(UPDATE 1:15 PM)- Here is your weekly prospect update courtesy of the Senators official twitter feed.
The Ottawa Senators will look to build on a solid team effort in Buffalo the other night when they host the surging Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Place.
The Habs, winners of four straight, sit just a single point behind the 6th place Senators making this another one of those four point games. A win would give the Sens a three point edge with a couple games in hand on the Canadiens.
Even though the Senators sit 6th in the East they are just two points clear of the 9th place Rangers and just 5 clear of the 14th place Maple Leafs. Every game is so critical with the East as tight as it is.
The Senators will go with the same line up as they did in Buffalo meaning Erik Karlsson will be a healthy scratch in favour of Chris Campoli.
Here's a look at the patch work forward combinations...
Shannon-Fisher-Kovalev
Michalek-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Cheechoo
Keller-Winchester Donovan
Leclaire will get the nod in goal for the third straight game.
While many are expecting Murray to make a desperation trade with the recent rash of injuries it seems unlikely at this point. The names most often rumoured (Kelly, Shannon, Picard) are all going to be relied on to play important minutes the next little while.
The Senators depth up front is being tested right now so unless Murray is willing to move a prospect or a pick (a bad idea in my opinion), it's unlikely he can make a trade.
It's up to the guys that are on this roster to come together and find a way to hold the fort until Spezza and Alfredsson can return.
I'll be making my final picks for Team Canada over on GOLD RUSH today. Stop by to discuss and share your selections!
40 comments:
i was here
Why was Karlsson called up again?
Has Clouston commented on the Karlsson benching? I am guessing that now is not the time to deal with the growing pains of a rookie D and that he may play more when the team is healthy again.
Without the top scoreres the sens cannot afford the occasional Karlsson mistake that may lead to a goal against.
PL
PL,
It could be that Clouston wants to have Karlsson take a seat after being shell shocked from the 8-2 thrashing last week aganist Bettman's pet.
Chirp;
Do you think Karlsson being scratched has anything to do with showcasing either Picard or Campoli? While I agree with Anom 11:38 that they can't afford his occasional mistake that leads to a goal, it isn't that the other two don't make those mistakes either.
What do you think? Have you heard anything recently on the rumor front?
cheechoo deserves to be moved up on the depth chart, he has been one of our hardest workers in the offensive end and maybe results will come if he's given the chance.
If there not going to play him they should of let him play in the World Juniors and have Lee as the healthy scratch, why disgruntle another Sens rookie?
any word on lee? is he still injured?
Engin and Jason,
You both make good points. It is certainly possible that Karlsson is in the press box because of the Pittsburgh game. He has however had awful games before without being scratched.
And I agree that neither Picard nor Campoli have been playing great defensive hockey. I think however that the Sens should keep Karlsson in a position where he can succeed for his long term development. Playing games where each mistake may cost a win is a not ideal for a young player's confidence/development.
It could very well be a combination of all of the above.
PL
The Sens should consider how Tampa developed Stamkos. One game on one game off to work on his conditioning/training. Karlson still looks to small to compete effectively at the NHL level, Karlson is still making to many mental errors/bad decisions during games. It doesn't make much sense to burn off a year of an entry to level contract if Karlson isn't playing consistenltly. Our power-play remains weak and Karlson is the hardest shot we have on the point. Hope the Sens stay out of the sin bin tonight if we take 4 penalties against the Canadians we won't win this game, our PK doesn't defend well against point shots and Montreal's got 2.
Engin, Bettman's Pet? Give it a rest you sore loser, the Penguins are better than us.
Crosby is easily Bettman's pet. Yes, the penguins are better. But Crosby is definitely, definitely, Bettman's pet. No doubt about it.
Krarlson is Murry's pick every trade never worked out for this club i think you all can see what I beensaying along Murray must go.
The Sens probably could live with a mistake or two from Karlson. However, things have changed, with Alfredson, Spezza and Foligno out of the line up they need to tighten up defensively and can't afford as many mistakes.
I firmly believe the Sens want Karlson to play this year because they also want Cowen in the lineup next year and don't want to break in two rookies on defense. But right now that can't afford to break in one.
mikep pretty sure stamkos played in 79 games last year not sure how that fits 1 game on 1 game off.
I think it makes more sense to have Karlsson playing 20+ mins a night improving his D zone abilities while being a go to guy in the Ahl than being fringe bottom pairing/healthy scatch with the big club.
Why is Shannon on the first line? A love affair is in the works. Do you see it?
Anon @ 12:52,
Let me paint you a clearer on why the penguins are Bettman's pet. There have been a small number of NHL teams that filed complaints to the NHL about the officals after penguins games. All of the teams have said that they are fed up with the double standards whenever they have played the penguins.
Malkin and Crosby have done a few dirty plays over past two years that have warrant a suspension. Two examples come to mind that both Malkin and Crosby fought in the last 4 minutes of a hockey game. That's a no no and a player who fights with under 5 to go in a games results in a one game suspension.
Let's not forget that Pittsburgh played an entire shift in the cup finals with too many men on the ice. Don't get me started on last week's game since there were a few cheap shots Pittsburgh got away with.
hockeybuzz is posting a possilbe Sens rumour... Any word on this Senschirp??
Haven't heard anything like that today but I'll ask around.
I agree with Anon @11:54am - Cheechoo should be given a bigger role, especially now with 3 of our main guys out of the lineup.
Having Neil on the 2nd line instead of Cheechoo does not make sens to me. I would much prefer having Neil on the 3rd with Kelly and Ruutu which would give us a physical and defensively solid checking line, all the while rewarding Cheechoo with some top-6 time.
Yes Cheechoo has dropped off the radar in terms of being a high-end scorer, but he's still an established top-6 guy. When we're healthy then obviously he falls lower down on the depth chart, but in a time like this with so many injuries, I definitely think that Cheechoo has more potential scoring ability than Neil does - and scoring is the main purpose of lines 1 and 2.
Also, I would have preferred seeing Michalek on the 1st line instead of Shannon, but I guess Clouston is trying to spread things out and not have all our "big" guns on the 1st.
Eklund saying Ottawa might be involved in some rumor...hmm..
Another source on the Columbus rumor (although no mention of Ottawa):
http://hendrickshockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1562:capitals-a-blue-jackets-closing-in-on-trade&catid=40:the-rumors&Itemid=86
I wouldn't mind some-one like Jason Chimera if the price was right, maybe Chimera + 3rd for Campoli?
Well I may have misread the Ottawa rumor on Hockeybuzz, so I'm checking around here in DC (since im here for the holidays) and Alzer is apparently scratched tonight...
And i know they are looking for a D man.
What do you think about Volchie for Alzner and Fehr?
Am I mad???
Anyways I hope that if Murray pulls something off it will be a strong move and not a lateral or short term move. Wait and see i guess.
Anonymous, I believe the Stamkos one game on one game off was used sometime when Tochet took over, I would imagine it would have only been for a short period of time. Stamkos quickly became an effective player in the second half of last season. I believe I heard it mentioned on a TSN broadcast during a Sens-Bolts game, they also mentioned Stamkos trained with Roberts in the summer to further develop the phyical skills needed in the modern NHL. Like Chaps and others I've liked what Chechoo has done in his limited role, but increasing his ice time would be a mistake. Chechoo can't skate at a top 6 level anymore, in the Pens game he took 2 straight penalties when the Sens were dictating the play at the end of the 1st and beginning of the second leading to PP goal. With increased ice-time his lack of foot-speed would become dangerously apparent espcially when facing top 6 forwards on other teams.
Seems to me pretty silly that the sens burn a year of Karlsson's contract then have him sit. Why was he brought up again? To watch games?
Milan Jurcina has been dealt from Washington to Columbus.
Guess that puts Eklund's Ottawa rumour to bed for now.
According to Bob MacKenzie Washington has traded Milan Jurcina to Columbus.
Another shoe to drop including the sens? (I added that as a question).
Don't think so Jason. What you see is what you get on this one...
Washington has extra defenceman and Columbus needed one.
Minor deal...
http://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie
Little more to it now according to McKenzie...
Its actually Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina for Jason Chimera. That's a little more signifcant...
I would have liked to seen Murray get Eric Fehr but now that the blue jackets and the Capitals have made theire deal that puts the Senaotrs rumors to bed.
isn't chris clark washington's captain?
Ovie gettin the C???
ovie wanted to C
Anyone know what happened to Cowan this afternoon, he's not in lineup?
Cowen is in the line up.
I suspect we'll see Brooks Laich with the C. I think it was a move to make cap space to prepare for a few big moves around the deadline.
Engin, the rule is not if a player fights with under 5 minutes it results in a suspension, it is if he fights with intent to just stir shit up/ try to injure other players because his team is losing. Malkin fought Zetterberg purely based on emotion, not intent to stir the pot.
and yup, we lost 8-2 all because of the refs favoured the Penguins. Give your head a shake.
In regards to the "no fighting in the last 5 minutes" rule, I'm pretty sure a suspension would only apply if there was an instigator penalty handed out.
I could be wrong, but im sure thats how it works!
Let's be honest with ourselves here...Referee's have the ability to change the outcome of a game and on many nights it happens...The penguins are for sure a much better team, but the outcome of that game surely was due to poor officiating...Ottawa has been subject to very sub par officiating this season, and have not earned the most penalized team, as well as least PP opportunity team...If you don't think Bettman is biased to a few of the American Markets such as the Penguins, than you are being Naieve. If Crosby is named team captain of team Canada would you then believe the hype, because be prepared to be shocked on that front. Lets also remember the Penguins won the lottery draft the year of the lockout...coincidence? ha j/k I know it is a lottery and should be random, but is still a good example that they get everything given to them on a silver platter...
Official NHL ruling directly from Gary Bettman - "too deep in the crease" - assholes - whata bunch of crap - scoring down and they are making bs calls like that - Fraser should be ashamed of himself.
Maybe I am in the minority here but I dont want cheechoo on the sens two top lines.. although he works hard he has clearly lost a step and not deserving of being on top 2..
halak didn't even try to move on that goal he was positioned for kovy, got screened by neil, didnt even see the pass to fisher.. so how the hell does neil interfere with halak's movement if he is in the "perfect" spot for kovalev's angle
the sens have been good at home and can easily be 4-1 on this current homestand(unless they put raask in nets then thomas > sens)
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