As is so often the case when these two teams meet, Tim Thomas was the difference for the Bruins. The Sens peppered Thomas with quality chances in the early going but just couldn't find a way to get one by him. Then at the other end, Rich Peverley buried the Bruins first decent shot on goal and you could just tell it was going to be one of those nights.
To their credit, and according to script for the Sens this year, they refused to quit. Daniel Alfredsson tied the game for the home side but an old friend took the lead back before the period was out. Kelly's goal was his 12th of the season.
Ottawa had their chances early in the third but again Thomas was there to shut the door. Two defensive miscues later and the Senators were in a hole they could not dig out of. The Sens dominated on the shot clock (49-29) but Thomas was at his best. The loss drops the Sens to 14-14-4 on the season but still just one point out of that final playoff spot.
Another strong night for Jason Spezza in this one.
He picked up two more points and is now up to 32 points on the season. The fact that Spezza has been able to stay at a point per game pace despite having had so many different plays skate on his wings this season is a testament to just how good he has been this year. He is going to have to keep that up if the Sens are going to stay in the mix.
- Spoke with a couple people about the Milan Michalek injury last night and the consensus seems to be it's not serious. Apparently he was suffering minor headaches after the collision with Karlsson so the Sens wanted to be cautious and understandably so. MacLean said Michalek felt much better the next day which is a great sign.
- The Sens are also hoping to get one of Sergei Gonchar or Filip Kuba back on Friday. Would not be surprised to see David Rundblad come out of the line up. The addition of Gonchar or Kuba would certainly help the Sens power play.
- Mentioned this on Twitter last night but expect the Sens to make a formal announcement about the new scoreboard tomorrow. The hope is to have it installed over the Christmas break which means fans will see it for the first time on December 27th when the Montreal Canadiens are in town.
- The Sens will practice today at noon ahead of tomorrow's match up with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Should have a better idea on the status of Gonchar and Kuba later this afternoon.
Great game from Spezza and Alfie!
Hope to see our vets back soon!
GO SENS GO!
Pick up, dust off and let's get back in the W column!
Sens had like 15 shots on the PP - it's going to go in eventually.
Loved seeing Cowen immediately stick up for foligno. unlike so many other teams, the Sens were not intimidated by Boston and to me that is a good sign. what a scrap - Lucic/Carkner.
it's great seeing Kelly have success in Boston.
Great news about the Scoreboard!
Better news about Michalek!
Those third jerseys look fantastic out there!
and one last thing, I find the SBP crowd noisier this year than any other year. They dont need the noise meter to make noise, good stuff! We arent winnipeg but we are getting better.
All I could think was how much I hate Tim Thomas, but DAMN I respect him!
Big game Friday Boys, Go Sens Go!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iwvfYmpYdaM
Hey Snoopy I have a question for you, on the previous comment section you said the impatient fans must all be young. What kind of comment is that? I'm pretty sure the impatient fans are of all ages, just like the patient fans such as myself, 23, and you, are of all ages as well. There's no need to generalize. Us young fans are every bit as knowledgeable about the game and our team as anyone else.
How badly do you wish you were one of those guys out there? Lol I'm so jealous. I can't wait for the outdoor rinks to open up here in Ottawa. The current warmer weather isn't really helping out the cause. This time last year the rinks were open for the most part.
just not his night
That must be how Jesus feels
http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/stlaurent/2011/12/15/chris-kelly-dans-la-mire-de-bryan-murray/
I agree that the biggest stumbling block would be that Kelly is well liked by the Boston organisation and they will do what they can to re-sign him.
When you put it that way..... Solid trade haha
as much as I dislike the bruins, I keep thinking about the game last night and there is this calmness in the bruin's style of play. interesting to note is that the team's real stud is on defense in chara. their top six is good, but if you compare it to penguins, capitals, rangers, philly, canucks, detroit, chi-town, LA...elite teams, on paper it doesn't stand out that much. they also don't make any fancy plays, and don't overthink plays, always the safe simple play first. and then they have Tim Thomas...and dougie hamilton coming up.
i think ottawa has the style and the assets to beat the bruins. however, its the errors that bruins will never commit that the sens commit each game that make the difference.
can't wait for Thomas to retire lol or just leave.
WOO WOO People, bring back Kelly ? Are you kidding me ? Let's move on without him. Do you guys always go back to your ex-girlfriends ? There is a reason why things didn't work out, what would change this time around. Time to move on and give the young ones that roster spot. Kelly trade was well worth it with the draft we had last summer.
lol - that's exactly what I said to the person I was on the phone to as I watched it
Love the mask, though.
It looked almost like he stopped the puck's forward movement. I wonder if they would ever call a goal off for that...
Side note: Nice to see Emery and Elliott are two of the best goalies out there!
My initial reaction was suspension but after watching the replay a couple times I think they may let it go. Helps that Foligno was not seriously injured on the play.
Not at all Anderson's fault,
can someone please explain to me what was Rundblad thinking when we gingerly skates away from Kelly on his goal?
And what was Karlsson looking at when Lee gives him a pass, and he simply skates by it to give Bergeron the breakaway?
And finally on the PP, what are both Rundblad and Karlsson doing in no mans land on the PP to give Paille the breakaway?
Look it I love what Karlsson can bring, and he is young with huge upside, so we will have nights like that, but I am really concerned about Rundblad's development, right now there is NO development, he is getting worse. He is not Karlsson, and you cannot havee Gonchar, Karlsson and Rundblad in the lineup, only one of them.
Runblad has extremely bad habits, he must have some games in the AHL, and if he again threatens to go to the SEL, then let him. He is not NHL ready now.. IMO of course
Last night, again, on Spezza's goal, Alfie got an assist after Spezza passed the puck to Philips and then got it back from Philips to score. I was under the impression that once a puck has been passed twice (even if its between the same 2 guys) that the previous guy to pass it doesn't get an assist on a goal. Apparently thats not the case? Am I the only one who didnt realize this before?
Crazy. I'd like to just move on from Filatov, no more high hopes.
Hey Chirp,
that is extremely odd, was it not already set for him to play in the Red Army?
Are they having second thoughts about him, if so then that is a real concern,
thanks
Ya what happens if he doesn't sign a contract there does he came back to play in the ahl?
Very interesting article Chirp. I didn't realize Kelly still had his home here. I worry that his current career year might inflate his salary though, and anything over 2.5-3mil would not really fit into our future plans imo.
Also, where would he play? We already have Spezza, Foligno and Smith as top 3 centers, as well as Zibanejad, Da Costa and others coming up. It would be nice to see him back, I'm just not sure where he'd fit salary wise or depth wise.
It seriously bothers me that these types of hits are based on injury. You can't get players to stop doing it if they only have to worry about repercussion sometimes. Sticking a leg out like that imo should always come with a 1 game suspension, though I doubt we will see one here.
if the sens could just stop the gimme's to the other team.......if and only if....i dont get how its so hard to kill just that after 32 games....
So what does that mean chirp? We havnt seen the end of filatov just yet boys , murray would like to keep his rights so....
This is my grumpy rant of the day. Personally, Im tired of seeing hockey games decided in a shoot-out when guys score trick style shots like Kane did last night. Awesome stuff to watch say in a skills-competit ion, but that's where it belongs. At NO point during the actual game would a player have that kind of time and space to make a break-away shot like that, So I think it has no place in the shoot-out when 2 points are on the line.
Maybe have the NHL use a timer of some kind that allows a player X number of seconds to skate in and take a shot during the shoot-out attempt. Something more honest to the pace of the game in regulation. This slow down / speed up / super wide angle approch / 10-12 dekes we see sometimes makes me sick when 2 points are on the line. Just doesn't seem honest to me.
Incredible. It looks so smooth when you watch the puck glide. Normally outdoor ice is crap and rough but that's like a sheet of glass. Amazing
Maybe it's because I'm from the UK and therefore completely used to draws/ties but I don't get the North American obsession with there having to be a winner on the night.
And I really don't get how winning a game in a shoot out should be equal to winning a game in regulation.
I would like to see
Regulation win 3pts
Overtime win (5 minute, 4 on 4) 2pts
Tie at the end of overtime 1 pt each
Overtime loss 1 pt
However, i can see the argument that a team tied with five minutes left in regulation might be terrified to make a mistake which could give an division rival 3 pts and them 0 and therefore play completely negatively.
Porter got 4 games for his knee on Booth so there needs to be some consistency. Just because Foligno wasn't hurt shouldnt mean he avoids suspension.
But Shanahan has been abysmal in his role so far and given that it's the Bruins I expect no further action
On the Peverly goal, you cant be letting in unscreened shots from the top of the circle. Sorry but that's all on him. His timing sucks. We needed him to make that save because we werre all over the Bruins but THomas was playing well.
And yes Rundblad gave Kelly too much space but that was still a terrible goal that got under his arm from like 2 feet away. Another save you need him to make
The rule as far as i know it, has always been the last 2 players to touch the puck before the goalscorer, regardless how many times it goes between those 3...
And this is why we are a goalie graveyard.
Goal 1: guy standing alone in the slot makes a good shot, pretty hard to stop.
Goal2: Makes a great save on a deflection while kelly is allowed to stand there and bang in the rebound, your're right, guys standing alone banging in rebounds is always the goalies fault!
Goal 3: Breakaway, never blame a goalie
Goal 4: Breakaway, again
Goal 5: Slapshot from the faceoff circle, make yourself big and hope it hits you, cant react that fast.
How about instead of ALWAYS shitting on our goaltending, we put blame where blame is due. Phillips has been AWFUL, Karlsson has been awful in our end, Runblad has been awful in our end. Butler might as well not play.
100%
If I could give you "10 thumbs up" for that comment I would.
Our guys have to be better in front of Andy.
Period.
Glad to hear it worked out! Hardest working guy in the business.
with him here these comments were flooded regarding him. Now that he is gone and the issue has been resolved we are back to doing what sens fans know best. Blaming goalies and driving them out of town
He elt in 5 goals sure. 2 are breakaways that shouldn't have happened. Sure I would love for Anderson to make the save as that could be a momentum swinger, but you can't fault him.
Goodbye Pork Pie !
Hallelua Smithers!!!
So your saying Anderson should have made the save but we can't blame him? Anderson is not playing his angles the proper way this year. That's why so many "easy" goals are given every game. You can tell just by looking at him. He looks as small in the net as Elliot was when he was struggling. You can easily see many wholes.
Yeah Mike set me up with my season seats, great guy for sure.. Really helped out with the million questions I had... LOL
I was going to ask about this as it is also reported on the 4th period site as something the Sens are interested in.
so absoulutely true.
The shots the opposition gets on Anderson from prime quality areas is ridiculous.
I was at the game, and yes we managed 47 shots, all from mostly perimeter areas, with their D boxing out our players.
If I take off my rose coloured glasses,
Yes Karlsson will be a hi-lite real, but along with his 26 assists are about another 20 helpers to the opposition.
As for Rundblad, they are really only hurting him.
He thinks he is another Karlsson, and you can only have one of that kind of D-man. He needs to go down, and learn how to play D in the AHL.
Philipps is done, he was never fleet of foot, now with the rule changes he keeps giving players the slot, by backin up so he won't look foolish when the walk around him.
Cowen is a monster, and then Lee is our next best D right now,
but to blame Anderson is simply ridiculous.
He has merely stolen a few games (west road trip) or at least kept us in most!
rundblad you can excuse because he is a rookie and in due time soon will learn the tricks and will be a stud.
Phillips on the other hand is past his prime and it does not look good on the organization and him collectively to sign a long term contract and then have astoundingly shit performance. I think the sens need to change directions, if there is any such in the first place and dump Phillips at the deadline. He would look amazing in Edmonton, somehow make it work because he looks just incompetent out there. Just does not look like he belongs. and its a real shame that he wears the "A" on the team and a first year rookie like Cowen is outplaying him game in game out AND leading the team in ice time. just ridiculous. why did Murray re-sign him, he had absolutely nothing going.
Would be very surprised if this is anything beyond speculation right now. Yes, he's a UFA to be. Yes, he was well liked here in Ottawa. Yes, he loved his time here.
But as far as this being something of substance that the organization has already discussed...I really doubt it.
No playoffs regardless of what those two do. You make it sound like those two are the only reasons this team isn't a playoff contender.
yea probably true with the way teams have caught up finally and how we are sort of at the bottom of the playoff race just outside the Eastern conference cellar. yet, the way phillips has been playing is just super disappointing. Spezza and Alfredsson are the only other 'old-guard' guys left and they certainly are keeping their keep and playing like the team's vets. in saying that, its amazing how the sens have only three remaining guys from the team that made the finals 4 years ago.
Nobody should be shocked or dismayed by this, we aren't even one year into a full on rebuild. I think the play of the younger guys and the six game win streak confused a lot of people and gave their hope genes a kick.
Next year we will be better (again like the leafs) regardless of how many of our prospects make the NHL team and be able to compete more quickly but the reality is that the real benefit of what we are doing now waont be felt for 2 seasons after this one. Where we easily trump the leafs is that it took them 4 years to get where we are now and our prospects are generally in a better shape.
Chris Neil?
Roster for 2006-2007
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000542007.html
I like how Ray Emery had as many points (2) as Oleg Saprykin in the playoff run
Like those who got off on our long win streak, people are just expecting too much. He is what he is, and that's a good, not great, dman. The team is what is, a good upcoming team with plenty of room for improvement but lots of heart and a never quit attitude.
I don't know how anyone can be disappointed with the team this year, and aside from Anderson, not many are underperforming .
Enjoy the ups, relax during the downs but at the end of the day it's always GO SENS GO!!!
@Sensnation: Phillips bashing is back because:
1. rundblad bashing is useless, he is a rookie
2. Kuba and Gonchar have measurably redeemed themselves
3. No other veteran on this roster has stunk up to the levels Phillips has
4. A good D-man is good a defending, not good at turnovers and miscues. Last two games Phillips dished up a pretty decent sample size of bad defending.
you know its really not so much his own play, because the way he is performing right now, is very much the same as the last two years. its the fact that his bad performance is now standing out against the rest of the roster. and cut anderson some slack, he may be prone to weak goals, but he has also given this team confidence to go back and win games this year. just recently in buffalo, he held the fort until the rest of the sens decided they wanted the two points.
And the Kelly goal sucked. No matter how you want to sugar coat it, it was a crap goal that never should have went in. Anderson was out on top of him and let in a softie under his arm
His timing sucks. He's letting in bad goals at bad times. End of story. Where's the Anderson from last year?
Exactly. The commentators even mentioned that the Sens bench reacted with a bunch of hanging heads after that first weak goal. Sounds eerily similar to last year with Elliot doesn't it? Look at his body language as well. I think there's no question - he has not played nearly as well as he did last year.
things go wrong when phillips has to do everything, and by everything i mean take the puck and make a solid first pass or clearing the zone. he realises that since he is paired up with struggling young guys *rundblad*, he tries to be a leader/veteran by doing it him self to relieve pressure off others. i dont blame philly and i think PM is noticing it too, hell he is giving him PP time as well.
fined him for $2500 according to fat brucy on twitter.
still think it should have been a suspension but thats what makes no sense to me, a player is bascialy only suspended if he injures another, not just when he does an illegal technique.
@ AFM,
Kane is no doubt a fast puck magician, with his stick and body language. Never ever have I seen such control of the puck with so quick in stickhandling. He clearly frose Backstrom !!
I sincerely believe that if goalie was Roy, Brodeur Dryden
or any one in past 100 years of the game ,would all have been mesmorized by Kane's creativity and quick magic.
As to you earlier post, about the young whippersnappers who whine and bail out on a rebuilding team, I of course excluded you and a few other young but realistic supporters
who can accept any loss !
And that includes my friend Tookie, but not FAIL$NAIL !!
(quote]
My son waited on him this summer -- he works at Home Depot part-time so I knew he was back in Ottawa. His wife is from here I believe.
Also Chirp...a member of an organization (Pierre Dorion) can't talk publicly about a player already signed in another organization (Kelly). Am I correct on that? Is that tampering?
Where's the goaltending coach?
Exactly. I don't know why people think it's almost a given that a team in the first year of a re-build can make the playoffs? Sure it can happen.. but it is not the norm.
It's all about development for the next couple of years. Gotta be patient and still support the team.
The point was WHY was Kelly allowed to get to the rebound directly in front of Anderson. He should have been put on his ass. (Sorry Kelly)
Somewhere, Dean McAmmond is smiling. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Agree with everything except for the andy underperforming part. He isnt, I will agree on some nights he hasn't been stellar but those nights are rare. He has stolen many games for us, and I don't think we would be in the position we are in right now without him.
All talk
Just checking some random clips on the Tube. I want this guys. Maybe not in that fashion but this is it. We need to get back to back in the day. I don't wanna lose anymore. Sounds easier than supposed to be. I just want that feeling again.
@ ShawnK,
Agree with you on part of your comment.
Anderson played fantastic against Buffalo, and normally would not play 2 games back to back.
However, I felt because he was hot, we should start him again.
Problem is , we have Buffalo's number, but the Bruins own us game in game out !
Maybe we should have started with Auld, but he has not won a single game for us. Anderson has 14 wins !!
It doesnt have to, look at the spinorama's, Datsyuk's pull back goal, the puck doesnt have to continously go forward. Your momentum has to keep going forward, Kane's goal was fine.
Yeah fuck Pronger, he's a dirt bag and I'm happy he's having head issues, he's done it so much to other players.
Although Pronger is a great defenceman, both offensively and defensevily, he is without any doubt "one of the dirtiest top players, I have ever seen in the NHL "
and he finally got paid back ,and may never return to play again !!
http://www.twackle.com/sitebar?url=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F6XVHYoON
What goes around , comes around. His cheapshots have caught up to him. Not one bit sad to hear this but sad that it's such big news in the media. He's a douche !!
A few minutes ago Darren Dreger tweeted that Kyle Turris could be moved today.
AND
Last night Mac Crawford posted a ridiculous tweet about the Flyers making a move for Gonchar in return for Brayden Schenn. Needless to say, thats not happening, but the Flyers may move a prospect to get Gonchar to replace their empty D spot after Pronger is out for the year.
You heard anything chirp?
I would tend to believe that the Flyers, are somewhat much weaker on defense, without that guy Pronger in their lineup??
Maybe we can get a forward, with enough skill to play top 6, and send Gonchar to help them ??
Would love to acquire Sean Couturier !!
Hold on Buckeroo, Crawford's tweet is simply opinion on what Philly should do. He is not an insider. There is no substance
Thats why I said it was ridiculous and it probably wasn't going to be happening...
Thats why I said it was ridiculous and it probably wasn't going to be happening...
Funny how people just jump at everything and anything, this "opinion" has been shot down by the Insiders saying the Flyers are more than ok with the group they have now, they have full confidence in their top 4, they might make a move to acquire depth but that about it.
For the love of God we have gone through more goalies the last few years than underwear, yet the likes of Kuba (agreed playing better) Gonchar, Phillips, and Karlsson are all league leaders in minus the past few years.
All you Anderson critics,
Do you really believe that Elliot went from the league worst goalie last year, and completely written off, to the leagues best goalie this year, only because he watched some Goalie 101 videos, and read a book by Ken Dryden?
Can it not be possible that he is now playing in front of 6 d-man who are responsible and committed to D vs, 6 D-men that that either cannot play D (Philips Gonchar) or thinke they are Bobby Orr and do not need to concern themselves with their own end (Karlsson, Rundblad)
People our D's play in our own end is comical, so please stop blaming Anderson, and comend him for stealing, or keeping us in games.
I think there's ways around it by placing them on the LTIR for as long as possible and just keeping it hush hush. This could be the case for Pronger. He's obviously still hurting, but maybe the Flyers are keeping it quiet that he voiced he wanted to retire at the end of the year so they can keep him on the LTIR for longer? Pure speculation of course.
I'm not sure if there is an official rule stating that someone can retire and not count against the cap though.
The issue with Gonchar is he will still be on their cap next season. Not sure what the Flyers have in way of renewing contracts.. but with the new CBA coming this summer (as I kneel & pray for no strike) -- I just don't see that trade happening.
Anyone who compares the Sens to the Leafs at any time, for any reason, should be banned for life from posting on this site... ;)
Alfie just turned 39.
Its a great comparison, but you probably dont follow hockey that much to understand it anyways...
Hockey? What's this hockey thingy you're speaking of?
Don't be so touchy Nancy19 and judging by the majority of your posts you're not exactly Scotty Bowman either....
I know and accept we're in a rebuild and not to expect too much, unlike most fans who went ape shit over a 6 game winning streak only to fall flat on their faces and wondering why we lose?!?!
This is a lottery team and its shown all year, it will get more evident as the season moves along. And we are the better for it.
I see... So in your eternal quest for affirmation you feel the need to personally attack me for a post I made in response to The Apostle that was clearly tongue in cheek regarding a comparison to the Leafs. A post which I think The Apostle knew was in good natured fun considering the winky emoticon I added to the end of it.
Most people posting here know that the Sens most likely won't be a playoff team this year, possibly next as well, but that doesn't stop them from hoping for better...
So relax, take a deep breath and don't take everything so seriously. After all we wouldn't want your mom to find you expired in your basement bedroom from a stress related heart attack when she comes to bring you milk and cookies and tuck you in tonight....
Just so you know, that last part was just a joke ;P