McElhinney played what had to be one of the best games of his NHL career. He made big saves all night and helped the Sens steal two points against a Devils team that had to win.
And a terrific game from Chris Neil.
The Sens really did play the perfect team game. I'm sure Clouston would say they gave up more chances than they would have liked but for the most part they kept the Devils at bay.
Sorry for the short post tonight but more coming tomorrow including some interesting insight from the Season ticket holders hot stove from Bryan Murray. Mentioned this on Twitter earlier but based on Murray's comments, it seems pretty clear that the club will retain Craig Anderson.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
sens should simply resign Anderson and McElhinny to 2 and 1 years contracts respectively.
clearly we shouldn't expect them to single handedly win games every night but these two will do just fine for the forseeable future.
whats the worst that happens?
They certainly can't be a worse duo than leclaire and elliot and even if they are, we get another high draft next year.
JABS, I assume that you still maintain that McElhinny isn't capable of any role at the NHL level...
Is it possible they don't want them up because they might do well thus forcing the team to find a place for them next year. Are they destined for Bingo again in their long term plans so by keeping them down they have fewer decisions to make. I clearly don't understand the rationale. Let them come up and learn, or for the kids sake, use them for trade bait and find a good home for them because in this house they are neglected and may want to run away.
I'm confused by your comment. Do you not see who is playing in these hockey games? 3/4 of the team are rookies. The binghamton actually has a season left and I don't think they want to waste their chances there as well. I think they're doing a pretty good job on swapping rookies over the past few games. If you look they've changed players every single game since totally bombing the season.
Perhaps we are watching different games...
To quote a great film: "Mr. Blaster, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
What exactly do you want them to do, there, Blaster?
Cowen is locked into the WHL playoffs, They aren't going to pull Rundblad over from SWEDEN where his team is also in the playoffs, just to see him have a tryout, and Weircioch has been awful this year in the AHL, so being humiliated at the NHL level isn't going to help him.
I was living in Calgary during the Jim Playfair drbacle and hew was a sieve
behind one of the best defences in the game. In fact he has been a sieve everywher
he's played. I've heard ot said that he was a borderlin Ahl/Europe goaltender.
He has not looked sharp, he won but he looks like he doesn't understand the
concept of goaltender movement.
Not to rag on a guy who has WON for us but I believe this stems more from the
infectious attittude and excitement from the younger players.
Tbh not quite sold on Anderson either, however he has proven on other teams
that he excels when facing higher shot totals. This is a good thing considering our
defense will be allowing many for a year or two more. I am excited tho
On another note is the league looking into the hit on Greening?
Always welcome an appropriate Billy Madison quote. Didn't get to catch the game as I was busy being Irish. Machelhiney is as bad a goalie as I am at spelling his name.
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&id=91728
Can't be a Sweedish Fisher with leadership qualities?!
I dub thee Alfisher...
I agree that he is better than the "Place Holder", so incorrectly characterized, by JABSmiles, a few weeks ago
and before his first start in beating Tampa Bay !
He's nothing that special if you watched him back up in Calgary a year or two ago. But sometimes no expectations leads to better play so I'm all for that.
As for our backup situation, if he's a bad as people say he is, I hope that the Sens sign Mc because I'm tired of all the 1/2 goalie controversies we have every year. We had the Rhodes/Tugnut, Tugnut/Lalime, Gerber/Emery, Pascal/Elliot.. . It is so tiring arguing who should get the start night in and night out. Unless you are fortunate enough to have two elite goaltenders in your system (Boston, Ducks), your starter should play 60+ games a year. Goalies need consistent playing time to get into a groove. Switching them up every few games ruins that. The same goes for our Offensive/Defen sive line combinations.
I do understand that this season is kind of like an early training camp for our young guys so the line combinations and goalie rotations are justified.
He wins a game and all of a sudden what, I'm supposed to change my evaluation of his skill level?
He's not the backup I'd want playing on my team, as I do not want the sens to be going after another high pick next year and do not believe they will be. Yes these two are better than Elliott and an injured Leclaire, but that's mainly Anderson, and even more because the team is playing much better now then they were when Spezza was out. Am I really the only person that sees that this team only truly sucked for weeks while Spezza was out and that Spezza is often the reason we are winning games these days?
You can reward the goalies prematurely all you want, but there's a much bigger picture to be seen for those who open their eyes.
I think we've got a bunch of things working for the Sens (or against them if you are a tanker):
1. Spezza playing a far more complete game than he has all year.
2. Goalies that aren't letting in crap goals that kill momentum and making big saves a key times.
3. A group of young hungry players that are so concerned with making a good impression and sticking in the NHL, they are buying into CC's system and playing as a cohesive group vice stewing about what an @ss CC is.
All these things are working together to make the Sens suck less.
If the Sens add a few key pieces, guys like Alfie & Mik stay healthy, and a coach who can bring in a better system and motivate the vets to buy in ... The team will be in a much better place going forward.
Completely agreed Frootmig, there are several ingredients working in their favor these days and going into next season.
Sens have long been devil killers, except for the 1 time it mattered most, but I'll take the 2 wins and continue to be excited for the games left this year and the bright future this team will have.
Out: Svatos\Shannon
Injured: Michalek\Alfredsson
So you've got those two pieces replaced by hopefully healthy top 6 talent.
Regin + 1 or 2 Draft picks.
I'd really like to see Z Smith not brought back, I think Winchester and Neil bring enough to the table, I've yet to see a whole lot of upside to Smith's game and the penalties he takes are brutal.
UFA/Spezza/Butler
Michalek/Foligno/Alfy
Prospect/Regin/Condra
O'Brien/Winchester/Neil
Thats how I'd love to see our forwards shape out next season, should make for a hell of a training camp.
I'm not against bringing Z Smith back as a 4th liner, but I completely agree about his bad penalties, he needs to improve quite a bit in his decision making on the ice.
As for Zach Smith. I am a fan and hope he stays around. He needs to clean up his act a slight bit but he reminds me of a fisher 2.0 in the making but much much cheaper.
Anyways I wouldnt even play 4 lines. Its just 3 extra players running around hurting people, what good can come of it.
I was out with a friend on Wednesday night at Moxies in Kanata checking out the "scene". I wasn't the only one, I saw about 8 members of the Devils at a table, waitresses all around, tons of beers and drinks were had. I'm not giving that excuse for them losing, cause Ottawa played a game they deserved to win. But it makes me wonder why a team would do that the night before a game they KNOW they need to win. Anyway, I'm sure they had fun looking at the scenery!!
I was so-so on the Sens drafting him before, but this video really brings out the kind of character he has. I am now drinking his kool-aid (regardless of him being a Sens fan).
Nice video!
Today, he is getting 17-18 min/game and and not only playing in every situation (PK/PP) but also contributing in a big way by helping the team win against teams who need the wins. Still, he gets no respect and all the "still unproven" Bingo kids are getting praise for playing well. After Spezza, since Feb 15, Shannon has had the most ice time as a forward and I think 2nd most points and still, no respect. 5th leading forward on the team in points, still no respect. Only forward on the team with a + rating, and this after 68 games, and still, no respect. What does a guy have to do there to get respect?
Johne
I would much prefer to have Greening on the Sens next season than O'Brien.
Personally, I think Colorado did those players moves to Ottawa & St. Louis to tank on purpose to get to the top pick overall. Why else would they have traded those players? Anderson for Elliott? Come on -- I'm sure they saw how Elliott was playing. Then getting rid of Stewart... wow.