The Senators staged a furious third period rally tonight against the Colorado Avalanche but came up a goal short tonight on home ice. Few close calls late in this one but Ottawa just couldn't find a way to get the tying goal.
Ottawa really didn't have much going the first 40 minutes but seemed to find their legs in the final frame.
Pascal Leclaire was the star the other night against the Habs but really didn't have his best outing tonight. 3 of the 4 Avalanche goals were ones that I'm sure Pascal would love to have back. Don't be surprised to see Elliott back in between the pipes tomorrow.
We don't get a chance to see the Avalanche often but I was really impressed with their game through the first 40 minutes.
They may not have many household names but they really have one of the smoothest transition games I've seen in the league this year. Their defence gets the puck up to their forwards in an awful hurry.
Ottawa got a solid effort from a few guys tonight including the often criticized Ryan Shannon. I'll admit I've been critical of Shannon at times this year but he has really stepped up since Alfie went down.
Also thought Nick Foligno and Peter Regin had solid efforts this evening.
Quick turnaround for the Senators as they are back in action tomorrow night when they play host to the New York Islanders. Here's hoping the Senators can get back on track on New Year's Eve.
On a side note, is there any way the readers here at SensChirp can help make this silly Pepsi promotion "Eh-Oh Canada Go" thing go away forever.
It really is an embarrassment.
Anyway, until tomorrow...
38 comments:
what is worse the eh o canada cheer or how easy it is for teams with speed to burn the Sens D.
Come again with the "Eh-Oh Canada Go" are you saying tis an embarassing chant? Or its embarassing that readers are saying it? Sorry its been a preety rough day... ALSO FIRST!
Re: The stupid chant. There's a Facebook group. It's called "Just Say No to Eh! O! Canada Go! Pepsi Cheer"
Decent effort in the last 10mins of the game...but ofcourse once again...too little too late. Sloppy game by our horrendous blueline. Really hope some changes are made this offseason with our current defensive unit.
I agree the new Chant is pretty lame. What ever happened to the classic Go Canada Go?
Yeah i like the idea of making a new theme, but it was just poor execution by Pepsi.Co.
Bram,
Just mean its embarassing that Pepsi is pushing it on everyone.
Was at the game tonight. Ottawa's defence looked lost in their own zone. What else is new?!!!! Its very frustrating to watch their Dmen underachieve this season. I really thought Kuba wouldve put up more points this year. His physical play is nonexistant. Picard? God, dont know what to say about this guy, would be nice to see him traded by the deadline!!! Will be at the game tomorrow, lets hope they can pull out a win before 2010!!!
Someone want to tell me what Ruutu was thinking with that slap shot from just inside the blueline on that shorty 2 on 1? He had so much time and space.
Sens played terrible for the first 40mins, however they managed to stay in the game against a solid western conf. team. Thought this wouldve been a blowout for the Avs. considering half of our roster resembles an AHL roster. Will a trade for a couple new Dmen or a top six fwd make a difference for this team. maybe, maybe not. I think with this roster the sens will struggle to make the playoffs. Just gotta keep cheering them on and hope Murray can make some changes soon. And can we please get rid of number 45!!!
Rob in Kanata
Definitely an odd decision.
What I think happened was he had stopped skating and didn't think he had time to get up to speed again.
Sure didn't look good though.
Colorado has to be the fastest team I've ever seen in many many years of going to games. Great team speed from them all night long.
That being said the Sens had a decent effort they just weren't sharp enough. Michalek dumped a puck into the slot and it wound up in the back of our net. Picard misplayed the puck at the line and same story - although on the same play Leclaire bumped the puck into the slot badly. Leclaire let in a stinker on the 3rd goal. The only other Colorado goal was a pure fluke and that happens sometimes.
I like our D right now but if we can steal Kurtis Foster who is a UFA this year we could be sitting real pretty. The guy is an absolute asset now that he's healthy. He has 6g, 9a in 30 games and is a +4. Signed a freebie 600k contract this year with Tampa Bay because nobody wanted him after his broken leg issues. I honestly couldn't believe Ottawa didn't go after him in the first place for that price because when he's healthy he's a great D-man and a PP quarterback. Unfortunately people will be lining up to give him 3M+ this off-season.
Rink was a bit quiet tonight. Lots of kids though, that was nice to see.
I agree with anon 10:10, Picard is really the weak link back there. He's soft in front of his net, and he's an absolute turnover machine at his own blueline. I completely agree that Leclaire should have had a few of those goals, and it's true that those nights will happen from time to time. Picard should have had the man in front on the 2nd one, he backed in on Leclaire and let Duchene shoot on the 3rd one, and he gagged at his own blueline on the 4th one. If I'm not mistaken, he's RFA at the end of the year. With Cowen and Wiercioch possibly being ready for the NHL next year, and the continued development of Karlsson and Lee, I doubt very much that he'll be offered another contract. If Lee were healthy, I'd rather see him in there right now. I suspect that Karlsson finds his way back into the lineup tomorrow, and Picard gets a ticket for the press box.
To a man, I feel the forwards were good tonight. The defense was mostly good. This was basically a night of Colorado taking advantage of their opportunities. Anderson was just awesome, especially at the end.
I think Ruutu thought there was someone right behind him. I was questioning it too, but if you look at his body language, I think he thought he was about to get stick-checked.
just go to pepsi.ca, and under contact us, write the chant sucks and it's insulting to push this shit on us.
Seems like everytime the sens get a decent 2 on 1 its always Ruutu and Kelly and they always screw it up.
Is Kovalev looking to break a record for the most post by a player in his carrer? Man, put that damn puck between the post for fuck sake. Good effort by him in the 3rd though.
I am really impressed by the Play of Regin of late.
Kelly has lead hands...gets the puck and can raise it, he cant even hit the net....whens his contract up? Never really like that guy! Picard for a bag of pucks!
DA DA COKE !
NYET NYET PEPSI !
Is the cheer that I'll be using until the Pepsi-Cola Company stops telling me what to do at a hockey game.
Campoli seems to have pretty good chemistry with some of the guys up front- I wouldn't mind seeing him on a line with Shannon and Kovalev, just to see what he's really got as a forward.
The eh oh cheer blows! Why is Pepsi trying to sponsor a cheer anyway?! What's wrong with let's go Canada. They need to pisssssss off.
My cheer has always and will always be CA-NA-DA!
Plain and simple.
Cheechoo rocked last night. Good to see him getting more minutes. Crazy dangle in the second i think it was in front of the Colorado net. And he was skating well.
Hes one of the only sens Ray Ferraro (SP?)actually said more than two words about. He was too busy fawning over everything Colorado. That guy is a chump.
I was looking up some stats this morning and would like to point out that Kovalev is leading all Senators in the month of December in points with 11 and +/- with +7.
I'd just like to point that out...
;)
Was at the game. Picard and Kuba really struggled. Carkner seemed a step slower but does not make too many bad decisions. Colorado is very very fast. Shannon and Regin were flying all night.
@ The Black Terror
You are correct Sir, what Chirp failed to point out is 3 of the 4 goals were complete giveaways by the Sens in their own zone. I think Leclaire would love to have the Durno goal back but the others? Michalek setting up a Colorado player right in the slot for a one timer, Leclaire had no chance. Also I believe its am unwritten rule that if you get infront of a shot you beter block it, Picard didnt and Leclaire reacted a second too late.
Good fight in the 3rd to make it a gam though, Kovalev cant buy a a goal man!!!!
There is no shame in losing to a top ranked team. Sens showed some moxi coming back and kept coming right until the end.
I for one am happy with the effort of this short staffed team.
Having a corporation force a slogan on a country is about as lame as giving yourself a nickname.
Shannon was switched to a Kovalev's line - 4 goals, while Fisher's poduction is falling - a coinsedence?
Seems like the Habs game took all the energy out of the sails of the Sens and their fans. I was at the game last night and both players and fans looked tired. I was amazed that, game tied, I could hear the players skates on the ice and I was up in the 300s. Very quiet building last night.
I hate to bring myself to say this given that I've backed him for so long but Kuba seems to be getting worse than better. The strength of his game was putting points on the board and he seems to have lost that. They will need to remodel this d next year. They need one more solid veteran dman next year so that they aren't playing with mostly rookies.
GO SENS GO!
kgv
Exposed!!! Again!!! Sens looked like a bunch of old farts with walkers compared to the Avs. Well, that's the difference between rebuilding and beating a dead horse.
So now the Sens have played 60 of the past 120 minutes. At least they have 2 points to show for it.
Funny how everyone continues to whine about Picard. I guess they haven't noticed how Volchie and Phillips have been total crap lately. These guys can't pass the puck out of the zone to save their lives.
pg
@ PG
I've been saying that since last year, even to go as far as trading them while value is somewhat decent. Phillips was never a force back there, playing with Volchy made him look good. Phillips doesnt produce on the offensive side and he can barely play D anymore. Volchie is still somewhat usefull since he hits and blocks shots. But has lost big steps since all of his injuries.
Our #1 pairing is a #3, #2 at best and the rest of our D, well speaks for itself...
Only positive thing is we have some gems coming up so hopefully they dont bust.
I agree with 10:27... Volchenkov in perticular has been brutal since he got back from injury! He may still be hurt i guess.
The hole Canada cheer.. was it not some sort of competition where people would go vote for their favorit cheer?? I can see us having a new common cheer but this one does feel pushed and unnatural. I dont mind the Eh Oh Canada! part.. the go at the end is stupid.. So to me its Eh Oh Canada!
Forgot to mention one thing in my last post. HUGE props to Donovan for dropping the gloves the play immediately after our goalie got snowed. While he hasn't been playing up to his level before he got hurt, he has once again shown the heart needed by all on this team by sticking up for his teammate. Smart move on his part as we could afford to lose him for two minutes more than Carkner or Neal. Way to go Dono! Once again you have shown your great value to this team.
GO SENS GO!
kgv
Huge kudos to Shannon for stepping it up! 2 goals and 2nd star again and he gets 2 mentions here in 30 posts. Wow! Give him the ice time and good things will happen.
Regarding Shannon on Kovy's line - it's obvious they have very good chemistry. Fisher or Regin at the centre spot is fine by me.
I never criticized Shannon at all this year. I love the way he plays for such a small guy forechecking and all. As for Ruutu when he was on a 2-1 shorthanded with michalek and he took the shot on a one timer like a complete moron I have never been so pissed at Ruutu in my life. We should have won that game oh well though we get the isles tonight so we should take that one
If Phillips is so bad.. how come Sidney Crosby calls him one of the best defensemen he has to face. Remember Crosby rarely scores against Ottawa. So lay off Phillips.
It is team defense as well... so if the forwards aren't helping it makes the defense look bad. I will say that they are not without their mistakes.. but every team goes through that.
SM is a moron. It's good to see Anon 12:18 already debating him. I love Chanks and even have his jersey. But I will admit he has been lacking since he came back. His super hits he started with at the beginning of the year seem to be gone and his passing is lacking these days. But to say one bad thing about Phillips this year is just ignorant. I don't know if I have seen Phillips have a better year. Phillips is the rock that the Sens are playing on right now.
As for Kuba. I totally agree he is slipping. I will give him credit for the amount of Minutes he plays and I guess that's what can lead to his slack play at times. But it is frustrating to see him loose a dumped puck to the forwards simply because he chose to not hustle back and figured he would just get to the puck at the same time as the Forward and win possession. I feel like a see that a bunch. He makes life so hard on himself because he doesn't hustle to gain time and space.
As for the others. Carks is still better than anyone knew. I still love him. Campoli's time up front seemed to really help his OFD side of his game. He is really playing well with the forwards now. I hated Campoli and Picard all year. Now since this 4th line time Campoli put in, I really enjoy him. But I still hate Picard. I hate picard so much. I also understand why Karls has to sit at times like this. I have no issues with that decision.
Finally if we are talking about getting another D-man still. I have got to say Michalek's brother is killing it on Phoenix right now. Playing over 23 minutes and although I have not watched him a ton he seems to becoming one of the more elite shut down/puck blocking D-men in the league. I watched an interview with Milan about playing with his bro in the Olympics and he looked so jacked about it. I would imagine having those two bro's on a team would be a huge boost for both of them. Something to watch for this Olympics for sure. On top of that THN reports that the coyotes are upset with Mueller this year and would trade him. Trading for a package deal of Michalek and Mueller could be a great move. That is just something I have thought about lately, thought I would share.
Sorry this post ended up being so long. But Phillips? Really SM? Really? thats ignorant.
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