A night after another thrilling win at Scotiabank Place, the Ottawa Senators will try to close out the 2011 schedule in style when they visit the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sens should be riding a high after a dramatic 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames last night. A win punctuated by a one time blast that was the 400th goal of Daniel Alfredsson's amazing career.
As Ottawa Senators fans, I think we sometime forget just how lucky we are to have a Captain like Alfie. The NHL's longest serving captain has played his whole career in our city and has poured his heart and soul into this team. When he ripped that that OT winner home last night it was just another amazing moment for a guy that should be a Hall of Famer when his career is all said and done.
The reaction of his teammates, the crowd and Alfredsson himself during the three star announcement showed you just how special it was for Alfie to hit that milestone on home ice.
Last night's win was just another in a long line of dramatic rallies by Paul MacLean's team. Even with the Sens down 3-0 through twenty, I had a feeling the game was still in reach. That`s just the way things have been for Ottawa this season.
They refuse to quit.
Foligno got the ball rolling, Zack Smith made it a one goal game and a dazzling effort by Erik Karlsson set the stage for Alfie. I don't know if I was alone in this but I could just feel that Alfredsson was going to get the winner. When the Flames took a penalty in OT, the stage was set.
Looking on from the comfort of the Wiser's Box, I watched Alfie score one of the most memorable goals I have witnessed at SBP. I have now sat in the same seat in that box while the Sens rallied to beat Columbus with two late goals, Foligno scored in the dying seconds to beat the Panthers, Butler scored in OT to beat the Panthers again and and last night, when Alfie scored 400.
Needless to say I will be petitioning for a full time seat in that box!
The Sens won't have a ton of time to enjoy this victory as they play an important contest in Buffalo tonight. Ottawa sits in 9th in the East, but are tied in points with the 6th place Devils. A win tonight could see the Sens jump a few teams depending what happens around the league.
No morning skate for the Sens today but expect Craig Anderson to get the start in goal. He was excellent in relief of Auld last night and his steady goaltending allowed the Sens to rally.
The Sens are on the ice for an optional morning skate at 11:30 AM this morning in Buffalo so I'll pass along any line up updates as they become available.
- A final note- Thanks to all of you that took the time to cast your ballot yesterday. Really sounded like a ton of you took up the challenge and with the voting set to close on January 4th, we need to keep the ball rolling. Our Sens are in a great spot and should be well represented in this year's All Star Game. Thank you, Sens fans!
Can't wait till Canada beats the shit outta the USA !
Sens Will win tonight, book it
GO SENS GO !
GO CANADA GO !
I don't know whether or not he'll ever make the hall of fame, but I do know that his jersey will be retired and raised to the rafters at Scotia Bank Place the day he retires and he'll forever be celebrated in this city.
Yea that will always be debated for sure. I think being the longest serving captain in one of the league's Canadian markets and doing it with the class and dignity Alfie has done it is worth something. Add in a Cup Finals appearance, Olympic Gold and he's gotta be close. Still got time to win one too :)
He means more to me as a Senator and as a Senator`s captain than he does as a piece of hockey history.
If he doesn`t get voted in then that`s a failing of the league, not of Daniel Alfredsson.
Alfie. What else is there to say? The guy is a legend. 27 points in 32 games.
Not too shabby.
This team is certainly one of the most entertaining teams we have had here in Ottawa.
I cannot remember ever feeling that even though we go down 3-0 I was saying to others in the box that if we get the next one we are back in it.
Sure enough we not only come back, but we win it in style!
I know most of us love Alfie, however I cannot help but feel some just take him for granted. If he was in any of the big market teams, I think he would be considered a certainty for the HOF.
We all new he would be star number one, so the least they could have done was stay to honour one of the best captains we have ever had.
In true Alfe fashion, he was humbled by the crowd, and showed his respects to those who stayed.
Take a bow my captain take a bow!!!!
Finally please stop with the Alfie's last year. No way that a player who could easily log 2nd line ice time should consider retirmement. He has too much to offer still, and can be our Selanne, or Recchi, as our young stallions come in over the next few years
Please Alfie stay for few more years as we rise to challenge for the Stanley Cup
Go Sens Go!!!!
Erhoff is out now for Buffalo, what a nightmare season they are having with injuries. Erhoff is certainly making himself a villian there collecting his $10M and playing like shit/getting injured.
Sens need to win this one tonight and cap off the year in a playoff spot! I can't believe I'm saying this, but this actually could be a playoff team! If our goaltending was more stable I would feel more confident though, it's always has been and will be the problem with this team. Lehner, please saVe us!
anything less than a regulation win will be a vast disappointment IMO
A little bit off topic if the Avalanche are out
of the playoffs come the trade deadline or during the offseason Murray should trade for TJ Galiardi.
I LOVED how excited Karlsson was for Alfie last night when he scored that OT winner. He looked like a little kid that just got the best Christmas present ever. He was celebrating so hard.
I think it just shows how much love and respect Alfie gets from his team mates and what a great leader he truly is. To have your team mates and in particular one very young defenseman that excited for you, it says something.
Its great for our locker room, thats for sure.
Add just one more great thing Mr. Alfredsson has done in his career
@ AFM11,
Nice of you to have a change of heart !
He will never request to be traded, as he is a lifetime Ottawa Senator true and true.
Assume that the lineup is exactly the same as last night's game, excluding Lee who will be replaced by Carkner
Phillips - Carkner. Balance of lineup is unchanged.
Is this correct Chirp ??
I believe Gordie Howe's brother was just inducted, no cups. He did however have a remarkable career, but so has Alfie.
Only time will tell really.
Didn't have a full skate this morning so we won't know combos till they hit the ice but I see no reason for MacLean to change the lines.
I think you mean Mark Howe and he's Gordie's son.
By far one of the best games I ever watched. It was a huge relief for me and for of course Daniel Alfredsson. It looked like Erik was more excited than Alfie lol. Alfie wanted it to happen on home ice and it did :)
pretty sure it's on the cbc website
These guys should be wearing helmets all the time while on the ice... anything can happen... just like this.
I assume he has a concussion or something worse...if the shot was hard enough.
ughhh
Pff. Can't believe officials continue to give Kaletta that call. Embarrassing.
and cbc is looking like an amateur with their timing like running the commercial break right during a PP..?
Where are our BINGO guys. Wild night in Bingo...lots of fights & game misconducts. Apparently Lehner got a game misconduct for abuse of officials. Could be a suspension...
Here's more info:
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20111231/SPORTS/112310361/Binghamton-Senators-get-crunched-Lehner-gets-tossed?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s.
Isn't this guy supposed to have some type of ridiculous shot? I must say I've expected to see at least a couple goals out of this guy.
He seems to be more of a setup man than a goal scorer, to me. Which is fine I guess.
He's been good. But needs to score.
give him time, every night he plays with different line mates, he hit the post tonight, making progress
Giving Butler a chance was not only a reward for hard work but also a vote of confidence which will pay dividends in the next few games. His confidence has now risen a notch or two.
That's the mark of great coach. I've always respected Murray's decision and known that he was the right man for the job. Moves like this makes it clear that Maclean is here for the long run.
Go Sens!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAFC4fJD5XE&feature=related
Agreed. You can't just look at his stats (which are, by the way, impressive since joining the Sens). Look at the way he plays, not merely his stats and it's obvious he's not a "set-up man".
Very ugly game. Lehner is not having a good year at all.
It will come with time !
Just look at Anze Kopitar of the Kings, he scored a goal
recently, after going 17 straight games ,without a goal !
Foligno's goal vs Flames on Friday got him out of 9 game slump, without a goal !
Awesome!
Haha yep! A reader made that for the site about a year ago I believe. Pretty cool.