It was kind of a strange game from the get go.
Both teams looked a little sloppy and neither could generate much in the way of a sustained attack. Whether it was fatigue or strong defensive play, neither team was at their offensive best. James Neal scored the long goal of the first period, ripping a shot off a nifty cross ice feed by Malkin that beat Anderson on the glove side. It would be the only shot to beat the Sens netminder in regulation.
The Penguins would hold that lead until Colin Greening, who found his way on to the top line with Daniel Alfredsson sidelined with the flu, tucked away a rebound off a well placed shot by Jason Spezza.
From that point on the two goalies took over. Both Anderson and Fleury made big stops, keeping the game tied and ultimately sending this one to overtime. In the extra period, you could really see the fatigue setting in for both sides as the sloppy play continued.
Both Spezza and Turris scored for Ottawa in the shootout but it was not enough. Overall, a strong effort by a Sens team that was playing their third game in four nights and just back from a trip down South.
No time for the Senators to linger on this loss though as they are right back at it tomorrow night and Wednesday with the Caps and Habs in town.
Back with more later today.
Overall, I liked the fact that we got a point at least. But when you go against Neal, Crosby, Malkin in the shootout, it's all luck IMHO.
P.S. : We got avatars now?? SWEEET!
It's important to remember at times that this is still a rebuilding team. We're not going to finish first overall in the East. We're not going to win every night. We're not going to intimidate anyone. We're going to be competitive every night while Murray continues to build this thing into a contender and it won't be long until we reach that status again!
Go Sens Go!
But I do agree with both sentiments.
Either way, it was great to get the point and i hope we can get back on track with a day of rest before the Caps!
Go Sens Go!!!
Quoting AlfieforMayor11:
What did make me glad is that we played an elite team without our captain and that it could of went either way (seriously, decided by 1 shootout goal). I'll take the 1 point during regular season, and know that we stand a chance against them in the playoffs.
On a side note, my apologies for calling Greening slow and sloppy on friday's game. He looked better with spezza (but then who doesn't).
The "getting a point without Alfie" argument isn't that great. Alfredsson was on the ice for FIVE Tampa bay goals
With defensive play like that, Malkin and Crosby would've had a field day
We should trade that bum....
Yeah...he still has the "brains" and plays a solid positional game, but its unfortunate that he can't keep up to the game anymore. Really miss Cowen, as a Cowen/Boro would be a great shutdown line, and it would be easy to find a third pairing out of Philips/Gonchar/Benoit/Wier.
He played a little over 20 minutes last night, so I don't think his minutes were cut in the third, but I could be wrong.
He needs to be moved down into to the 5-6 pairing and used for PK.
As the season moves along he's going to get exposed a lot worse in 5 on 5.
Volchenkov 2.0 haha.
What I like the most about Boro's game is that he's a rookie trying to impress the coach/GM to keep his spot...yet he hasn't taken any dumb roughing/fighti ng type penalties. Even Smith got a vicious hit against the boards last night, and used his common sense to not go and get a "revenge" penalty.
Plus we never have to close our eyes whenever the opposition takes a shot on our net. This time, we don't have to pray that somehow it doesn't go in the back of our net .
Also Karlsson played a 2:10 min shift at the end of the third period. this guy's our chuck norris.
[quote name="KT7"]i don't know about you guys, but this team seems better than the the heatley, fisher, kelly, vermette days...Already.
Tell me about it, how nice is it to not have to cringe or yeah close our eyes when a shot is taken by the other team. Sens fans have yet to feel this way. And boy does it feel good.
Most teams would be screwed with 3 of their top 6 blueliners out at the same time. We are already missing Cowen and Lundin.
The thing I like about this team is that it looks like we are already going to be better next year than we are at the moment, that is really all any team in a rebuild can hope for and I think we would do well to remember that we are still in a rebuild mode, we shouldn't be punished by unfair expectations just because we are doing it really well.
Spezza was pretty horrible (I'm a fan BTW). Andy is king again! Karlsson looked dog tired but mustered up something at the tail end of the game. Borocop made an impact on most of his shifts. Would like to see him stick around. Jakob needs to get his head in the game. He never drives the net, these shots from the half boards are not going to cut it.
Paulrus is nuts if he thought that was an acceptable effort. The Pens looked rough, tired and this was a game that Ottawa would have won if they could have worked like they normally do. Fleury was comical. If the Pens don't go deep this season I put the blame squarely on his shoulders.
Honestly, out of all the players on the Sens roster, I've been most impressed with Anderson this season. He's just remainded a steady force back there, regardless of who the opposition is. I feel no worries when a team is skating down on him, he just stands tall. Only 3 goals in 4 games, and only 1 in regulation proves he's deserving of the starting role and I think we're going to see him playing much more than originally expected.
Now, on to a topic I didn't want to bring up. But holy F'ing Wade Redden. I was SERIOUSLY on the side of saying don't bother, but after seeing some highlights of the Blues game last night, he's looking a little like his old self. I know, I know.. he's got a lot to prove and it probably wouldn't have happened in Ottawa, but St. Louis just landed themselves a key piece on there blueline. He's scored in back to back games and after being eased into the lineup on Saturday with 17:20 of time, he logged 21:11 last night. that is second only to Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk in the back end. I just have this feeling we'll see him doing something great this season to try and land himself a contract.
He took that maintenance day last week so maybe he's got a few bump's or bruises. Spezza's been known to play through injuries and from the looks of things last night it seemed like that's exactly what he's doing.
No complaints here though, he's still the man!
Three things:
1) Can't see Redden keeping up a pace like this (though I think he's solid to mostly-solid).
2) No way he has anywhere near the same success in Ottawa with the added pressure.
3) I do agree though, it would be interesting to travel to the alternate universe where we did sign him and see how it turned out.
have a link to the highlights?
and @alfieformayor1 1 by coincidence i was actually just watching the highlights a couple mins ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD-FPgbgmLE
Sick! thanks man
I'm sure Regan would get bumped to 2nd line centre ahead of Zbad, but still, it's fun to imagine the possibilities.
MoeDozer delivers again - thanks , Man
great qoute in the video
"AND IT HIT A SEAM IN THE ZAMBONI CORNER"
Retweeted by SensChirp
that cant be good for bingo especailly if zib is also staying up here.
With that said, I gotta give the man some props....he stayed in the AHL for a couple years and from what I've read, did not complain at all but rather took on a mentoring role while biding his time.
Now after getting a buyout that in anybody else's world would represent a lottery retirement, he's back playing in the NHL for close to league minimum on a cup contender.
He looks like an early favorite for the Memorial trophy to me.