty soon some of them will remember how lucky we are to still have a team and the rest will still whine and bitch about this team having some iffy years after 12 good ones.
Clouston recognized the stuggles of the top lines lately, yet he puts them back together.
These combinations have been solid a couple of games back :
Michalek-Spezza-Cheechoo
Kovalev-Fisher-Alfredsson
I'm not an NHL coach, but it seems pretty obvious... no?
Marc
I think the Sens could come out with a win against the Pens even with Gonchar and Talbot in tonight. Leclaire has to come up with a great game and the Sens must have less turnovers in their zone. I would suggest the lines become this:
Alfie-Fisher-Kovy
Cheechoo-Spezza-Michalek
Foligno-Winchester-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Donovan
Go Sens Go!!!
Well, if i lived in ontario and not in saskatchewan i would be there every sens game unlike these bandwagon sens fans who are givin up already because we lost 5-1 to philly...im going to the only possible sens game i could go to in march against the oilers
GO SES GO!!!!
Hopefully the Sens can beat the Pens and get some respect back. I hate TSN and RSN bashing us every chance they get.
Leclaire will have a terrific game tonight...
Go Sens Go!!!
Gonchar can't play 60 full minutes folks. Plus he's going to be pretty rusty. I wouldn't count on him being a deal breaker...
I'm calling tonight's game the battle of the big toothed goalies. It's squirrel vs chipmunk on Animal Face-Off!!
Go Sens!
Going to the game tonight.
I hope to see a lot of Sens faithful there supporting out team.
When will be our first sellout this year?
Maybe the MTL game on December 8th?
I'm tired of people saying that people aren't true fans if they don't go to the games... I've been a fan since the sens came back and would love to go to every game but I can't afford to pay $40 a game + all the other jazz (parking, food)... Lower the prices even the smallest amount and they'll be back to sellouts every game
I don't think this business about prices being to high is valid. You can get tickets in the 100 level for about 80 a game if you are loyal and buy season's tickets. The people of Ottawa should support the team better. Ticket prices for seasons tickets are very reasonable.
I am a fan of keeping the lines the same for tonight.
Check the icetimes for the last few games.
Ruutu - Kelly - Neil are the 3rd line
Cheechoo - Winchester - Donovan are the 4th
Man, don't you guys complaining about a lack of a sell-out ever read the other parts of the newspaper aside from the sports section. Canadian's lining up at the foodbanks has grown exponentially; unemployment nearing 10%, average disposable income dropping, etc. This couple with a % of the population avoiding public places because of H1N1, and a good % of the population feeling the effects of both the seasonal flu and H1N1 - all of this contributes. If someone may have been inclined in years passed to go to a handful os Sens games has dropped that completely, or decided to cut the amount down, are they going to pick the Leafs game which is the most recent game folks are complaining about. The ticket's were priced as a premium game yet the Leafs are the worst team in the NHL. Why wouldn't you pay eqaul or less money to see a better team and better players?
I don't wanna start the old language debate, that' not the point. BUT, if the Sens organization would do a better job recognizing that there is 225,000 people living on the other side of the river, they'd probably be able to sell around 1,000 more tickets per games.
I know it's on the Quebec side, which is reserved to the Montreal Canadiens (as per NHL ruling), but the Sens need to push harder to conquer that territory. There is not much being done in Gatineau to attrack fans. This is geographical logistics, c'mon!
AGAIN... I don't want people to start blowing this message out of proportion. This has nothing to do with languages... it's just a remark concerning the geographical situation.
AND PLUS, if the City of Ottawa would've been smart, they would have given the Breton Plains for the Sens to build PBS there. Makes WAY more sense than out there in Kanata. IMO, they would've sold out every game if they'd play downtown.
Anon 1:20:
Are you talking cumulative based on each individual player's ice time? Cause that may be skewed based on the fact that Kelly and Ruutu play PK minutes...
Anon @ 1pm, sens have two sellouts so far: boston and atlanta (1st meeting)
Agreed Matt.
Apparently only wealthy people are TRUE Sens fans.
Some people need to take off their blinders.
The lack of attendance rests squarely on the shoulders of mgmt. Ticket prices for this team are ludicrous and should have been adjusted to reflect the compressed schedule and a reduction in quality of the product itself.
MrWhite is correct;
This team hasn't won a playoff game in close to 3 years and missed last season.
Slash ticket prices, lose the Platinum and Gold (or whateve rthey call it these days) and fans will arrive...Leeder and Melnyk need to realize people have less disposable income and with games on the tv...
As for tonight's game, this would be a GREAT time to get two points in the bank. Just pressure their AHL "D" and pepper Fleury with shots.
4-2 Sens!
i am so frustrated with clouston, change your lines to make the games exciting. No wonder fans are not buying tickets, the sens (apart from last game against he leafs) have been very boring to watch compared to other years. Where is the forecheck and attack? You would think with our weak and questionable defense we wouldnt sit back, but thats just my two cents.
Matt, you can be a true fan and not go to the games. The problem is this team used to sell out every game and now there is 1000+ seats available for the battle of Ontario. Some people just can't afford it and some prefer to watch on TV which is fine. The problem is the drop in season ticket sales. These are people that could go and used to enjoy going but now choose not to because they will only cheer for winners. That's the 1000 tickets that are available every night.
Not only is the ticket price higher for leaf games, you also have the very unclassy leaf fans who show up at the game either throwing stuff at you because your a Sens fan or they're hollering at you the whole game and being completely obnoxious. On top of that the ushers don't do anything about it.
I don't mind the Habs fans, all they do is cheer their team. Myself and quite a few others that I know have complained many times to the organization but they don't seem to get the point. Maybe a few non-sellouts will get the message across.
I've heard of ideas from friends in Europe where for soccer games (yeah I know the fan base is much larger but still it's a good idea) you have to be part of a fan club that you pay a small annual fee (something like $5) and that's the only way you can buy tickets to go to games. This prevents the opposing team's fans from showing up and buying tickets.
Maybe they could do something with their Sens Insiders group that would help to eliminate that problem.
There have been too many homes games to start the season, including two visits by the Thrashers...hardly a huge draw. By the time the Leafs showed up, guess fans were burned out with all the home games and didn't feel like shelling an extra 40% for a ticket to see a last place team. In any case, 18,000+ fans on average for a team that's currently in ninth and didn't make the playoffs last year, attendance is just fine.
BTW, I'm going to tonight's game and I hope my $150 I spent isn't wasted!!!
Oh and one more thing. I hope to God that the Sens will not just sit back in the 3rd period and just try to hang onto their lead like they did against the leafs. They should keep the pressure game going for the full 60 minutes. Otherwise we can expect a repeat of the Philly game tonight.
anon 1:20, Im not going to get into this too much but come on man people on the quebec side of the river can go to games just as easy. Do the senators need to put radio adds on or bill boards up in quebec to remind people there is a NHL team in their backyard. Give me a break. I guarantee most of those residents wont go is because of they are to proud to be a quebecer, sorry but thats they truth. I would probably be the same if I grew up there and thats the reality of it.
on attendance: i think its unfair to keep crying about attendance. yes over the past three years this team has raked a good amount of sellouts. part of that was based on consistent performance, and a better economy. right now they are middling/sometimes crapping and the economy is down too.
here is to hoping the fourth line absolutely goes after gonchar all night long. just like they went after schenn.
nice stat to note though:
regin and folingo have a decent 4 and 6 points respectively. and both are +5 on the season (leading the team btw).
kind of makes you wonder why clouston is still sitting regin. the kid should play.
chris kelly has seven assists :s
when did he get those haha
i retract my comment about kelly previously.....only partly.
Now no #27 for the next few, tough games as he has gone back to Russia to deal with a death in his family.
Those who complain about him will now get their chance to see the team without him.
Should be interesting.
This year they were practically begging people to renew their season tickets.
Origionally we didn't do it because my girlfriend is in full-time school and full-time work but one of my co-workers said they would get in with me. We ended up getting a flex package and made a few changes to the guidelines for tickets and the organization was cool with it. Our season tickets are on average $50 per ticket per game. That's not that's not that bad for 20 games each!
If you want to save money then take the bus (or a shuttle bus from any of the restaurants around the arena).
I know that economic times are tough at the moment but surely anyone can afford to sit in the Coke a Cola Zone. Even if you go to 2 or 3 games a year. It's still way cheaper than going out and getting hammered on a Friday or Saturday night.
Heck spice things up and bring a date to the game! Guaranteed to score!
Also look on Kijiji or Used Ottawa for cheap seats. Season ticket holders will sometimes sell tickets off pretty cheap if they can't go. Good deal for you and good for them if they sell them at cost or a little more!
p.s. 5-3 Ottawa tonight!
- Chubs
There are many factors which could account for poor ticket sales, most of which have been mentioned already. However, we can't ignore that since the Cup run there has been a lack of positivity surrounding the Senators Organization, and this has undoubtedly affected the enthusiasm of the senators fan base.
The 07/08 season seemed like a never ending stream of negativity.The firing of Paddock, the antics of Emery, and the gladiator playoff introduction are all evidence of this.
The 08/09 season was a further continuation of this trend. An extremely average Senators roster, combined with a boring and ineffective system made the Senators a bad hockey club. As a result another coach was fired, and the senators missed the playoffs.
Although there was positivity surrounding Clouston's performance as interm head coach, further negativity was brought to the Senators with Dany Heatley's trade demand. This brought a summer of misery to the Senator's organization, and their fan base.
The Senator's right now, are an average hockey club, and some nights it appears as if they are not giving a full effort.
I think its great that some fans stick with their team no matter what, but we have to be realistic, the Senators are a product, and ticket sales have dropped as a result of the constant negativity surrounding the team. We can question the loyalty of our fan base, but something positive has to happen to this team to bring some optimism back to this hockey club.
Go Sens Go
kovalev not playing tonight and the next couple of games.
off to Russia for funeral of grandmother.
condolences.
shannon draws in.
WHY NOT REGIN. JEEZE CLOUSTON GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THAT ASS ALREADY.
man clouston seriously has man-crushes for certain players.
Kovalev to miss game to attend funeral....
Clouston now has no choice but to changes his lines...
Hopefully it will not be Shannon on the 2nd line!!!
BUT IT IS STEPHANE, IT SO SADLY IS
alas......
i hate the fact that its actually LINE COMBOS that are having a negative effect on the play of this team on the ice. it would be excusable if it was player's skill/work ethic etc. but line combos. even the lousy lamely leafs dont have an issue of line combos. but then lol..they dont have much options haha. gosh, stop smoking whatever crack you're smoking clouston.
Eh_Matt
Doubt that a 5$ fan club fee would stop leafs fans from buying tickets when they are spending 100+ on a ticket anyway. Not only that but we can't even sell out our barn as it is, you think managment wants to make it harder for people (anyone) to buy tickets?
Oh and as for complaining that leafs fans are so mean as to throw things at you etc. How about you stand up for yourself instead of emailing the club like a child. No wonder us Sens fans have a reputation of having no emotion and being passive people. ITS YOUR TEAMS BARN, ACT LIKE IT! You think if a sens fan threw something at a philly's fan in philly you would get away with it?
Grow a pair.
All the best to Kovy and his wife and family...
I cringe to think of Shannon on the 2nd line...he is pure garbage...put in Regin instead of Shannon.
Lines should be:
Michalek - Spezza - Alfy
Foligno - Fisher - Ruutu
Cheechoo - Winchester - Neil
Shannon - Kelly - Donovan
Hutch
Intersting that Shannon gets the nod over Regin! I would think with this unfourtante Kovie situation it would be a chance to get Cheechoo back with Spezz and Alfie with Fish we shall see.
Go Sens
Kovalev is out? Now who will backcheck for us? O right...he never did that anyway
Regin should be in here. Shannon is useless. Regards to Kovalev and his wifes family.
That being said Cheechoo now needs to move up on the top line more than ever. That way Fish and Alfie can play together on the second line so we still have at least two lines. Please Clouston! Please!
-Bejamin1
Condolances to Kovy, his wife and family. Regin should be in instead of Shannon. I was reading on another website that the St. Louis Blues could be moving Eric Brewer or Barrett Jackman. Senschirp, could the Sens be interested in acquiring one of these players and what is there contract situation? Thank you
I'm excited to see the Foligno, Fisher, shannon line reunited. They were the best line at the end of last season and we haven't seen them yet this year. Also, I think that the reason it looks like the Spezza line is not clicking is that that line draws the best defenders of opposing teams. This takes much of the pressure of the Fisher line - so he scores. Furthermore, I really think lines right now are still being used to shop players. You know that Murray is trying to move Pickard, Lee, Shannon, Kelly, Winchester, maybe Regin etc. There is definite showcasing here.
Tim
Anon 2:22
Come on, the Quebecer won't cheer for the sens because they are proud to be quebecer. That's a joke?
I'm a french speaking Quebecoise (female quebecer) from Quebec city and I for the sens before cheering for the habs, and not only because they s**k. And by the way, I'm not alone, we're outnumbered but we're there!
And by the way "Wilsy", I work hard and earn a decent salary (40k +) and even if I was living in Ottawa, I wouldn't be able to afford to go to each local Sens games, I don't think I'm not a real fan for that reason.
GO SENS GO! Beat those smelly birds tonight!
Just listening to TEAM 1200 and they called and it was confirmed that Kovalev will play tonight and TSN's report was wrong.
TSN is reporting that Kovalev will play tonight and leave for Russia AFTER the game.
Tim
Hey Chirp,
Just heard over the Team 1200, Steve Lloyd mentioned that contrary to the TSN report, Alex Kovalev will be playing tonight and that the scratches are still Shannon & Regin.
You probably already know and just haven't had a chance to update it...but just thought I'd shoot you a quick fyi :)
thanks & keep up the awesome work
Kovalev will play tonight and did not go back to Russia as per Team1200 - afternoon scratches just announced this 5 minutes ago.
Kovie is supposed to be playing tonight as per the Senator website.
As per the Team 1200, Kovalev *WILL* be playing tonight and will make the trip to Russia after the game.
TSN changed the report. He's leaving tomorrow and will play tonight.
"Alexei Kovalev will miss the next couple of games after tonight's contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as he will be heading to Russia on Friday because of the death of his wife's mother."
According to the Senators (think team 1200) he WILL be playing tonight then leaving for Russia.
Actually, the TSN article says Kovalev will play tonight and leave after the game, and miss the next few games.
well according to TSN they say kovy will suit up tonight before heading off to Russia for a funeral. good news mixed with a little bad.
Condolences kovy, now socre a couple for the games your ganna bee missing.
Kovalev is playing tonight Chirpie.
SpezDispenser
Kovalev in tonight.
To clarify, the article says he'll play tonight then head back to Russia. See http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=298978
J
tsn says hes playing tonight
i just got word that Kovalev WILL PLAY tonight before heading to russia.
hey chirp, kovalev will play tonight afterall. he will miss the next couple. but will play tonight.
tsn has the story on it.
Please tell me there gonna be a live blog tonight. pzlpzlpzlpzlz Chrip. i think we shud have them more often their soo interesting. k well i bought tickets 2 the caps game on monday, bad choice?? u think were gonna get creamed, or wat??
GO SENS GO!!!!
Im actually goin to the game so I wont be live bloggin. Check out www.thescore.com though. They may have someone else doing it.
I should be doing the Saturday game though!
Enjoy the game tonight folks!
Seeing as no one has mentioned it, just to clarify, Kovy will be in tonight!!!
Just on case no one read my other post, Kovy is in tonight.
Great Blog SC.
New thought. Should Stevie Y consider Fisher for Cdn Olympic team as a walk on?
WTF lol
good to see Kelly and Cheechoo get on the board
Go Sens Go
Woot!!! Nice win from our Sens and another goal from Cheechoo! C'mon Clouston put him on a decent line so he can keep his confidence up!
Good effort by everyone tonight, except for Lee who once again showed us he doesn't belong here...
Is it me or do we not get any respect from the refs? A couple non-calls again while we got penalized all game long.. I really didn't like that Donovan hit by Cooke, it was 6-1, wth was he trying to do?
ALSO! How brutal was the commentating? Talk about homers, not once did I hear them say how Ottawa was playing well or talk about our strong play. Then Malkin scores with 3 min left and he gets all excited and goes on for 2 minutes. What a joke, oh well, clearly a TSN2 broadcast.
Let's keep the ball rolling into Saturday and string a few wins together!
GO SENS GO!
Kovalev was going to miss the next couple of game anyway due to chronic narcolepsy. so whatever
Nothing better than seeing them shit kick the Pens!!
Good fun game tonight! Nice to watch the boys beat up on Crosby. Hopefully Donovan is alright because he's the key to that hard-working 4th line!
anon @ 2:45pm
Obviously you didn't read my full comment. I was simply pointing out a strategy that is used by the soccer teams in Europe. Instead of insulting the idea why don't you try offering up some of your own ideas and building on it to contribute to the conversation.
As for the comment about the leafs game. Did you stop to think that maybe I was giving a short version of the story. Those obnoxious fans were not throwing stuff at me, they were throwing their plastic beer cups at some woman who was cheering for the Sens. Oh and yeah I did stand up to defend her and almost got kicked out for it. That's why I wrote a complaint. The usher didn't even give a warning to the leafs fans who were throwing stuff at the lady.
Oh and next time you decide to try and insult a fellow Sens fan why don't you grow a pair and use your name instead of hiding behind the Anonymous tag.
If you're not going to contribute to the ideas that are brought forth and just insult them, don't bother commenting asshole!
How about tonights game eh!? Now if they kept up the pressure like that on the opposing team in every game we'd beat more than just one playoff team. Let's hope this continues on to Saturday.
How nice of Kovalev to finally show up. I thought he played much better this time. Too bad we can't play his former teams more often eh!?
GO SENS GO!!!
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