The Jets scored the first goal in this one and had Sens fans wondering if it would be more of the same for the home side. Coming off games where the Sens were outscored by a combined total of 14-3, you can understand why the fans at SBP were a little nervous.
But Paul MacLean's group responded well and did not panic when down by a goal. Michalek's power play goal tied the game at 1-1 and gave the Sens the boost they needed.
The line of Spezza, Greening and Michalek were a handful for the Jets and were by far the best trio for the Senators. Michalek and Spezza each finished the game with three points and are seem to be showing chemistry early this season.
Love the skill Alfredsson showed on the goal that put Ottawa up 3-1. Made an awesome play to knock down the puck in the neutral zone and beat Pavelec with a wicked shot. A huge goal for the Senators.
The Spezza line was good but without the standout goaltending from Craig Anderson, this would have been a completely different hockey game. Had a chance to sit a few rows from the ice tonight (in the Sens end) and it was clear how hard Anderson was working. He made some massive saves and battled traffic out front all night. His 35 save performance earned him first star in this one.
Wasn't all good news for the Sens as Peter Regin left the game after re-injuring the same shoulder that gave him trouble earlier this season. There was no timetable provided on his injury.
Ottawa takes on Columbus on Saturday night.
We definitely played way better than our last game. We finished our checks, did the simple things right basically. We had solid performances from our 3 veteran dmen in Phillips gonchar and kuba, and a great line of spezza michalek and greening combined for 8 points on the night. And most of all we got a great performance from Craig Anderson, who had 35 saves like chirp said, so I would say we played much better and I hope this continues.
We played really well but also had some struggle, Anderson clearly stepped up to the plate when we struggled, great game though, should give the young guys some confidence.
Columbus your next.
And Columbus will be coming off a tough road game against a well rested red wings team. If the Sens come out strong right away they should be able to get another point or two SAturday night. GO SENS GO!
i think a lot has to do with the jets being a weak team. goaltending was a major factor as well as a better penalty kill but overall i think it was the team that "sucked less" that won.
my thoughts:
-kuba blew chunks(i'm not a sheep... he really does suck)
-rundblad looks like a rookie too often, needs ahl time. that would also make a space for lee
-greening is great. people freakout when greening is lined up on the 1st line saying "greening's a 3rd liner!! get him outa there!" i couldn't disagree more
-alfie looks back to his old self!
-karlsson looks great when he has the puck and rung one of the post
@ richardson711 -- team that sucked less? I thought both teams play exceptionally well last night. And Kuba blew chunks? Please explain. I am not a fan, but didn't think he played poorly.
No doubt similar observations on my part.
Anderson played with energy, his east west play was ridiculous. His rebound control almost perfect, except one big one in the second when the net was almost open and gonchar cleared it.
Gonchar was a huge improvement. Played a physical game for a ofd. Kuba I did not notice as much but the guy knows how to keep the puck in the zone, never let's it go past the blue line on the offensive.
Runblad really does need some confidence. Kid is great, good hits, good positionning, but he just won't shoot. Kept dishing the puck off to someone else to take the shot. He has to start cranking them.
Zbad had a pretty good game. Guy knows how to 1 time really well, too bad he couldn't bury. It makes sense with regin and bobby bottle service out, zbad sent to sweden that filatov will get called soon.
If Zbad could put one in before we send him off, that would be nice.
Loving Greening going hard to the net!
Poor Regin got beat up last night... hope he comes back quickly!
And of course, Mr. Anderson played very well!! Made some key saves (Alfie fobbled the puck in our end).
GO SENS GO!
Soooooo, I'm getting Cowen on my heritage jersey. That way, Leafs and Habs fans won't be so surprised when I knock them to the floor. I might just do it on the 12th in Toronto, after a beauty 11/11/11 in Buffalo - another shit town, with a junk team, and worse fans.
BTW, I heard Heritage jerseys are already the best sellers in the NHL this year, and have already crushed the highest sales for any team from last season.
Great effin game last night....
Peluso.
said it before and I'll say it again, mm just needed to get healthy.
on the Regin front, can't help but wonder if this shoulder will cost him his career. several guys have been forced out of the game due to bum shoulders. not lookin good....
bahahahaha...th anks for that reference.remin ds me of the mad tv skit/ skinny on camera not so much off...
I'm also unsure about Regin, he wasn't very good last season and now with the repeating shoulder injury, I just can't see him sticking with the team much longer.
I hope he's done, he's always been a waste of a roster spot!
I agree, I've personally never thought he was all that special, outside of having a good showing in the playoffs against the Pens in '10 he really hasn't done much of anything to impress. If that has anything to do with being injured then we def need to move him, that last thing we need is another injury plauged forward moving everyone in and out of the line-up based on his health...
we bring up Filatov
That's how I feel about Foligno, all fancy stick work with no finish
Injuries will be his biggest shortcoming, not his talent.
I don't hate Regin, he just hasn't done anything to impress me. I sort of look at it as "I don't get all the love for Regin", and he is very very far from top 6 talent, don't kid yourself. He was on the bubble for making the team coming out of training camp, and the less he plays, the less likely he stays with them team.
He has talent, but I'm not sure if it's NHL talent, let alone top 6 talent...
Well if he was a top 6 talent fine but he isnt, its obvious. His whopping 13 goals and 3 in 6 playoff games dont exactly scream top 6...All he does is skate around nicely and gets hurt...
We dont need that, he is easily replace.
Filatov - Zibby - Alfy
for the next two games (until the 9 games are up). Finally Filatov can play on a line where he's carrying the puck a lot more, has a finisher in Alfy, and a hard worker, and skilled one timer in Zibby. I think it could work, and hopefully gives Zibby one last shot to show what he can do.
I'm not saying he's a stud, but I don't think he's a pylon either.
Remember this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bg1SLCYmLw
I keep hoping we'll see that Peter Regin some more.
Should Regin be out for more than 2 weeks, I agree that this line of Filatov - Zibanejad - Alfredsson would click
and playing just below Michalek - Spezza - Greening, would
sure give us 2 top 6 lines !!
Should do it vs Columbus and for a few games !
Rockin Robert
Ya sorry, meant if Regin was out. Just assumed he would be for at least a few games.
No and to be honest I try forget pretty much anything Regin does, his play or lack thereof in the last 2-3 years have been exactly that...forgetab le...
Greening Spezza Alfredsson
MM9 Zibby Folingo
I think he will still go back overseas and they are going to use Konopka.
Which players are on a 9 game tryout?
With the chemistry last night, I think Greening has earned his spot on that line for the time being.
No doubt we will see the same lines tomorrow night, PMac had success with these lines last night so why mess with that?
i thought Rundblad's hit last night (forget which jets player it was) was amazing. I think he just needs to shoot more. Phillips, Gonchar, Kuba finally came to play. noticeable differences in their play last night. Great physicality from phillips near the end of the game to shut it down. Cowen is a beast in the ottawa zone and just has an amazing calm and coolness to him. Here is to hoping he ups the physicality a little more, the guy can skate and to me atleast has a crazy upside.
Zibanejad was flying out there, really wanted that goal. Maclean should have left him out there to pot the empty netter, but happy michalek got it. I think he should stay the year.
Alfie what can i say, absolute skill, his legs sure look like they dialed the clock back a few years. in top shape. here is to his health for the next two seasons!
Mr. Anderson was in top shape last night.
He wont grow playing 10 minutes a game...
He's going back to SEL to play 17-18 a game and be one of the go to guys.
Gonchar looked like a more determined version of himself, using his body to get position a lot more then we've seen over the last year. If last night's version was the norm, Kuba would be the only dman to have a problem with.
Winchester had some really good jump and did not seem that out of place. He impressed me enough to be happy he's back, especially with Regin going down now.
Foligno was pretty dominant all night, especially in the 1st half of the game, but still having trouble either finishing himself or getting a linemate who can. With Regin going down, it'll be interesting to see who he's matched with.
Hope Cowen can get a few points soon...
I really enjoy Rundblad's game. He's a visionary with the puck and so willing to get physical. When he fills out watch out nhl.
Good start to this 5 game stretch of easier opponents. GO SENS GO!!!
Oh and what in the world was with pulling their goalie with 5mins left, weirdest strategy I've seen this early in the season.
Zibanejad
So, you're an expert? Would he really? I didn't know you were an NHL Scout or had real experience with NHL players besides watching/readin g. Pretty sure Regin is out with that shoulder injury, might be needing a third line centre soon.
I agree with the fact that he doesn't look out of place, but that is more to do with the lack of talent or depth on this team.
I think he should be sent back to Sweden because we gain so little from having him here for a year and burning a year on his contract when there is nothing to win.
We already believe he's going to be a player on this team in the future, this team is ALL about future, and Zbad has nothing to prove to management this season. Send him back to the SEL, let him mature a bit more and have him around next year when it might actually count for something.
I understand that he will get more from a year in NHL vice SEL but I don't believe it is significantly more to warrant losing a year on his contract.
Coach Noel knows hockey, and being down by 2 goals ( 3-1 ) it is a great strategy to at least get a quick goal, and then you only need 1 and not 2 goals, with 1 minute left !
Excellent gamble, when you need more than 1 goal to tie the game !
Rockin Robert
Not when the faceoff is on your side of the ice though. And on the PP the other team can just ice it trying to score the entire time. They were really lucky the sens didn't get the empty netter sooner.
With 5 min left and a PP, you have plenty of time to get 1 goal before the final minute. It's an interesting strategy, but obviously didn't pay off and would in all likelihood be more detrimental against most other teams.
Dont need to be an expert to figure that out, its common sense, maybe you should eat a bowl in the morning...
Playing him anywhere outside the top 6 is a waste and not worth wasting a year of his ELC. Really you want Zbad to play with Neil's and Smith's and Condra's on our team.
He's going back to SEL...
Da Costa, I think, should be centre on the second line at least until Regin comes back. Smith, Kanopka, and Winchester can handle the bottom two lines in some combination. Where we'll feel Regin's loss the most is likely on the PK, and I don't feel like Zibanejad is the one to replace him in that role at this point.
Wasn't at the game, but sounded like the fans were supportive and the team responded.
Plus it was on a PP so it was 6-4 and he put him back in when the PP was over and pulled him again later...
Good tactic!Quoting spezzerman:
Both like to dish the puck off, it would look like Karlsson and Rundblad playing hot potato on the PP, epic fail!
Even Tookie agrees, that pulling goalie with 5 minutes was a "Good Tactic" in this situation !!
Rockin Robert
Never said it wasn't a good tactic, said it was weird to do that this early in the season and when the faceoff is on your side of the ice.
So by your math, Tyler Seguin wasted a year last season because he didn't play in the top 6 on Boston. Didn't learn a damn thing did he!
So by your assessment Zibanejad is a 2nd overall (could have easily been 1st) draft pick?
Come on dude get yer head out of yer ass...
Seguin > Zibanejad
Playing Zbad outside our top 6 is a waste. Playing Seguin outside Boston's top 6 wasn't. Just because the scenario is the same it doesn't follow that the outcome is.
Boston and Ottawa are not in the same situation. Long term, which the sens can look at because we aren't looking to contend this year or next, Zibanejad does not NEED to learn at the NHL level this year and we don't have to burn a year of his contract.
Zbad has nothing to prove to management this year. They are already sold on him. He goes away, plays with less pressure in the SEL, comes back a bit stronger and a better player and we still have him for 3 years before we need to re-sign him. Didn't hurt Karlsson and I don't think it will hurt him.
look at seguin in boston last year, he was eased in and not playing 1C minutes. Also look at Taylor Hall. zibanejad is a natural centreman, ottawa does not need to win the cup this year or make the playoffs....i think its totally worth it to give him a full year of NHL games so that when he comes back next year, he is an even more motivated monster. its only win win. in the end, its not like the sens are thinking about trading this guy, so whats the point of coveting that ELC. its not like the sens are going to be in cap crunch soon either. KEEP HIM HERE! to me his game looks like its getting in the NHL-level groove and really at the verge of making a push for the 2C pos.
1. winchester was hyped and touted as a spezza+heatley linemate, but is a marginal decent fourth liner now
2. butler was super hyped and touted as a spezza linemate but was put on 4th line, then pressboxed and then got injured.
3. da costa looks real and has shown some brilliance and chemistry right away with MM and alfie, but remains to be seen in a highly productive light.
i still insist the keeping zibanejad is a win-win for everyone and has no losses. not even with the ELC year burnt on his contract. in the long run, the sens keep this guy and they resign him a year early, but that is nothing compared to the benefit of having this guy hit the ground running a full year early too.
seguin with 13:25 of ice time is scoring 3 points in one game.
zibanejad played 12 minutes yesterday...the re really is no argument either way to say that he turns out the same way as seguin or does not turn out the same way as seguin. however, the chance of him turning out the same way as seguin is definitely worth taking. not to mention, seguin has a the pressure to perform now. zibanejad will have no pressure this year and none next year too.
KEEP HIM!
As for Zibanejad, I think keeping him up in the bigs wont hurt at all. This kid is ready to stay even though hes not putting up big numbers.
My opinion is we send him to the SEL and that enables us to have a better look at players who have something to prove this year. Players like Filatov, Butler. Players we aren't sure of. Players that we don't know whether they are part of the future of this franchise or not.
Then they get hyped by the press and the fans who think just because 17 NHL teams are interested he must be great. History tells us something different.
there is also the mistaken belief by some that becaus ethey are older they will take less time adjusting to the NHL.
kuba wiffed on a great shot opportunity(not unnusual), and never gets to dump ins fast enough or can never box out an aggressive opponent on dump ins, and he is so weak on his man. maybe he redeemed himself some time later in the game but i sure didnt notice.
and im not saying that either team sucked LAST NIGHT. just that if either team was playing a top tier team last night they probably wouldnt have done nearly as well. i hope i'm wrong. i think we will look good against the likes of winnipeg, minnisota, columbus(hopefu lly) simply because they play at our level.
Seguin was never going to be taken ahead of Hall, he was just the only other one worth even considering. Like this past draft, RNH was going to be 1st no matter what eventhough it sounded like 4-5 people could've.
Your answer was very predictable. Who can say that a 2nd overall pick's first year development (playing non-top 6) is different from a 6th overall. Is this really your arguement? Also...at no point did I compare the players against eachother, I simply took him as an example as a player that developed nicely playing bottom 6 minutes his first year (in Boston).
By the way, are you capable of having a mature conversation without telling someone off in your responses. Just curious...
I am not so convinced that we will end up last anymore mind you...not because we are great just the jets looked a little bit worse.
Regin is in trouble....this looks like an injury thatcis going to keep happening.
C'mon Tookie that's offside even for you... he is a decent player who may have his career cut short...I know you are a hockey fan, but statements like that really make me doubt you are a Sens fan.
I think the point here is that you can clear the puck icing-free, and go for a 200ft goal. in fact, I would have sent a nice saucer gift to #41 to get him to launch a rocket into the mesh. In fact, we almost DID score at the end of the PK, but they'd put their netminder back in.
Excellent gamble only because we were dominating, and it was their only shot? maybe...
Anyway, We crushed the Thrashers, and now we'll crush the Blue Jackets. Most historians will tell you that Canadians hate Blue Jackets...
"Mature conversation". Impossible. Clearly Tookie knows hockey, years of WATCHING hockey really proves he is an expert. How can you possibly guarantee anything you're saying? I'm surprized people actually read your posts. I could care less about your frankness, as it comes off as asinine and naive.
Obviously Zbad could play the entire time here, why not? I think if the team is in the mindset that anything better than a loss is a good thing, there isn't much to be expected. "His feelings" won't be hurt if the team isn't harassing him to be better. This isn't the same situation where the team is looking to win, they are looking for player improvement.
Hockey fans look at their team, and all teams, with both positives and negatives. No, it's not nice to hear about how terrible Kuba is, or about how big of an underachiver Regin has been with us, but these are the facts whether you like them or not!
Over the next few years we will have some major postiives, but we will also expereince major negatives, don't call people out for being bad fans when they speak the obvious truth...
Are you kidding, did you even see what Tookie said?
"I hope he's done, he's always been a waste of a roster spot!"
That is a pretty shitty thing for someone to say, even by Tookie standards.
I think Tookie meant to say I hope he's done (in Ottawa) not in general, pretty easy to take that out of context. And for the most part Regin has been burning a hole in the roster so it's not that far off....
Anyways, I can't speak for Tookie but that's what I got out of it...
I don't get everyone who says you shouldn't bad mouth ANY player on the team you cheer for because it doesn't make you a fan. That to me sounds like a TYPICAL Leafs fan right there, because they won't admit that any part of their team sucks and that every season they are going all the way!
WHAT???
PraiseAlfie are talking about
Boo the shit players by all means...but hear is a kid that you could question his skill, but never his effort, and Tookie is happy he is injured again, and may have his career cut short. Even I would never wish Gonchar/Kuba a career ending injury
OFFSIDE!
As for the Regin injury... did he get the injury by the crosscheck on his left shoulder or by the fall. I only saw the replay as I missed the 1st part of the game. Did (I think) Andropov even get a penalty for that crosscheck?
I think Murray had better start the Karlsson contract negotiation now... don't wait until he gets too many more points.
Good game, still closer than we might have hoped for but a step in the right direction, especially between the pipes.
If Rundblad sticks around this year... and starts shooting the puck, especially on the PP with Karlsson, holy hell will that be a sight to behold! He is simply too tentative right now.
Why is that, everyone in Ottawa asking for Kovalev's head these last years are not Sens fans either by your count...
Disliking a player doesnt make you less of a fan, lol.
Yes done in Ottawa, thought it was pretty clear but I guess not.
Just wanted to share this link from the CBC with everyone
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/gameday/senators_blue_jackets_-_coaches_on_the_hot_seat.html
See that's how rumours start. Great job CBC...
Happy weekend all!
Classic example...#17.. .$12 million dollars for about 12 games over 3 years...I'm booing...
ok fair enough... but if healthy I still see an upside
Talk about desperate journalism. What a bunch of quacks!
took a second to register who it was.
seems like a really down to earth guy.
Does the Paulrus drink Gosling's "Black Seal" Rum? Because that would be pure LOLZ.
http://www.drinkhacker.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/goslings-black-seal-rum.jpg
What was he buying though, for real?
@ Sensation - Yeah no kidding huh? Just the worst. We have little expectations, we know we're not going to slaughter every other team out of the water, so why bother writing such a crock? Didn't we all agree that he had a mulligan this season anyway?
Sheesh.
Okay, I'm off - have a great weekend all and don't forget to work on your Hallowe'en costumes!!! :)
And look at Tyler Seguin 2011/2012
While I agree, I disagree.
Yes, both NHL quality players, but two different environments unless something changes real soon. Seguin was on a Stanley Cup team with a winning mentality. I'm on the fence, but I'd rather see him come into the club next season with a winning mentality than be OK with losing.
The only sens that are fine with losing are Kuba and Tookie ;)
Zbad will be fine.
i wouldnt watch the game if i were you, bingo is getting destroyed 5-0. lehner went 35/38 then was pulled. shots were 38-8 for admirals
I was listening to the game and it was hard to listen to lol. Does this stream cover all Binghamton games?
yeah, might as well bookmark that link since its the same one i copy paste into the comments here. the guy usually streams every game including playoffs
The real issue with attacking these players seems to stem from everyone expecting this team to be the same team that made it to the cup finals. We are not that team.
I'm pretty sure I have sat next to some of the doomsayers that post to this site. I actually heard someone complaining about how a couple of our goals were scored at the last game. I've heard others complaining when there is a single turnover by a player and stating they should be traded.
You have every right to your opinion of each player and I have every right to think what I do of you.
GO SENS GO!
The young Sens need to be smarter and more patient when playing with Alfie. They need to maintain possession and make higher probabilty passes.
Therefore, Phil Kessel must be on pace for 112 goals,
since he has 7 goals after 6 games .
You would tend to believe, that only Michalek might do it !!
Kessel might score more than Michalek, but no way does he score 112 !!
Rockin Robert
Dany Heatley: 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 PTS
honestly...this trade is starting to look better and better.
Sens line up
Greening-Spezza-Michalek
Foligno-Zibanejad-Alfredsson
Condra-Smith-Neil
Winchester-Da Costa-Konopka
Phillips-Rundblad
Kuba-Karlsson
Cowen-Gonchar
Anderson
Cody Bass will be playing for the Jackets
When will you post the Game Day Thread ??
Your clock is behind by 1 hour ???
Rockin Robert
agreed! Sens need to come out like they did against the Jets. Columbus should be hungry for thier first victory and really need this one. when the sens win this one, it could be curtains for columbus already! I predict another strong game from Anderson as first star