Without their number one centre, it's pretty clear the Senators are going to have to work hard to create chances and tonight they just couldn't seem to get anything going.
Despite throwing 33 shots his way, it really was an easy night for the Hurricanes back up goaltender, Dan Ellis. MacLean shuffled the lines a few times over the course of sixty minutes but there just didn't seem to be any chemistry between the trios he was sending over the boards.
Kyle Turris, who assumes first line duties for the forseeable future, logged 20:33 of ice time and registered a couple shots on goal. He looked pretty good with the Sens on the power play but obviously his success is going to measured in points and tonight he came up empty.
Craig Anderson held up his end of the bargain at the other end of the ice.
The only shot to beat him through forty minutes was a nifty deflection by Canes Captain Eric Staal. Beyond that, Anderson was excellent, bailing his team out on multiple occasions. Anderson was actually able to keep his incredible run of shutout hockey in the 2nd and 3rd periods alive despite the loss.
While the Senators obviously missed him tonight, the good news is Jason Spezza's surgery was a success and his rehab period can begin in just over a week. While it's impossible to know exactly how long Spezza will be out for, Murray did mention ideally they would have him back around the April 3 trade deadline.
Murray also told Ian Mendes that while no deals are expected this weekend, he does have some possibilities in play that he has already discussed with other teams. As I mentioned this morning, Murray is not going to make a panic move here but he will be active and closely monitor the market for available options in the event he does decide a trade is the best option.
The Sens are off tomorrow and then back at it on Sunday afternoon when they visit the Montreal Canadiens.
I think the Regin experiment should be over - now. bring up Da Costa. he is producing down in the AHL. Regin has had 9 games to produce, got super setups by alfie but no bite.
atleast our defense is holding up pretty good i think.
i would say the game was pretty even. one bad bounce cost sens a goal. andy was phenomenal.
again, the sens need to solve the 2C-interim issue i think. it puts more pressure on the bottom two lines and even more on Turris.
Jason Arnott's deal with NYR did not go through....mayb e Murray should look at this because the guy can still play and was very useful for St. Louis last season
Go Sens Go!
The team is going to have to be better though!
Also been absolutely loving Zibanejad. This kid can play
no no and no. edmonton actually has a decent bottom six. they play horcoff as their 3C and Belanger as 4C plus Jones, Eager, Hartikainnen, Petrell and Lander. edmonton don't need any of our forwards. and they wont give us Smid - he is their best d-man defensively lol...probably the only one.
and no to trade smith or greening. they produce, only tonight they didnt. both had 2 pts each against mtl.
sens need to really take a hard look at Regin. its tough and unfair - but such is life. he is coming off an injury, but really this is the best chance for him, only that time is short. he had multiple setups by alfie, but completely ruined them, not to mention he holds the puck too long and is not creative in the offensive zone.
the best bet right now is DaCosta and after that i think they should maybe just stick with it. it sucks considering Gomez was on the open market just till last weekend.
Yes we lost Spezza for the foreseeable future, but we are still right at the top of the east, 7th in the league in scoring, 2nd in goals against.
So we lost a game, if anyone actually expected us to go some odd 40-0 you will be disappointed.
Are people seriously suggesting signing a 38 year old guy that has failed his physical? WOW
Murray won't make any move for a center. We won 2 of the last 3 without Spezza, where is the problem? With Anderson and Karlsson, we will never be out of games.
We have seen good plays from Alfie last night, he is getting his game back. How about a line 33-93-11, how swede would that be.
I think Murray will stand pat and roll with the guys we have. Sink or swim with the players we have drafted, signed and developed. If we make the playoffs despite Spezza's absence, which I believe we will, then great. If not, then we can pick up another promising prospect at the draft to fill our cupboards.
combos to get back in the win column.
Too bad that Regin has not produced as expected, so I see him scratched in Montreal game ! Would love to try Stephane Da Costa for 4-6 games, as 2c with Daugavins on LW,and Alfredsson on RW.
This Line 2 combo might take some pressure off of Turris as 1c.
Michalek - Turris - Silverberg.
The 3rd and 4th lines would not change, as they are playing very well for now !
Defense pairings should be the same as Carolina game !
Anderson starts in goal as usual !
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!
He played well at the end of one season was invisible the next full season and then the season after he was out to injury.
He has had more than enough chance to shine.
The year he was invisible I think he got one more goal than Kuba.
I also agree it was just one game and lets not forget Carolina got stacked this off season so no shocker it was a tough game.
We were lucky it was 1 - 0
Lets quiet the Montreal crowd unless it is to boo their own players.
You don't make a panic move and bring in a rental C. Not sure if getting a fringe top 6 C for cheap and flipping him would go over well with the player and reflect badly on the team, nor do you give up anything for a UFA who walks because you don't have a role for him.
As painful as it might be, stay the course and give some guys within the chance. This is a great opportunity for some young guys to get a look.
Yeah because you can always package up guys that you don't even want for some other team's #2C.
IE. you have to give up a 2nd, 3rd and say a couple prospects but then you trade that asset at the deadline for essentially what you paid....
I wouldn't mind picking up a quality C, if he doesn't mind switching over to wing when Turris and Spezza are healthy.
Have O'Reilly or Weiss ever played wing?
Yeah Timwrx.. with Zibby in Ottawa along with Wiercioch, Benoit & Bo.. and injuries to Stone & Hoffman.. the BSens are missing a lot of key players.
One of the D will be sent back when Lundin is ready to play.
I believe, IMO, one of the trades Murray will make will be to include Bishop.. which means the BSens lose Lehner.
I can't see Murray dealing Smith or Greening.. The Stache relies on these two...
Also noted last night on a ticker that Coyotes sent Rundblad to Arizona of the CHL? Is he that bad that he can't play in the AHL? He's an offensive defenseman trying to play in the defensive style of Tippett. We can see how much better Turris is... is Rundblad that bad now - or is it he doesn't fit in their system?
I would think Murray will target a young winger. Someone that can play long term in Ottawa..
I think there's potential here.
With that in mind, I'd wait and see what the next 2 games are like.
I think the team listened to the coach, and sticked to the game plan. Just couldn't get any lucky bounces.
We're fine for now.
My estimated timeline for Bryan Murray has him making a move within a week. Especially if we lose again
I don't think it would be considered a panic move when your best forward and 2ñd best defenseman are gone for the season.
This team CAN win games, but it would be better with a little help
Hate to do this but I'm actually sitting on some interesting information that I've been asked to hold off on.
Hope to be able to share tomorrow or Monday.
I hate you lol is it at least something that the majority of us would be happy about?
Should clarify it's not an imminent move but rather something they are "exploring" or at least have "explored".
When was the Mendes tweet?
It said , what's up fellas, I've got a heckuva scoop!
Was 8 h ago. You can see it on James Gordon's twitter feed.
Ah yes. Believe that was a joke between Mendes and Gordon. Not based on an actual scoop.
im going to take a guess at a name that was discussed multiple times in the past two seasons but has surprisingly not been mentioned even once since spezza's injury: Derrick Brassard???
Derek Grant looked great
DaCosta had flashes, but looked soft
Lehner looks too good for the AHL. Made a lot of great saves while looking kinda bored
Reffing was terrible, Luke Richardson lost it a few times
Overall, not the best game. Lehner was our best player by far.
Counted about 10 of us in Sens jerseys. Go Sens Go!
That's another guy that would interest the Sens I'm sure. I had forgotten about him.
yea same here. he was linked to ottawa numerous times consistently leading upto the turris trade
man what a performance against a thundering CGY team. He is literally stealing this game for Chicago - if chicago wins, the team needs to buy emery dinner for the rest of the season. Chicago is literally just flat flat flat. not even 20 shots on net all game.
happy to see an ex-senator who had a great part in taking this team to the cup final perform like he really can.
Leafs suck!
Come on 2 oclock...need to get some hockey in before the big football game!