Until yesterday’s ugly loss, the Isles looked like they were starting to turn a corner. A shootout win over the Rangers and then a decisive 5-1 win over the Devils had them on the right track until yesterday’s afternoon debacle. John Tavares and Matt Moulson continue to carry the Islanders offence with 20 points and 17 points respectively. Those two have also combined to score 9 goals on the power play through the team’s first 15 games.
Tonight should have marked the return of former Senators tough guy Matt Carkner, but a groin injury will keep him out of the line up. He has yet to play in Ottawa since signing a 3 year/$4.5 million dollar deal with Islanders this off season.
Meanwhile on the Senators side of things, goal scoring remains a challenge with Spezza and Karlsson on the sidelines. Although to be fair, MacLean’s team still seems to be generating some quality chances but just haven’t had much in the way of “puck luck” the past few games.
Peter Regin looked like he was available to return but he’ll continue to sit out due a chest injury. The news on Milan Michalek is even worse, as his knee twist now has him considering surgery. Nothing confirmed but I’ve heard the “4-6 weeks” time frame tossed around. Just the type of season it’s been, I suppose.
A couple line up changes for the Senators heading into this one. Jim O’Brien and Mike Lundin are healthy scratches while Mika Zibanejad and Andre Benoit draw back in. Just an optional skate this morning so we'll have to wait until game time to see how MacLean lines them up.
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal while Rick DiPietro gets the nod for the Islanders. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the game available on Sportsnet and on the radio at The Team 1200.
Go Sens Go...good time to re-read that book, the little engine that could....sheees h...
Zibanejad's gonna come out swinging tonight after being benched since he feels he's gotta have to prove himself more.
Alfie just has to be good ole Afie, Be his usual strong 2 way forward type.
I've always been curious of this why Maclean's never tried the line combo of Silfverberg - Zibanejad - Alfredsson I'd think it'd be something special to see a all swede forward line
Anyways If we come out hard tonight i think we got a good chance of taking 2 points!
Go Sens Go!
P.S Chirp, Has they're been any more news of trade talk or rumours?
I'm looking for another strong performance from Silfverberg and company tonight. The boys are playing the right way and clearly aren't ready to throw in the towel on this season.
I'm happy to see Zibby and Wiercioch back in but I'm shocked to see Jimmy O draw out of the line-up. He's been one of our most consistent forwards this season and considering he just sat out a game a few days ago I would take out Smith, Daug, Grant, DD and Greening again long before sitting Jimmy O.
I'm pretty sure it's a rest day type of thing to keep JOB fresh.
MacLean loves Smith's defensive play so no way he comes out with JT in town.
I hope the Islanders that lose to the Flyers is the team we play tonight.
also Lundin - not very good. just run with Benoit or callup Borocop whenever possible.
Lots of talk about this on TV the other day. MacLean summed it up best when he said it's a good sign that we're in position to shoot a lot. If we were last in the league in shots on goal per game I'd be worried, but we're not. As PMac pointed out, a shot that misses the net can still often lead to another scoring chance - similar to a rebound.
Haha loved the insane comment...sums up how i think most of us are feeling at this point.
Not sure if this has been brought up but would the Sens have any interest in Stephen Weiss? Heard some talk about it on XM radio this morning.
Go Sens Go!
Well that could be tonight, if were gonna have a breakout game this has to be right what the Doc ordered...The Islanders!
Bang on Tooks!
I am expecting a 5 to 6 goal rout by the locals! A loss would be a hugely embarassing, foundational event. Nedless to say it won't happen.
I guarantee a win!
TOOKIE100PERCENT OUT!
What do the Waltons have to do with hockey, time to update TV viewing to late 80s!
As much as I don't appreciate fully what Michalek has done this season (and I think the major problem is a lack of Spezza) I don't think he's likely to get traded, especially if he has a significant injury.
MIchalek is a very good 2nd line winger, it's the absence of any 1st line wingers that is hurting both him and the sens.
I do see him as being ripe for movement at next season's deadline (in the last year of his contract), but even then only if we already have a replacement for him.
I'm also confused by the Jimmy O scratch. He only had 6 minutes of ice time against Devils yesterday as well which seemed odd. Everyone else was 12 mins +.
Either MacLean saw something he didnt like, or maybe hes got a quiet injury that reduced his minutes, and also needs a maintenance day today.
I suspect the latter, as I haven't seem anything in Obi's game that would suggest hes needs a "wake-up" benching.
Presumably he will have done this. Anybody know who is on the list?
I don't get it.
A game every other night is hard on every player, I would expect everyone to get rested for a couple of games throughout the season. It's just JOBs turn, and given his ice time against the Devils, it's possible he picked up a little niggle.
I wasn't impressed by JOB when I saw him with Bingo a few years ago or when he first broke into the team but have been very impressed with him from the back end of last season. Perfect 4th line player.
Time for you to learn how to use GOOGLE and learn something about the history of the NHL
Ya,
Mike "Shakey" Walton, was a Maple Leaf player 20 or so years ago !
But he sat earlier on in the season too. I don't think he's sitting because he's tired. That's BS.
lol okay no cream!
I can only guess:
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
May be wrong. But if he's going to go to a contender, will probably return to the team that has the best chance to win it all this year.
Either way I'm still happy to see the other young guys pushing hard. Have been very impressed with Gryba so far. Loved seeing him jump into the rush yesterday.
his game so far has been outstanding for a fourth liner.
Greening on the other hand can use a benching right about now.
Then read this bit.
and given his ice time against the Devils, it's possible he picked up a little niggle.
or this bit
in yesterday's game he had an ice pack on his wrist for much of the second and third period... it is proabably precautionary, and do not want to make it worse.
No kidding. It's understandable that were stuggling offensively with so many guys out, but its salt in the wound everytime we hear those damn posts being rung as often as they have been for the Sens.
Tookie...optimism??
I think someones account may have been hacked.
In all seriousness Tooks, its refreshing to see you add something for a change thats not so ... debbie downer I suppose.
Go Sens Go!!
I dont mean to add positivity or negativity, I just give my opinion on the team in its current state and to be honest its not looking very good. Not a whole lot of people can dispute that.
BUT playing the Islanders can help our confidence or it can be the start of a horerendous slide...both positives I guess
sign perry 7yrs 56 million
finish in the bottom 3
draft barkov or lindholm or mackinnon
lehner starts next year
trade bishop 1st round pick 2014 for paajarvi
sign ufa goalie
Really?
He would have won us at least 2-3 games by now. He's that good. Watching him play for the rangers just hurts. He is so good he makes Gaborik and Richards look like jokes out there.
I would much prefer him over Perry. I know he doesn't have a Rocket Richard or Hart but if you watcht hem both play, Nash controls/domina tes the play wayyyy more than Perry or just about any other player...simila r to the way Karlsson does (except Nash does it with strength as well as speed and skill).
If we had Nash right now we'd still be consistently winning even without Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek, Cowen, Regin and Latendresse
Yeah, there is that.
even though the signs were there earlier, it was at this point we realised he was insane
We'll see how it plays out.
Are you aware that a clause in his contract permitted him to be dealt to Ottawa? Because if not, Howson was going to pull the trigger and somewhere along the lines of Foligno, 1st rounder (Ceci or other), Bishop and Zibanejad would've went the other way. Pretty sure Murray would've still attempted o sign Perry as well. Come to think of it, imagine....
Nash - Spezza - Perry
Holy fuck right? I still believe in Zibanejad however. Kid looks like he's got some flare.
or tripped over the motionless body of Pascal LeClaire in the corridor outside the treatment room.
Then why did Columbus have the record that they did with Nash in the line-up?
I like what I see in Zibanejad and if Lehner was part of the asking price then NFW.
Its a win win for the SENS really to get Perry, he's the RW the SENS have been waiting for since Heater.
Even if we have to give up Zib + Anderson/Bishop + Michalek ++, we still have a farm load of players to replace them.
I am very confident that Murray is looking into it, with his deep roots & contacts in Anaheim.
**Anderson not Bishop, but if they prefer Bishop then by all means**
It was Zibanejad, Lehner, Foligno and a 1st for Nash and Methot
I know Lehner is a beauty and all but Christ that would be a good trade
Thing is though, he won't have a choice from that 10. Although I think Murray would try anmd send him to a "good fit for Gonchar". The same way he made sure Fisher went somewhere good for him even though it got us a small return.
I know some would bitch and say Murray isn't doing his job, but I like the fact that he is seen as a player's GM.
So that means Zibanejad, Lehner and a 1st for Nash. I suppose that would be a smart trade - trading "uncertain/unpr oven" for a star, but my gut still doesn't like that deal. I just don't think Nash is going to score 40 goals a year for the next 5 years.
I didn't see the first...that teeters it way too much for me, especially if it was this years
Well yeah it would have to be a sign and trade.
I wouldnt let Perry get to UFA, Ottawa cant win a bidding war and you dot want to let it go to a bidding war, it only jacks the price up.
Get the Ducks to agree to a sign and trade or get Perry's word that he will sign with us if we trade for him. (I'm sure Perry and Murray wouldnt stab each other in the back)
I bet he will be at least 30 and most likely get a few over 40. He'd also probably get more playing with Spezza as opposed to Richards. Richards is just a "skilled grinder" where as Spezza is top 5 playmaker in the world.
Zibanejad will probably never be a consistent 30 goal guy
We need a legit finisher. Nash was it.
Yeah but if Perry will agree to resign here then why not just sign him for nothing in the summer? Sign-and-trade could be an option though I guess.
Just feels like we'd be renting him for the rest of this year for no reason.
Don't misunderstand - I'm not saying that Zibanejad is going to do it either. But we're talking Zibanejad PLUS Lehner PLUS a first? Too rich for my blood.
Agreed! We won't get him if he tries out free agency. If we would it would be a hugely inflated contract. Probably close to 8 or 9 million a year for the max term.
It's pretty easy to make a trade contingent on him re-signing with us. We'd get like 5 days or w.e to try and sign him before the trade is made official
Fisher got us a 1st round pick, that was a huge win for the SENS.
Murray would never make that trade if there was even the slightest risk of him leaving afterwards
I think you'd quickly forget how rich it was.
I don't think there really is a price that's too high to pay when you're getting a superstar in return. The team who gets the superstar always wins the trade. No question
Your right IF Perry would be committed to Ottawa, then we wouldnt have to trade anything for him in the Summer, but if he doesnt want to commit (nothing wrong with that) just waiting to hit UFA to see what is out there, then we might lose him to the highest bidder. Which would be a total waste.
It all depedns on IF Perry wants to join Murray in Ottawa.
I agree, but Murray has said (take it for what you will) there were better offers for Fisher but he wanted to send him to Nashville.
Now would Murray have sent him somewhere else if Nashville weren't interested, of course he would - but it showed he is a classy guy getting a much liked player a decent deal - and if your GM is classy it follows that your organisation is classy.
Of course if your Gm is Brian Burke....
It's little things like this, that let players know that our GM is looking out for the players best interest that works for both sides. It makes other players think positively about signing with Ottawa — Unlike that damn Muckler, signing and trading players on the same day, and mis-treating players.
F*ck You Muckler. F*ck You. (I'm still pissed he gave away Hossa, and let Chara walk — even after Murray (Head Coach at the time) and every other coach in the organization told him that Chara was the better player.
Yes. I think so. I honestly think Kessel is one of the best snipers in the game. He is one of very few players I'm actually scared of when he comes flying down the wing.
The trade just looked bad because Burke wasn't able to do anything else after that because he had no assets to move. So he was left with crap players around Kessel.
Just think...if Ottawa would right now trade our next two 1st's for Perry. If would be UNREAL!!!
But that's mostly because we have an elite centre to play with him. Not to mention the best defenceman along with elite goaltending and countless of other high end prospects waiting to come in
http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/PDFs/Feb%2019%20Prospect%20update.pdf
This is without doubt the funniest thing I have ever read on this site.
My hat goes off to you The Apostle.
I thought the Kessel trade was OK for Toronto, until Burke completely screwed up the next two years and it turned into Seguin and Hamilton.
If they had turned into 1 15th overall and a 20th overall which is what Burke said they would turn into it makes a fine bit of sense.
Burke's mistake wasn't trading for Kessle it was surrounding him with crap for two years.
The Capitals are looking at possibly trading Ovechkin. They also need a goalie, we could give up Anderson. Ovechkin's production is way down but he's still a great player and his marketing would help the Sen's a lot. Imagine all the people wearing Ovechkin shirts.
No thanks - he has enthusiasm, but he's become predictable... cherry pick left side, cut right shoot... stand top right circle on PP, shoot while dropping to one knee...
Sure adding Nash would help our team, but with the salary cap (let alone the Melnyk cap) and trying to play a system-oriented game that can survive slumps, injuries or shutdown pairings etc I think you take a big risk putting all your eggs in one basket.
The Kings don't have anyone of Nash's caliber. Neither did the Bruins. Chicago you could say do but they didn't win their cup on one guy's back either. Pittsburgh is different since they have two guys that might be the best in the NHL.
Bottom line, I think the risk outweighs the reward with trying to acquire ONE GUY to put you over the top. Especially with some of the trade proposals that were rumored.
Just like Heatley.
I didn't mind the 50 goals per when he was here. That's just me though
To me, it was "hockey play gone bad". Two players colliding, arms go up in defense. TSN even states that because he was a first time offender, the max fine is $10,000, or one half his salary. So they took his past infractions in to consideration.
Where's the precedence on how things are reviewed? When looking at Karlsson's situation (not debating if it was legal/illegal), it was, quoting nhl, "a hockey play gone bad", but ignored cooke's past infractions? Euge was angry before, can you imagine him after that?
Hoping for a big night from Turris and Silvferberg. The last change should benefit those two.
seriously?
lol kessel may be a game breaker, but he cant win games for toronto - not in the least. therefore, it was already a slamdunk even before kessel played a game for toronto that it was a bad move. at the time of the kessel trade, the thought was that toronto's blue line was strong enough for them to be defensively sound to mitigate someone like kessel - well that has yet to happen.
it only got worse, when boston got set as a dynastic franchise when those two picks turned into Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton. Not to mention, Toronto had already given them Tuuka Rask for raycroft before hand. then Peter Chiarelli had the gumption to trade Kaberle for Joe Colborne - talk about rubbing it in by saying 'here, you can have my sort-of 2C prospect' lol.
completely disagree. if you watch ovy. he isnt the 1way player he was in his first couple seasons. he has put a ton of effort on becoming a 2way player.
Many fans also may not realize the immense pressure that is put on ovy every night to be the best player in the world. (look at loungo, as soon as pressure increased he dissapeard, now with the pressure gone he is back to elite goaltending.)
i would take ovy in a heartbeat.
Besides, he's bffs with their owner so no way will he get moved IMO.
That contract is scary as hell
From the article..."Trad ing Ovechkin isn't an option, but if the Capitals continue to struggle, there will be changes.
"
I agree torontos D sucks large but that isn't a reason why the Kessel trade was either good or bad.
If Burke would have been able to acquire a better 1st liner C and a better goalie, nobody would say it was a bad trade because Seguin and Hamilton would have gone elsewhere.
Can't say the trade was a bad one because they didn't have any other assets to make other impactful trades with.
Bottom line, i wish Ottawa could get a legit 1st line winger for our next two 1st round picks
Yes whoever said no to Ovie is out to lunch. Yes to Ovie but we have a beter chance to land Perry.
i agree how ever, i am still too optimistic with the pure goal scoring ability of peumpel and IMO the even better noesen.
although i know both are 2-3 years before stepping up to the top line and making any sort of impact.
i rather wait it out and keep using BM and his scouts while we are still a team that will draft arround top 15.
I think Noesen is far and away our best prospect. Not sold on Puemple just yet though.
Having said that, I don't think any of our prospects projects to a 40+ goal guy every year. Even with Spezza setting them up.
But there are few players that I would consider a lock to pot 40 a year for 5 yeras.
Hmm... The Kings have some pretty talented forwards in Richards, Kopitar, Brown, Carter... and the Bs have a premiere power forward in Lucic as well as Seguin, Krecji, and Marchand. The Hawks though, are just elfin stacked... Kane, Hossa, Sharp, Toews and remind you, had Buff, Ladd, Brouwer.
I don't think ONE guy can carry a team, but you need a couple of mini stars ... a core. We have that in Karl, Cowen, and Ceci for the future... upfront is anyones guess. I HOPE it will be Silf/ZBad... only time will tell.
I agree and that's what I was getting at. I don't put anyone on the Kings or B's in the same class with Nash or Perry in terms of individual talent. The Hawks have/had 3 or even 4 but the team didn't play like a one-line team.
I'd love to add one or two more to our group of course.
I'm completely sold on ZSmith, Neil, JOB/Condra. Those guys know their roles on the team, and are real solid each night. It's the guys up front that need some consistency and balance.
Same with Turris for next year. Alfie will retire eventually, and sooner or later, we will have to fill the void on BOTH sides of Turris.
I'm not as worried about Turris since we have a bunch of potential second line wingers - the trouble is the top line. The only way Turris is left wanting is if Michalek sticks on the top line and Silfverberg (or some other prospect) takes the other side and then nobody else pans out at all.
If we could add Perry (for example) then you have any two of these guys that could end up on the second line:
Michalek
Silfverberg
Zibanejad
Greening
Noesen
Puemple
Hoffman
etc
Gryba has been buried in the A for a couple of years. I wonder if he feels the same.
I actually mentioned trading for ovie a few weeks ago before the Cooke incident. Response wasn't good but I would LOVE to see that!
Karlsson, ovechkin, spezza, alfie, Anderson. That would make free agents want to come here and we would be a legit contender. Now it's what we have to give up that is the issue... What would it take?
Bruce Arthur @bruce_arthur
The Ryan O'Reilly situation in Colorado is now includes his father's Twitter account, @coachbri1. His Newtown massacre tweets are, uh, yeah.
Retweeted by Steve Lloyd
Never mind, we don't need this distraction in Ottawa, I don't care if he is the next Toews.
I realize it's his dad, not him, but even so. This guy seems like one circus after another.
http://atdhe.so/watch.php?id=601573
He would be a good complement on the Smith Neil line and allow the other grinders to spread the load.
You do know that we lost to Al Montoya, Dan Ellis, and Ben Scrivens lately, right? Not exactly the greatest cast... Back-up or not, these Sens cannot score for the life of them right now, so we pretty much go into every game with a bit of a disadvantage... as someone else pointed out, our highest point getter is Turris.. with 12 points so far on the season...
Quite interesting. Here's an article on it.
http://islanderspointblank.com/news/cc/
thoughts?
My girlfriends sister went to highschool with him. The story I heard was that Cizikas got into an altercation on the sidelines with a player from the opposing team. Cizikas picked him up and kinda slammed him on the ground. The boy hit his head pretty hard and died in the hospital shortly after.
it's all in the link.
- Brian O'Reilly, father of Ryan O'Reilly
I learned about it years ago when I did broadcast work with the Majors/Battalio n through Rogers... move along people, he was a young kid, it was an unfortunate accident.
Well if that's the case, wtf is he allowed into society?
Who else has a great feeling that Murray will get "his man" come Free Agent Frenzy? A lot of pondering but no sleepless nights. We deserve it as a team damn it. Spezza isn't getting younger and with so many promising prospects in our system for years to come, something's gotta give.
In Murray we trust.
And watch as we don't get another PP goal for all of March lol
Anyone find it a little peculiar that the father of a holdout RFA, rumoured to be linked to an eastern conference team, is pumping the tires of a goalie that played in Colorado but now plays for the Sens?
We now the Sens value character - and according to his dad, Ryan is full of it. Sens don't need a C, if O'Reilly can play w full time, that is the only fit I can see. He's a top 6 center, we have two.... no fit there.
Also that was that was a Maclean type of goal. Greasy as all hell
As soon as a dropped Silfverberg in the hockey pool, he gets points in back to back games.
what did I say.
This one, not very greasy. Ha
He's paid his dues in the AHL for what, a decade now? As much as I would love to have him here next year, I think he will be the odd man out simply due to his age/experience (like how Carks walked).
Thats stat on DiPietro is insane, 9 years left and he's played 45 games in 5 years LMAO!!!!
Worst investment in the history of investments
Andy is a steal at 2.7M this year LOL
Nothing touches Ilya Bryzgalov's 10M USD this year though... for 45 games. Damn.
Vezina
Now's a good a time. I did not expect him to have the year he is having this year. He is at least considered as an option in 2014.
Never even thought of that actually... He's certainly playing better than Miller, and Thomas is pretty much done... I think itll be a duel between Andy, Howard, and Miller most likely.
After last season Quick would have been the runaway favorite. Right now Andy is the top American goaltender and arguably the top goaltender in the game. At least that's the way he's been playing.
I suspect by the time the Olympics roll around Quick will be at the top of his game again and Andy, Miller, Schneider and maybe Howard will have to duke it out for the other two spots.
I don't think we're gonna make the playoffs. If we do I don't think we'll make it very far.So its not like it will matter if Andy is injured unless it is long-term.
We were lucky yesterday that we won. NJ was very sloppy and we still just barely won. We're playing against probably one of the worst teams in the NHL. When we play NYR or PIT or BOS we will lose like crazy. All because Karl and Spez are gone for the year. We will essentially be relying on our goaltending for the rest of the year as we have ever since spez has been out. Personally I want the sens to tank because that will help us in the LONG-TERM. Remember we are still rebuilding.
Haha the dizzying highs! The punishing lows!
.......umm, yes we are lol.
Do you go to many games sben?
Stop your foolishness and try to enjoy the game
You have to admit that the slopiness in our zone is mind boggling. It looks like they do it on purpose.
why do you ask?
I am always baffled by fans that advocate tanking. Just curious what makes that type of fan tick, I guess.
They also have won the Cup multiple times... although their last Cup win was nearly 20 years ago.
"KARLSSON SCORESSSSSSSS!"
Ugh. Imagine him having a speedy recovery and returning in time for the playoffs...
why do you ask?
I am always baffled by fans that advocate tanking. Just curious what makes that type of fan tick, I guess.
I think you view a "tanker" as someone who cheers when the sens opposition scores. That isn't true. When I watch a game when the sens score I still cheer because as a fan I can't want my team to lose. But as a tanker I hope Washington and the jets win so they can surpass the sens. I am not an anti-senator but when I think about the sens situation I think that it would be better for the sens in the LONG-TERM to tank. finished.
I'll defer to your authority..
Vezina winner
what did I say.
A great effort, and we get a full 2 Pts to show for it.
Screw tanking, not working so well for the oilers.
We are winners not losers, nothing is worth losing.
Another two points, phenomenal having a stellar goalie for a change, you trade Anderson people need to give your head a shake.
Actually met him in the bar a few years ago. All i remember was somebody coming up to me and saying " nice jeresey buddy.".
I just said thanks man and walked away actually not havin the slightest clue who he was till one of my buddies explained to me who he is.
These guys aint goin away yet go sens go!!
Isn't that kind of a common expression among broadcasters? As the play develops they know it's being passed to the head man and as they call it they identify the player.
Not sure I get your problem with it.