Another big one for the Senators tonight as they pay a visit to Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils.
The Senators are still pretty banged up so it'll take another solid team effort to get the two points tonight.
The fact that the Senators are on the road and visiting the already boring New Jersey Devils make this the perfect storm for what could be the most boring hockey game of all time.
Although two points is two points in this league.
No line up changes expected meaning the Senators will ice the same line up that beat the Sabres the other night.
Michalek-Winchester-Alfredsson
Regin-Fisher-Kovalev
Ruutu-Kelly-Cheechoo
Campoli-Hennessey-Shannon
Brian Elliott will get the call in goal once again. His 14th straight start in the Ottawa net. He's expected to get the night off tomorrow when the Sens return home to play the Minnesota Wild.
Pascal Leclaire was actually on the ice with his teammates this morning for the first time since suffering that broken cheekbone. His return is not far off.
The NHL's Holiday roster freeze kicks in late tonight so it appears as though the Senators roster is set for the time being. With all the injuries as of late, the Senators are so tight to the cap and realy couldn't make a move unless the contracts evened out.
Highly unlikely...
36 comments:
Any news on Neil ?
Hopefully they don't start Brodeur tonight (NJ that is), any idea if that is the case tonight chirp?
If Sens play like they did against Buffalo, the Devils might be in for a "not so boring" game !!
Martin Brodeur will have to stand on his head all night long, as I forsee an avalanche of red lights popping up !!
Neil might be playing Dec 23rd when Penguins visit Senators !!
Ottawa 6 New Jersey 2
Robert Cyr
I believe they expect Neil and Leclaire both back for the game on the 23rd against the Pens. That's what i've been told. Don't put your money on it though.
Yea Yan Danis will go either tonight or tomorrow. Should know shortly.
Neil is still aiming for next Wednesday.
Thanks for the Neil replies. Have a great weekend everyone!
I see in the Sun that Dono is eyeing a return too. If this team ever gets healthy (big IF in the NHL these days) it's actually looking really good. Would love another solid 2-way D in the mix but even without that we're in good shape. After the Olympics if everyone's healthy we should be well poised to make a run at the division title (I don't see anyone pulling away with it). And Spezza at 100% rather than playing with a bad back like he has would make a huge difference. And in the meantime some of the "other guys" will hopefully have stepped up.
Go Sens Go
Finally, we might get to see our own Brodeur in action.
Spezza is likely to come back refreshed with so much time off, his back should be finally 100%.
I would be very happy to see us pull through with another outstanding game from the young guns. I like winchester on that first line and hopefully he can pick up some skills with the stick from his two line mates. Regin has looked rejuvenated as well.
I say we will see a different game then we saw the last time we played NJ. But still it will be tight on defense all night.
Els seems to be on a roll with 2 shutouts in the last 4 games, hopefully that means his game is getting better the more he plays and not the other way around.
If goalie number 3 HAS to play one of the next 2 games - Brodeur versus Brodeur makes more sense to me.
FIVE DAYS TO SNOOPY !
Marty Brodeur is in tonight according to Leftwinglock.com
Go SENS
"Y-A-N-N D-A-N-I-S"
The Sens strength in this league lies in their 3rd and 4th lines, and hopefully until Spezza and the team is healthy again the pluggers like Kelly, Winchester, Ruutu and company can keep the team afloat until post Olympics.
I still see the Sens making a play for a forward, and a top 3 guy. They have nice assets like Lee, Campoli, 1st and 2nd next year, and maybe throw in a Capurusso or Zach Smith type of prospect and I can see them being able to make a play for a Horton, Frolov or Shane Doan.
I think when you look at their forward depth now, I think with Cheechoo not panning out, they need to sacrifice a bit of the future for the next 2-3 years and put those assets into a forward that can make the top 2 lines solid at all 3 positions. I think they lack a 2nd line winger that can change things and provide a dimesion of attack they obviously miss it seems in 75% of their games.
Tuna99
Senschirp,
I'm with ya on the boring hockey comment. What I don't get, is why are the Devils always so boring.
They win games, I get that. But looking at the NHL attendance numbers for the last three years at ESPN.com, the Devils don't fill their building. They are consistently at about 88% capacity.
If you are winning, but people don't want to watch you, what's the point? You'd think that they'd start playing a more exciting brand of hockey to fill their own building at least.
Let's not forget, they are in the largest market in North America (NYC area). They only get 15 800 to games.
Re Olympics: perhaps I'm selfish but I have mixed emotions about Fisher possibly making the Olympic Team. The experience would probably be awesome, and even jack him up, but what price in fatigue come playoffs will that have?
Who else on the Sens is targeted to go?
Swe: Alfie
Rus: Volchenkov & Kovalev
Che: Kuba & Michalek
Fin: Ruutu
Will this drain the Sens core?
I have a good feeling about the Sens tonight. They showed alot of mustard against the sabres. Let's hope the Sens can dance circles around NJ.
GO SENS GO!
JC, what's your opinion on Nylander? This he's someone Murray should be looking at?
If Nylander didn't have that year remaining on his contract I might be willing to roll the dice but I think we gotta try and fill the void internally for the time being.
Anon 1:42
You could say the same for washington and Pitts
Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, Green, Varlamov, Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar, Fleury, ect...
Every team with good players goes through it so we aren't at much of a disadvantage come playoff time.
When does Brodeur not start for the Devils? maybe he will get in a fender bender on the way to The Rock.
I will be there tonight, so I need to see a win.
Anon 2:19
I get that all/most teams will have to deal with players who may have Olympic hangovers.
My question was more along the lines of ... would you prefer that Sens players didn't go so that they had an advantage come playoffs? In particular key guys like Fisher.
Anyone remember the Hasek debacle from last Olympics?
Mike Brodeur will start Saturday.
An avg Elliot will start tonight vs a brutal Yan Danis.
SM
No-- no sacrifice of our future at any cost. That's what Muckler did and look what happened to the Sens the last two years. I blame that all on Muckler -- draining our picks and prospects.. and left Murray with nothing to bring in to fill void left by departing players.
Let's go with what we have this year. If they play Clouston's system I believe they will make the playoffs and could win a round or two.. maybe more.. but that all depends on Leclaire
Even if fish makes the team, i don't think he'll log 20 minutes of ice time. he'd probably get 5-10min playing on the fourth line/penalty kill and more likely he'd be a spare. i think it would elevate his game overall, definitely a positive experience. the other guys are more of a concern, especially alfie. he'll play big minutes and the swedes will probably go deep, same for volchie and kovalev with russia. here's hoping that they both have early exits and are well rested for our massive playoff run!!!
I think Cheechoo or Kovalev are the "top 6" winger we need. I'd rather one of these guys step up than trade for someone else's cast-offs.
And Frolov - do you really think the first place Kings are going to trade him? He's skilled as heck, but way too soft in my opinion. Like Kovalev without the experience.
No, add a top 4 D if we can without giving up too much, but I think we're good at forward thank you.
(My opinion of course)
brodeur playing or not?
Ottawa MUST get that first goal tonight. If the Devils get the lead it will be trap hockey at its WORST. If the Sens can start with the lead we might see a half decent hockey game.
Anyway, a Fisher with a gold medal around his neck might give him even more of a boost towards the playoffs. I think it would benefit the team.
Regin has looked rejuvenated as well.
This guy could be really good for us. If he can find a way to finish a bit, he'd easily be a 20 goal scorer in this league. He's got speed to burn, is shifty as hell, and is willing to go and get the puck. Go Regin!
Wow, a late round Muckler pick made it to the NHL, will wonders never cease?
i heard all of minnys equipment got burned in a fire and their spare stuff is back home.......is this true?
We might not have many players for tomorrow night's game, but apparently Minnesota might not have much equipment - apparently most of it burned in a fire near SBP today... I guess I could lend Backstrom my road hockey pads.
Zp
Anonymouse @ 2:41pm - Is there a reason you posted Elliot vs Danis? It is confirmed to be Brodeur, not sure if you were just hoping but you can check at www.leftwinglock.com before posting!
Any one hear Clouston today they were asking him about his time as a coach. The one thing I think has changed is his looks, have you noticed how much the man seemed to age since he became coach. It's like the way the President ages while in office. Clouston will be grey before the season ends.
Any one hear Clouston today they were asking him about his time as a coach. The one thing I think has changed is his looks, have you noticed how much the man seemed to age since he became coach. It's like the way the President ages while in office. Clouston will be grey before the season ends.
SM Marty is in tonight, not sure where you heard otherwise..
I gotta say SC, to suggest that this is a perfect storm for the most boring game of all time is not fair. No Sens game is EVER boring in my opinion. The game against Buffalo was magic! To me, the Sens are MORE exciting with all of this adversity because we kick it up a notch. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this is going to be a HUGE game, and a high scoring affair.
Let's go Sens.
How about having players who get injured playing for their country at the olympics forfeit their salaries? I know their salaries are insured but still, who pays to insure those outrageous salaries?
Do we want Volchenkov sacrificing his body all tournament long or having Alfie risk an injury?
I'm convinced that the last Olympics cost us what would have been a sure run at the cup after the injury to hasek and all the players that came back exhausted. I remember like it was yesterday when Emery completely blew that first game against the sabers - which set the tone for the rest of the series.
I'll take a cup in Ottawa any day over an olympic gold for Canada, so I'd prefer NHL players stayed out of it.
And BTW, the way fisher plays and the role they would have him play, 14 minutes per game is plenty to get tired or injured.
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