The fun gets started at 4:30 PM when members of that first Sens team and current Sens team will walk the red carpet into SBP.
While there will be plenty of talk about the pregame festivities the team has planned, the return of one former-Senator is sure to overshadow all of that. Dany Heatley will be making his second return to SBP, this time as a member of the Minnesota Wild.
Over the past couple of days I have read plenty of articles suggesting that Sens fans move on from Heatley and I agree with that to an extent. With that said, I certainly don’t think fans should go easy on him. He needs to be boo’d early and he needs to be boo’d often. I said the same thing last time he was in town and it remains true this time around, Ottawa fans should have fun with it. Heatley is Public Enemy #1 in this town and we should make sure he still knows it.
Meanwhile, the Sens will be making a couple of changes to a line up that dropped a 6-5 decision in Toronto on Saturday night. Peter Regin and David Rundblad will both see their first action of the year which means Brian Lee and Nikita Filatov will sit. Bobby Butler remains in the press box.
Here is how the Sens lined up this morning.
- Greening-Spezza-Zibanejad
- Michalek-Da Costa-Alfredsson
- Foligno-Regin-Neil
- Smith-Konopka-Condra
- Cowen-Gonchar
- Kuba-Karlsson
- Phillips-Rundblad
Craig Anderson will make his third straight start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM tonight. The game is available on TSN or on the radio courtesy of the Team 1200.
GO SENS GO!
It is b/s that he is sitting out for any of Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba.
I am however happy Rundblad gets to play.
I don't care about this imaginative "trade value" we are creating for Kuba/Gonchar. Play the players who are willing to put in the effort, that's all I ask out of the players this year.
For the SENS we need to win the home opener give the fans something to cheer about hopefully MR Z can get his first NHL Goal....Bounty on Kuba is still 500 bucks I heard hahahaha GO SENS GO NO SACRIFICE NO VICTORY
He's living up to that for the most part, especially with the forwards. Benching Butler and Filatov is a move that I'm okay with actually. Think of it this way, Butler and Filatov haven't been noticeably bad enough to bench, but they're supposed to be GREAT (offensively at least).
Why settle for mediocrity from these players? bench them to send a message to them and have someone sit with them in the press box to show them where they should be and what they should be doing out there.
On defence its a bit more confusing. Lee deserves to play much more than Gonchar and Kuba, so I'm not sure what Maclean is doing for them. We'll have to see.
Much too early to count out Macleans ways now though, this will be the 3rd game of the year. Don't run him out of town yet, please...
I don't see how Gonchar's play is doing anything to improve his trade "value".
The place you want to go to watch the game, if you don't have
Tickets to the game is Real Sports. Hands down the best sports
bar in North America. The only way to get a table during any
event, is to make a reservation about 10 days before you're going to
be there - especially with this edition of the Battle being a Saturday
night 'Hall of Fame Game.'
Another great place to go is Hoops sports bar. I also want to dispel
the myth that the Grace O'Malley's in Toronto is a Sens bar ...
IT ISN'T! Yes it was during the cup run in 2007, but we gave up on Gracies' when Ottawa games became an afterthought behind the Laffs and Habs.
I'll be at Real Sports watching the game tonight on it's stadium
sized screen. Go Sens Go!
drunk on $15 pints and got to watch some great kids lay the foundation
for another cup run in 4 years!
Do the right thing tonight and boooooooo the F out of Captain Dumbass!
At this rate it's doubtful that he will achieve his stated goal of playing for Russia in the 2014 Olympics. It's extremely unlikely that he would make the Russian team if the Olympics were this winter.
pure genius right here
With every passing day Sens nation becomes more and more irate to see Kuba consuming a precious spot on our blue line... how can we even get rid of him at this point though? That is a pretty expensive contract to bury in the minors... I know Euge has to pay him either way, but this year especially with less stellar attendance numbers projected... money becomes more of an issue I'm sure.
Anyone know if we sold out tonight yet? I'd love to go but have to pick up someone at the airport at 10pm. :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St9jhaTdnmc
How has Anderson been playing? His GAA is ugly... but wondering what his play has been like?
As for Butler.. we saw last year on his first call-up -- he did nothing. His 2nd callup (I believe) he played on Spezza's wing.. and they just clicked.
If McLean is having difficulty finding someone to play in that spot... why not try Butler. What's the worse thing to happen.. they lose? Maybe Butler just figured he would get that spot based on last year and did not work hard enough to keep it.
Chirp -- I thought the Red Carpet was for the current Sens players.. not the original Sens players? I don't remember hearing it was not the current Sens.
Mr. Greening -- #15 on the Wild. Give up a good welcome into the boards. I had my booing to Heatley last year. I'm not wasting any more of my energy on a selfish player who did not want to play for the team I cheer for.
I'm heading to the game tonight and I will make sure that everyone's boo'ing that disgrace of a hockey player who doesn't deserve to have his name spoken. No class.
You may be right actually. Had heard former-members when discussing it with someone awhile back but it may just be the current team. Either way, 4:30PM is a tough time, hope some people can make it out for that!
It has been pretty far from Stallar. He has looked a bit nervous and sitting too far back in his net fighting the puck a bit and trying to do too much. A lot of that though has to do with the weak defensive play in his own end.
He has to play better no doubt but certainly deserves more help than he is getting
Filatov had been backchecking like a madman but seemed to get a bit complacent at both ends of the ice last game - I think they are sending a message that he doesn't get nights off unless he's upstairs.
As for Lee, he's definitely been better this year but let's not make him out to be Shea Webber... Maclean needs Gonchar to play well. If/when he does, he's significantly more integral than Lee.
should be an exciting game tonight, first beer at 5:00 in Bert's Bar woot woot
I am expecting there to be benchings that we disagree with over the first few games and The Stache attempts to get the right fit.
Here's to our first win tonight!!
Go Sens Go!
PS - Keep your good eye and head down Heatley....
As for the defense, I totally agree with everyone. Lee hasn't been spectacular, but he has been better than Phillips, Kuba and Gonchar. That breakaway goal by the laffs where you see Gonchar slowly skating back just reminded me of that time vs the Habs in the playoffs when he only stuck his elbow out. I hope that none of those 3 guys are back next year in a Sens uniform.
I would sooner lose with youth.. than a defenseman who is playing like he doesn't give a shit.
Brilliantly stated Sandy, It made me sick to my stomach watching Kuba play last year while Lee sat, now Gonchar and Phillips have figured out that the best way to stay in the lineup is to play like shit!
If we cannot trust coaches or management to make the right decision, then I suggest we force their hand by expressing to them, that we will no longer pay to see the likes of Kuba or Gonchar anymore
Sit their butts, or risk losing my butt in the stands!!!
That is how furious I am that they are starting this BS 3 game into the season.
Yes you make a good argument, but the reality is that Hately really did us a huge favour, by saving us over 30 million for another overpaid bum... mind you he would fit in with Kuba, Gonchar and Phillips!
Dont waste you boos on Hately, boo Kuba, and Gonchar, who should not be in our lineup!
Phillips worked THAT out 3 years ago
If they want to get the fans into the game show us some good hits on heatley, I guarantee fans will be on their feet like they scored a goal, Cowen is our only hope.
3-1 sens
I WANT!
Go sens Go
Yeah, I've been hoping fot that too. I think it may work.
Actually Chirp.. I re-read the note on the Sens website... it is both former-members and current members... even so.. I'll be there.. hope they don't start without me.
Great post - hahaha!
On that Wings goal... did Gonchar skate back at all or just stand there and watch as Bertuzzi scored. He may be needed for his offense... but he needs to be sat until he upgrades his defense.
Perhaps the only period of hockey I've had a chance to watch... I think I saw him praying though!
Goes to show how well you CAN'T skate if you can't catch up to Bertuzzi!
We can also hope tonight that Gonchar or Kuba stands in front of a Heatley slapshot.
Setoguchi-Koivu-Heatley
Bulmer-Cullen-Latendresse
Powe-Brodziak-Clutterbuck
Gillies-Johnson-Kassian
Defense:
Zanon-Zidlicky
Schultz-Scandella
Stoner Spurgeon
Goalie:
Backstrom
I would say Zibby will get him - and he can throw his small frame around from I've seen in pre-season! Just aim for the knees!
Sandy,
You should know this !
Heatley is a RW ,so opposite him will be a LW = GREENING !
Hope Heatley gets caught with his head down, and that Greening crushes him on the boards, like a pancake.
Rockin Robert
and the forward sitting out should be Zabanjed as he has not been noticed on the ice and needs some time to get confortable still, I believe a trade is on its way and it will be Winchester gone as to me, he does not fit anywhere on the team anymore. Zabanajed is still here and if he wants to stay here he better start going hard to the net like he did in preseason, he needs to step his game up, same with Filatov he needs to finish on some of his chances, Filatov had 2-3 good chances in the Toronto game, and was robbed by Reimer on one, missed the net on one, and got the puck stripped on another, time for him to step his game up also
Two healthy scratches today are Butler and Filatov...these were the same two who were dogging it at practice. The coach called the team in to set a few things straight and they skated to the bench for water while everyone else did what the coach asked. He yelled at them and it looks like he sent them a clear message...we are not the team of last year and you can't be slacking off.
Nice! I am looking forward to this year. Give it a few more weeks and you will see energetic games where we outplay our opposition. Too bad Heatley wasn't still here. He could be a healthy scratch too!
We should not be booing our own team. This is the exact same suggestion that Don Brennan made in his article. Wait... are you Don? I'm kidding of course, but the last thing we should be doing is booing our own players. This is the sort of thing that gives off reputation that the Sens fan base is fickle and quick to turn on our own players. The worst you can do is boo your own team. If they are strugling, booing them will not help make them better. Leave that up to the coach.
At least these 3 players have shown up and not whined about their roles being diminished and asked for a trade out of Ottawa unlike a certain someone who deserves our boos.
Hope we build a 3-0 lead by end of 1st period.
So, let's see how we play with a strong lead !!
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rockin Robert
Totally agree with what the coach did here with Filatov and Butler. But there is no mention as to why Lee is sitting.
I am sorry if you disagree, but I have been more than patient in expecting the Sens Brass to do the right thing. Last year Kuba should have sat, instead Lee had to sit and watch for 30 games, as Kuba not only played himself off of this roster, but out of the NHL and now we are stuck with him and paying him 4 mil, and at the same time almost throw Lee away! Now we are expected to watch 2 more do what Kuba did last year, while Lee, Borowiecki, Gyrba, Wiercoch, who are all better, yet they are cut!
Enough of this obsurdity! Sit them, or I will sit myself from attending games and forced to watch that gong show of Gonchar Kuba and Phillips
For the love of God do the right thing this year!
It is the coaches fault for not benching the "right guy(s)", not the players fault. Booing your own *individual players* is for Leafs and Habs fans, not Sens fans.
Okay thanks.... just making sure... go Greening...
You eat with that mouth?
Team 1200 said tickets still available.
I am sorry but we are notorious for playing overpaid bums ahead of more deserving players, and I cannot stomach it anymore. If they have the nerve to ask for 4 mil per year, then as a fan I should be able to demand at the very least effort. So if you do not care enough to bring effort, then you deserve to be bood for not trying.
And both Kuba and Gonchar are more than guitly of that. Phillips I am afraid is not in that boat, he just cannot play at a NHL level anymore, and our Leaders were to foolish to realize this and again rewarded terrible play!
Until Kuba and Gonchar show they care, or if they are playing ahead of more deservign players, they too should be bood
That sucks, let's hope they sell out.
Gonchar, Kuba still in...check...we lose.
7-2
More importantly, what time does the 3rd period start?
Haha.
This should be a good one. And it's actually on TSN! Yay!
Go Sens Go!
To each their own I guess. Under the right circumstances I would boo the team, for example screwing around for the 4th PP in a row barely even getting a shot on net. I would never though embarrass one of our roster players like that. SBP is quiet enough some nights, not enough cheering and chanting, last thing I want to think about it "we should boo our own players".
That being said I feel your frustration. Carker (7th D-MAN), Lee and possibly Rundblad (if he proves he can hack it this year) should all be seeing regular ice time in their roles. We absolutely need to clean out this glut on D, and I wont even say for the 30 trillionth time who should be run out of town...
My fear is that he may lose some of this credibility if he continues to sit guys like Lee instead of the veterans, who are more deserving of being benched. It's a slippery slope once players lose faith and respect in their coach, and you have to think they are seeing the same things we are?
An even better word than "credibility" I think is "accountability ". How many of our last few coaches have bandied around that word, but outside of Kovalev, very few bigger-ticket players ever get to ride the pine.
Peluso.
wow. even the Wings and your incredibly over-hyped Leaf offense didn't score 7 goals on us. Did the Wild just trade for Aulie or something?
He's fought hard to get a roster spot and had a rough development.
He's finally strong enough, with great positioning and decent skating.
We shouldn't fuck with his development further by benching him. He's the best we have defensively.
For what? SOlid defensive coverage? Responding to lengthy benchings with good play? Finally living up to some of his potential?
Yes, let's have our best most solid defensive player in the press box...
I'm in full agreement that either Kuba, Gonchar, or Phillips should be the one sitting tonight. Problem is those three are all veterans. They have egos and well established careers. That means they'll probably get a little more slack but if they're continuing to play like garbage after 10 games then by all I means I expect to see the correct name getting the bench.
Yeah I agree with you RL. The Wild's first line might absolutely put ours to shame, after that however we have globs more scoring depth and grit. They probably hold an edge on D especially with us sitting out Lee tonight, and with Anderson returning half way back to the form he had against Boston, we sure should have an advantage between the pipes.
Add to that the 7th man for the Sens - the crowd should be rockin' tonight and we should be good to go! The only wildcard 'concern' is that D-bag seems to play his best in stupid adverse pressure situations like tonight. If we can keep Heater off the score sheet in the goals dept, I have a hard time seeing how we can lose this one.
I say 5-2 Sens tonight.
I couldn't agree more. Simply put, compared to the rest of our defenders, he deserves to be playing tonight. I hope Tyrant is right and they gave him a good explanation of *why*.
I fully expect, for better or worse, that MacLean will give the vets 8-12 games to straighten things out. Getting the young guys playing is good for the long term, but the Sens need the vets playing if they have any hope of success this season. These guys are fighting all the Clousten crap from last year and need to find their mojo.
If the Stash lets it go much longer, then there may be trouble
http://46.182.126.9/channel3.html
They need to focus for 60 minutes cause our D does nothing to guarantee us a W...
what happened to the stream?
We have zero net presence in the offensive zone. We never shoot through traffic. And we constantly lose control of the puck.
Does the ice suck in SBP or something?
But why? this team is supposed to be exciting...acco rding to some die hards, lol!!
Boring as hell and on pace for a 7-2 defeat!
For those of you that are stumped as to Anderson's shaky performance...I ts called playing for a contract.... Now he's got it, nothing else to prove.
We played really good for the most part.
Gonchar and Kuba have been awful. Runblad too.
Da Costa has been amazing, really.
RE: Anderson's play. Our PK defense is shit. He's faced what, 8 breakaways in the last 2 games? No amount of Patrick Roy could save us with this defensive effort.
Boring boardplay, sloppy neutral zone passes, no net presence and sloppy defensive play.
This is exactly what I've been saying. Anderson had ONE good year, which was the 09/10 season, but other than that he's been subpar his whole career! Get used to him, cuz he has a few years left to go.. And by the end of it, with the way this team is playing, Anderson's career will definitely be over.. With the stats he's about to get over the next few years, no one will want him!
Haha.
Just cuz a team has cap room doesnt mean they will take our garbage...they' ll just pay their stars more. lol
First goal is unstoppable, and the second one is a rocket from a perfect spot on a PP.
The issue is sloppy play from our vets, Spezza takes a bad penalty and Gonchar is useless.
Stop blaming our goalie for everything, there is a reason we never have good ones, we shit on them for nothing.
Unfortunately just a dream...
Hopefully he gets the hint and requests a trade or just to be scratched.
(watch Auger try to call this no-goal)
Was thinking the same thing... Maybe Scotia Bank Place can break too so that we can re-build it downtown.
Bet Kuba's feeling less pressure... : )
Slashing call on Phillips' stick=no call. Soft slashing of Spezza=call=led to a goal.
Terrible, terrible refeering.
FILIP. KUBA. SERGEI. GONCHAR.
/end
I think Kuba has had a quietly effective game.
Way to get my hopes up, Filip.
GO SENS GO
Spezza's blind passes still find their way directly to Heatley's stick. LOL
What magic is this?
Didn't see much of Condra or Smith in the latter parts if that game. Look for one of them or Konopka to draw out of the line-up for Butler and/or Filatov.
I hope Rundblad is given a chance to get comfortable before they consider benching him again. Lee deserves to get back in though.
All in all, a solid 60 minutes by the entire team.
Impressed with the team. Auger definitely made this game more difficult for than it should have. What a horrible ref.
Neil's the man.
You once again prove to everyone on this site that you are a complete tool and don't know the first thing about hockey. Have you ever played? Have you ever watched?
As you know by now, we did not lose 7-2 as you predicted. Ottawa outplayed the Wilds since the first puck drop, and they are very exciting to watch this season. 3 games, 12 goals??? If you want more goals per game than this, you have to start watching basketball my friend. You need to take your head out of your ass and start paying attention.
I shouldn't feed the trolls, but I can't believe your constant lack of knowledge about this sport. No, that's not true, once in a while you say something that isn't stupid, so that leads me to believe you are not completely clueless about hockey, just a troll.
Sincerely,
Patrick
way to go sens.
the fans were off the hook as well, lots to cheer about tonight.
Neil Neil Neil
Greening, Neil, Regin, and Alfie (no surprise) had stand out games tonight.
Very euphoric to be at the game tonight. Don't believe I can recall a reg season game as loud and proud as tonight.
The shootout winner from Alfie was awesome!!
KJ
You took the words right out of my mouth. I think some fans need to gain a little more patience, and let our coaching staff do their job. It's too early for "booing" to start on our own team and criticizing a coach who has been here for 3 weeks is a little absurd. Guys like you give Sens fan a bad name.
Patience is a virtue.
Since you brought it up, the Wild weren't that great, that might have something to do with perceptions.
loved the alfie chants, neil, foligno, heatley douchebag chants and final score.
i keep flip flopping on zibanejad but at this point, i think they'll send him back after 9 games. he's good enough to play at this level but not as a top 6 just yet.
question i have is; why the hell wont gonchar shoot the puck? karlsson seems guilty of this as well.
I'm fine with sitting Lee assuming it's not for long.
What's with these old goons that Cherry ripped into? They're milking this thing for another 15 minutes of fame??? Pathetic.
Yep have to agree with you there AT, very ugly game, but I will eat my words and take any criticism of my 7-2 prediction, I mean...it was looking great in the 1st!! lol
Grats to Maclean for his first win, Im sure he wanted that one bad...
Our bangers stepped up, espcially Neiler, that is the Neil were used to seeing, hope we get more of that in him!
EEEEYORRRRRRRE !
A few times, during quiet parts of the game, and while in our end of the arena, I'd like to think he heard us individually expressing our opinions about him, haha, hope it somehow threw him off
Kuba has been ok since game 1. He is +1 so far and played 22+ min yesterday. He is responsible in his own zone and that's why Maclean let him play that much at Even force with Karlsson.
I know everyone hate that guy because he had a bad season last year but before that we all loved him when he held the record for the most consecutive game with at least a point to start a season.
I think he stepped up his game since last year and he deserve some credit for it.
Phillips on the other hand is still turning the puck way too much. When he has the puck behind the net, I stop breathing, his first pass is catastrophic.
and Gonchar, well. Looks like he doesn't care.
was at the game. best word to describe it was UGLY....
loved the alfie chants, neil, foligno, heatley douchebag chants and final score.
i keep flip flopping on zibanejad but at this point, i think they'll send him back after 9 games. he's good enough to play at this level but not as a top 6 just yet.
question i have is; why the hell wont gonchar shoot the puck? karlsson seems guilty of this as well.
Yep have to agree with you there AT, very ugly game, but I will eat my words and take any criticism of my 7-2 prediction, I mean...it was looking great in the 1st!!
I think Tookie had Crow for Thanksgiving! Hahaha.
Seriously - really fun game to watch last night!
Win or lose, as long as it's exciting hockey, that's all we should ask for!
Till Thursday...
Neil was going after Phaneuf for the hit on DaCosta. Schenn stopped him. It should have been Schenn with the instigator... again the refs got that wrong.