Honestly, I'm running out of ways to describe the heroic effort this team is putting in despite facing such incredible adversity. This was a game where they appeared down and out after forty minutes, but they just refused to quit.
Another huge two points that further solidifies the team's hold on a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They are now six points clear of the New Jersey Devils who sit in 9th in the East.
The game certainly started well for Ottawa.
Matt Kassian was acquired by Bryan Murray to add some toughness to the line up but he showed off his goal scoring ability, deflecting a Sergei Gonchar point shot to give the Senators a 1-0 lead. Gonchar has now registered an assist in eight straight games, extending his personal best and tying the franchise record in the process. The Islanders would tie it up later in the period as Keith Aucoin finished off a Kyle Okposo pass, slipping the puck under Ben Bishop. Likely one Big Ben would like back.
Another weak one to start the second as just 14 seconds into the period, a Josh Bailey shot snuck in under the arm of Bishop. The Isles continued to control the pace and with Kassian in the box for a questionable roughing call, Lubomir Visnovsky snuck down low and tapped in a cross crease pass from Matt Moulson. The Islanders would carry that 3-1 lead into the third.
And that's when the Pesky Sens checked in.
First it was a Patrick Wiercioch point shot, deflected by Jakob Silfverberg that beat Nabokov to pull Ottawa within one. Then moments later, Zack Smith finished off a broken play off a point shot by Sergei Gonchar and just like that, tied at 3-3.
The Islanders appeared to have restored their lead later in the third but it was ruled Keith Aucoin kicked the puck in. With just over a minute left in the game and overtime looming, another Sergei Gonchar point shot deflected off a body out front and passed Nabokov to give the Senators a shocking third period lead. Latendresse would score into the empty net to seal it.
Obviously it wasn't all good news as defenceman Marc Methot left the game in the second period with what appeared to be an injury to his right leg. His status will be reevaluated on Wednesday.
Next up for the Ottawa Senators is another date with the Boston Bruins. Last two meetings between the Bruins and Sens both needed extra time, with Boston grabbing the extra point on both occasions. Should be another good one at Scotiabank Place.
- Another two point night for Patrick Wiercioch. Paul MacLean has been careful in not overexposing him in his rookie season but the kid looks like he's ready for more responsibility. And with the injury to Methot, the Sens may not have a choice. Wiercioch has seven points in his last six games.
- Probably Sergei Gonchar's best game in an Ottawa uniform. He played 25:44, scored the game winning goal, added two assists and was a +5. He has been playing some phenomenal hockey of late.
- Congratulations to Sens Captain Daniel Alfredsson who registered his 1,100 career point on the empty net goal. Another milestone for the best leader in the game today.
SUCK IT PHANEUF!!
never expected him to develope to a top 4 producing Dman in the big league.
gotta hand it to BM and company again. amazing scouts at finding all these great Dmen (karlsson and wierdo drafted in the same year)
Finally happy to wear it!!! I had this shirt at Bell Centre last week and Gonch played a solid game!!
Go Sens Go!!
BRYAAAAAN'S!!!
Keep Rollin boys, the East is actually starting to open up with the exception of Boston....
Philly-out
Pitts-no Malkin, no Letang (still dangerous though)
Montreal- I'd be willing to bet the get bounced in the first round
Winnipeg is shit
NYR are having issues due to the big three
Carolina has a hard time keeping the puck out of their net and Ward has not been good(I took him in the pool)
Leafs-cant decide whether I'd rather see them finish 9 th or make the playoffs and get knocked off by the Sens
I came back to the game all tied. And now I am completely SPEECHLESS!!!
This team is amazing. Unbelievable heart. Congratulations on 1100 Alfie. 11 more to go!
Ok, now I am speechless.
That shit Winnipeg team just beat the Bruins 3-1.
I also recall one of the Senators coaches from 3 or 4 years ago saying that he would be a better NHL than AHL player
- still don't understand why he said that but he's sure looking accurate
If we can beat the bruins next game, I'll be so pumped!
Also, making Horton our priority this offseason is the new goal ;). 7 years at 5 per?
Horton-spezza-S ilf. Gives you a playmaker with a sniper with a powerforward. To me it just seem like a match in heaven lol!
I would LOL if they finished 9th. That would be hilarious!
Slight knee sprain is the latest from Aaron Ward. That doesn't sound too bad.
Welcome to the boards Patty!
Games 1-7 24 goals (3.43/gm), 5-1-1
Games 8-23 25 goals (1.56/gm), 7-6-3
Games 24-30 25 goals (3.57/gm), 4-1-2
Thank Allah. Methot is so key to keeping this team competitive imo
Leafs finishing 9th gets my vote.
The MegaHog media will be unbearable if they make the playoffs for the first time in what 7 years.
Good on him - great way to raise one's market value.
And just maybe he'd like to play one more year with King Karl.
our 2 games against them remaining this season are HUGE
Haha actually can't thumbs up my own comment. Although I certainly would be at this point.
Still not practicing. Good news is Lehner and Bishop are playing well so no need for him to rush back.
Would LOVE to see Columbus make the playoffs and the Rangers out!!
Agreed, gives more time to increase Bishops value. The only problem is that this gives Andy little shot at the vezina now :(.
Isn't that what they said about Andy?..gulp
Just to be clear was referring to the word 'slight'
Really hoping he is back by the weekend.
Our D did not look too shabby without him in the third..so maybe this little bit of rest he is going to get might be a blessing in disguise for the rest of the season...
In all seriousness, I hope Methot is okay and I hope we get an injury free season next year - we've paid 5 years of dues there already.
"NOTES: Ottawa forward Milan Michalek had knee surgery and is out indefinitely. The Senators were also without G Craig Anderson (ankle), defencemen Erik Karlsson (Achilles) and Mike Lundin (concussion), and forwards Jason Spezza (back) and Dave Dziurzynski (concussion)."
That's just so crazy it makes me laugh. That's also not even counting Cowen. I mean, you've got 5 guys from the top of your depth chart.
Crazy, pesky Sens!
It's funny - if you watch the MSG network highlights they make it seem like the Isles got robbed (they question the kick-in non-goal, they point out the missed high-stick touch by Zibanejad etc).
This is a contract year for the 38 year and he's giving it all he's got to setup a nice lucrative contract that will carry him into his 40s. I hope Murray plays this well, or we'll quickly be wandering how we ended up with a ridiculously overpaid 40 year old...
Don't believe me? Just last year, everyone here was calling for his head, and while I admit he's playing phenomenal hockey as of late, players his age don't magically start trending up...
That being said, we're gonna ride this train to the playoffs this year and enjoy every minute of it!
Post of the night!
BBRRYYAANNNS!!
I cant wait for the new system!!
Yeah and then beat us, could you imagine that...People would probably jump off buildings.
if nyr starts winning and carolina and wpg keep trading the lead in the south-east division, then the leafs will have to duke it out against the devils, flyers and possibly the lightning and islanders for that 8th spot.
In an 82 game season that would be 103 points.
Let that sink in.
just amazing. i love this team
GO SENS GO!
Welllll - I suspect that King Karlsson has loaned his magic power ring to SG for the rest of this season
OOPS - 9-3-4 - sorry
Spezza is a couple weeks away projected with joining the Sens he is still working out and has been steadily improving.
Michalek went under the knife and expected to be out 3-6 weeks. We know from the past with Alfie who has the same Procedure he was back in the line up in less that 2 weeks so it all depends on the recovery.
Lundin and Dyrzinski are both healthy Scratches tonight. Both have recovered. Lundin will draw back into the lineup vs Boston with the injury to Methot.
Methot is day to day with a Sprained knee, will be evaluated further tomorrow.
Karlsson update is unknown maybe Chirp can shed some light on it.
Cowen will not return this season he is projected to be fully recovered and in game shape in July, could be available by some miracle if Sens make it to at least the Conference Finals but unlikely.
Anderson has not been practising. Taking his time with the injury. He has been listed day to day for the past 30 days.
If someone told me at the start of the season the Wiercioch would be the Sens top producing rookie this year, I would have laughed in their face!
M.M/Spezza/Gaborik
That would look amazing on our IR!
Ha! Nice one, that made me chuckle.
Hahaha...
Well...I was the only one in the Bell Centre with a Gonchar shirt, but i saw alots of Silverberg jersey and shirt...very suprising me.
I love wearing my Sens jerseys in Montreal...Fans are so cocky...like my own friends in Montreal..lol
Holy Mother F**k what a game!!
I thought the refs were going to win the game, but the Sens stuck it to them!
Lovin' this team - lovin' the spirit!!
SUCK IT 'EXPERTS'! and PHANEUF!
GO SENS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!
BOOM!
Our Team Rocks
quoting Johnny T " SUCK IT PHANEUF!!"
ahah
Lehner start in goal.
We are also a full 6 points ahead of 6th,7th,8th and 9th place teams, who are all tied at 32 points.
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
did the Heatley/ Spezza line look good on our IR also? you jack-ass. Gabby would light it up as a sen.
And did you notice that Carolina, Toronto and NYR, while tied at 32 all have the exact same record with the same number of games played? That's crazy
And for all the Gonchar's hater who wanted to give him for a bag of pucks some week ago, he is now the Sen's point leader with 20...one more than Turris.
Do you want to trade him for a late pick again??? ;)
This guy will help us to jump in playoffs...so just be happy to see him in a Sens jersey than Pittsburgh jersey please.
I must admit I was very hard on Gonch, but when you mentioned the Norris I almost flipped out...went to NHL.com and holy shit! your not far off from the truth..
I mean he's 5th in D scoring. Letang is hurt and Suter and Kronwall I dont think deserve it at all, their teams are struggling and they are not having the impact a Norris winner should.
Subban on the other hand is, so its really a race between Gonch and Subban. Maybe if Pietreangelo goes crazy in the 2nd half or Letang comes back and dominates but as of now its Gonch and Subban! Wow!
Suter has played real well, but Letang and Subban are the heavy favorites I think. Letang will have enough gp by time its all said and done
Id also scroll down the points list to pull out beauchemin and Ekman Larsson, two guys having incredible seasons
If I was to rank Norris candidates as of of right now it would be
1-letang
2-subban
3-Suter (Avg 27 min/game)
4-Ekman-Larsson
5-Beauchemin
6- Gonchar
Wierc: 26ga 4g 10a 14pts +5 20 shift/game
Compare...
Weicioch is tied with 1st overall pick and wonderkid Yakupov for 5th in rookie scoring
Weicioch is only 1 point back of off-season "prize" free agent Justin Schultz in 7 less minutes per game
Why are ppl even comparing them? 2 different styles but most of all , THEY PLAY ON THE SAME DAMN TEAM
i think gonchar can out-pace atleast kronwall and suter in points. it will be hard to outpace letang. subban - maybe maybe not. i think if the sens can get the PP going he has a chance.
i think he may be the type of guy who thrives in being the go-to player with a defined top role and increased minutes.
But Tookie, surely you know that even though both have offensive skills, Cowen is more a SHUTDOWN TYPE of defenceman !
lol, its a well kept secret in this league, but oilers management and coaching might be on par or worse than what the leafs have had in the last 8 years.
Good list but I would have Gonch a bit higher, past Beauch and Ekman, IF Ekman helps PHO get into the playoffs then maybe yes and for Beauch he's just enjoying the ride, he's not really an impact on the Ducks blueline. Hell Souray is +19...
He is what stabalizes that blue line day in day out and is a huge reason Fasth and Hiller have been good
Yost has documented well how Anaheim is actually overachieving due to their possession numbers, so to me thats even further proof Anaheim are defending alot more than attacking and Beauchemin is the reason of their success
@ Tookie,
Beauchemin is more a shutdown type like Cowen is !
Not at -4 he aint, while playing 15:09 ES, Wierc plays 13:00 ES and is +5.
Only constant between the two is that both of them had Gonchar as a dman partner
Main difference was that with karlsson in the lineup Cowen+Gonchar took on a defensive role and "shutdown" role
Now Karlsson is out of lineup so gonchar+Wiercio ch are looked at to pick up t he slack and lead the offensively challenged Senators
Beauchemin is an overall good Def but he doesnt lean one way or the other, he's right in the middle.
18:13 ES, 2:05 PP, 3:12 SH
He's got 6pts on the PP.
Yeah something we wouldnt be able to do with Cowen. Its nice to play Def but you have to score to win games. And right now I would rather have Wiercioch than Cowen.
I'm more than happy that we have both !!
Hey Tookie,
If you have a hate on for Cowen so much, go to Bruce Pit and you will probably see him walking his dog... Tell him yourself what you feel about him and see what he does.
Tookie I really don't understand why you have to make comments like "Yeah something we wouldnt be able to do with Cowen. Its nice to play Def but you have to score to win games. And right now I would rather have Wiercioch than Cowen."
You really think that if it was Wiercioch out and Cowen in this season that the team would be losing more games? Has this team not proven to everybody especially its own FANS that they win games as a TEAM and it doesn't matter who is in or out of the lineup?
Seriously why start this bullshit?
Because unfortunately rookie of the year isn't based on most important rookie to their team, its for most outstanding rookie
Huberdeau is just as important to Florida than any of our rookies have been thus far to us
if stats can't support it, tookie can't support it. plain and simple. all stats today show PW46 being better than Jared Cowen and therefore Tookie has an excuse to create nonsense around here.
I'd say I would rather see a Habs vs Sens first rounder. Would be a hell of a series!
Now Tookie, that was definitely a low blow, and Chirp should now step in, to
give you 5 days off on this board !
God damn this is freakin' painful...
Tookie you're the worst.
Thanks for ruining my attempt to change the subject and be positive Tookie, you are one of kind buddy. One of a kind...
I would rather play any team outside of the Bruins. I cringe everytime we play them...
Teams i do not want to face in round 1 in order are;
Bruins
Penguins
NYR
not on both sides of the puck ...if not for our rookies stepping up and becoming impact players and playing a 200 foot game...game in and game out we wouldn't be in the playoffs ...silverberg plays in every situation and is a +8... huberdeau - 5
who said supporting facts are non-sense? i said you use stats to create non-sense.
cowen vs PW46 debate is non-sense.
Tookie is just a kid with too much time on his hands that loves to stir shit up.
Just ignore him for crying out loud. Once people understand this, we'll be able to go back to real hockey discussions instead of this useless banter.
Now this is what Chirp should do anytime you are out of line !
No response is also needed re my comment
and we need to talk about our team and not your confrontational display !
Lebda will probably be called up.
With about 30% of our regular players out with various injuries, he keeps plugging along ,and we keep winning more than losing
So he will not make a move, other than tel Binghamton for another body.
Cowen-Wierciouch = young Phillips-Redden!
which got us many playoff wins and to the Stanley cup Finals
add to this
Karlsson
and Top level goaltending!
I say this equals Stanley cup Rings
Tookie doesnt matter take your pick Cowen or PW ... both are studs!
read em and weep pal!
I am happy we have both, PW AND Cowen
this site can sometimes be a complete joke.
i'll prob get banned for saying the truth.
if you have a strong opinion go to hb
I really have no issue with his points. Often well supported. It's the additional shot at the readership that is included in everyone that I'm trying to limit. Trying to avoid derailing another comment section, is all.
Wrong personal attacks and insults are deleted not good points... therefore yours should be deleted :)
You need to start your own blog if you don't like how the OWNER of this one runs his.
Moving on, I said Bruins, since we have to go through the best eventually, might aswell knock them off early if we can!
+ they have a shitty PP. 15% to our 19.5% both PK's are great so we win!
Well said.
I have not insulted anyone.
Taking digs at people after they take digs at me is only fair, saying idiot or your a F'ing moron would be, I havent said that in long time!! LOL
I'm just debating with facts and people here get all butt hurt.
+ the debate is about SENS PLAYERS on a SENS BLOG...
but hey thanks for the input 011011011101110 01111
so now no one quote me or comment to this and just get back to hockey talk!! deal? deal!
more importantly, its not about PW, Cowen or anyone its really about this TEAM! HOLY MUTHA@!@#%!@!.. i think we can bring anyone (even me and i cant skate!) and Coach will get this team to win!
what an awesome team! CardiacKids!
Mezaros was traded to Tampa for a first, Picard and Kuba
We then moved that first to the islanders for commrie and Mcammond
Turns out that first turned out to be Nick Leddy...fak!
Hindsight is 20 20 I suppose.
SUCK IT PHANEUF!
As for Cowen vs Wiercioch - I still don't see any need to "choose". Budget or not they should be able to keep both for a long while. Time will tell I guess.
I'm not saying get rid of Cowen, he has his job to do, I'm saying Wiercioch will turn out to be the more valuable of the 2. IF not for Wiercioch(Gonac har too) these past couple of games, I'm not so sure we get the wins.
Eventually, the Sens will have to decide who to keep between, Karlsson, Cowen, Wiercioch, Methot, Gryba, Ceci. in the top 4.
And that not even considering pending UFA D studs or draft picks we get in the future?
But yes, next year we should have a very solid D corp.!
Methot Karlsson
Cowen Wiercioch
Phillips Boro/Gonchar(re-up?)
Benoit
To bad he has another year on that contract or it'd be worth a flyer for the remainder of this year.
Would be yeah, big tough physical guy to replace Methot, why not...but yeah extra year.
I think he's on an ATO, can he even be called up? I'm sure he would be running on adrenalin the first few games to prove he belongs in the NHL.
hard to agree or disagree on this.. everyone one has elevated their game this year.. who is to say if Cowen was in the lineup he wouldnt play like the rest.. just cant speculate on this one not knowing how Cowen "would have" played this year under the circumstances.. lets see.. good point though :)
Just curious here, if this guy can't crack the line up in Toronto, who also has a few AHL players playing instead of him, what makes you think BM would want him at all??? Also Replace Methot haha.
Methot big time > Komisarek!!!
I have no problem with some of your arguments but, I take offense when you insinuate that the Sens would have lost with Cowen in instead of Weircoch. We just won, be happy and don't make up a potential loss and blame it on a guy that's injured. That's classless.
And, I hope you are right. I hope PW is better than Cowen. Because Cowen will be a heck of a player one day!
Their is a reason these players are put on waivers or let go. We don't need other teams garbage. ESPECIALLY THE LEAFS' GARBAGE!
To get that many point in a shutdown role as a rookie is hard to do. As for his plus/minus...lo ok around the league, some of the best defensive defenceman hover between +5 and -5. They play against the Stamkos' and Crosby's every night. Hard to be a +15 while doing that unless you're also on the PP every time (even then a guy like Webber has only been above +7 once in his career)
As for Weirchoch...he is the most sheltered player on our team. He plays by far the easiest minutes. He's either out there against teams 3rd and 4th lines or he's on the PP. not saying he's not playing well, because he is but that stat comparison is completely useless. Doesn't make sense to look at it
PFFF!! Get out of here with your common sense.
The SENS already potentially have one of the Best D`s for the future once everyone will be healthy.
your logic is not welcome here my friend.. lmao :).. totally agree BTW...
Ottawa loses a player (Methot). Wins game. Their season in a nutshell.
how can we be comparing weircoch to cowen Quoting riceroni:
EXACTLY riceroni ... Ive seen this kind of comment before . I remember where to also . Right on here . seems this will never end . Cowen is a heck of a player . let him get back and we'll later see tookie go for a "what a player " rant , or better yet , i told yous he'd be a super defensman .
that is plain garbage tookie, come on .
time wasted again , yours , ours . grow up and cheer our team instead ...
I have to expect that BM is putting an offer together, as good as any other team would, for Andrej Sustr. If we can attract this big guy here, that would be amazing. But, we'd be forced to move someone because the Sens have 49 contracts already on the books, out of the possible 50.
Andrew Hammond from Bowling green 2 year ELC
I believe you only pick up half the tab on re entry waivers. If you pick him up on way down you are paying full.
Somebody posted it on here a few days ago I think his name is Andrew Hammond
Well unless your awe struck with youth, then you would see that Edmonton kill all dmen, and can't grow
Pittsburgh would be enticing, and can't see why someone wouldn't want to go there
Ottawa would be enticing because Maclean makes everyone bascially overachieve and look good
Thats pretty enticing coming out of college
I hate to be "that guy", but I get the feeling that the organization hasn't been completely honest with its fans about injuries on the team ever since Anderson went down. Probably an effort to keep Sens fans from jumping off bridges yelling "game over man...(splash)" .
I hope to god that Methot is infact good to go sooner rather than later...he's proven to be a key shut-down guy for this team also logging big minutes.
With Columbus now looking at a playoff spot, I don't think they would be letting Prospal or Brassard go. They are number 1 and 2 in team scoring.
Dude Cowen didnt play vs the Crosby's and Stamkos' of the NHL, he played 15min a night ES, thats not top line minutes. PK you dont get +-. so he got his -4 playing vs 2nd/3rd liners line Wiercioch is doing.
Beauchemin got run out of Toronto as well yet he's being mentioned for a potential Norris this year. I don't think Komi is what he used to be but I'm quite certain he could play in our current top 6. Sometimes players just don't work out with certain teams. He was awesome in Montreal and it doesn't look like he's been given a fair shake in Toronto this year.
It is great common sense he just forgot to add Cowen to his common sense as he played the same minutes as PW ES...
No I don't believe so actually. You get a plus if your team scores a shorthanded goal but otherwise, +/- only is for even strength situations.
No you dont...
What you are saying is quite possible and yes, you are right I'm sure if he was getting paid less than 1 mill, and it was his final year, then it wouldn't hurt to give him a shot in the AHL and see what he can do. But picking up a player that the leafs just let go would make me feel really dirty, like a cleaning lady feels after Phaneuf has left the hotel.
What kind of human being gets there thrills spreading such negativity and baiting readers like this?
Seriously Chirp...you need to make a decision about this guy.
Tookie...seek life elsewhere!
It has been handled. Let's leave it for now, thanks.
Guess he means the list will be cut from 25 to 20 teams.
He means Sustr will focus on five to ten potential teams.
Cowen was 5th on the team in TOI ES among our D...He wasnt playing top 4 minutes bro, you not making any sense...He mostly played vs 3rd liners with the occasional 2nd line duty but never played vs top stars unless on the PK.
Karlsson Kuba/Gonchar saw most of the top stars.
You would lose alot of money...
Youre missing a player to make up the top4 there genius
Don't you think it's possible Gonchar had more ice time because he also played on the PP and other situations?
He's usually pretty quick to correct his tweets...maybe he's getting to much info and freaking out!
Sustr would be a great pick up for sure.
Komisarek sucks . awefull player . stay away from our team ;)
No, genious, thats EVEN STRENGTH time on ice, the other in the top 4 was Gilroy/Phillips . It constantly changed.
I mean for tomorrow nights game our top D man will be most likely be Gonchar.
It has its flaws but last year in order of who played the toughest competition for our team we had:
1- Kuba 0.056
2- Karlsson 0.047
3- Gonchar 0.011
4- Phillips -0.015
5- Cowen -0.025
6- Gilroy -0.048
7- Carkner -0.069
Now I know +/- isnt the best depiction but for the most part top end +/- guys are always top line players, s if they are getting them, this will account for the stars on the shitty teams because you can assume if Kuba is playing Malkin and high +/- then he is also playing Stamkos and low +/-
Compare to this year:
1- Karlsson 0.189
2- Methot 0.095
3- Phillips -0.002
4- Gryba -0.032
5- Wiercioch -0.042
6- Gonchar -0.045
7- Benoit -0.048
So yes Cowen played "tougher" minutes, but in terms of depth chart for those tougher minutes they came out equal (#5) Although now that Karlsson is out Wiercioch falls into our top 4, while last year Cowen was always bottom pair for us in terms of ES
sens average time on ice at even strength for dmen
Karlsson 20.51
Kuba 18.14
Gonchar 17.19
Phillips 15.27
Cowen 15.09
When you factor in penalty situations the top 5 remain in the same order.
Gilroy came in at 15.51 even strength, but I didn't put him in the list because he only played 14 games.
Now you both know the stats please continue with your mind numbing back and forth.
It's possible. Unfortunately had to delete a bunch in an attempt to get discussion back on track.
Sounds like we all just need to meet at a pub, get shit faced, duke it out, make up and drink a bit more. Problem solved.
CHIRP, betcha never thought you'd be monitoring a kindergarten cat fight.
Robin Lehner starts vs Bruins. #Sens
Steve Lloyd@Steve_Lloyd
Maclean: If Methot can't go, Lundin's ready to play. #Sens
Steve Lloyd@Steve_Lloyd
#Sens Maclean: Methot had treatment today and says there is a chance he could play tomorrow.
That's good news.. Something this team has had very little of in way of injury news this season.
Anderon's ankle sprain expected to be 3 or 4 days in now 30 days...
JBo would be an option but not at a high price. He plays big minutes and is a durable player. Until he gets to Ottawa and gets hurt in his 2nd shift...
If the Sens are looking to callup -- it won't be BoroCop.. he's injured as well..
Hoping Sustr picks Ottawa..
He must know how much playing time young players get in this organization.
Ceci is several years away from the NHL.. has to work on his defense...
The B-Sens will be good next season with Noeson, Puemple, Ceci joining their team
Or I would if I knew what the fuck it meant but it looked very convincing.
Gilroy played very few games so you can barely include him in there. Also Phillips had just barely more average ice time than Cowen because at times they would rotate him and Cowen.
But unless you didn't watch any of last years games you'd know that our lineup was for the most part as follows...
Kuba - Karlsson
Cowen - Gonchar
Phillips - Carkner
Extras Lee/Gilroy
The biggest difference in ice time between Wierchoch and Cowen is that Cowen never got scratched once. He was so solid that the coach didn't feel the need to replace him with another fringe NHL unlike Wierchoch who has been constantly switching with Benoit, Lundin and even Boro
Thats great news but I dont want another Michalek situation where he plays 1 game after being "cleared" to play only to get re-injure it again.
The team has be stepping it up, this is a great chance for PW to show he can do more.
If not theres always Lebda or Boro or a trade.
If Murray wants to convince Melnyk to spend that sort of cash I hope he takes the opportunity to pitch for a forward who has a better chance of upgrading this team.
Seems to me that the blueline (especially if we re-sign Gonchar) isn't an area that needs expensive reinforcement.
haha
behindthenet.ca
its basically a formula they put together to find out how often players play against "top talent"
Unfortunately they use +/- to be the basis of what top talent is. But for the most part if you look at all the teams and the NHL as a whole, those with a higher "quality of competition" actually play top lines
In lehman terms, a + quality of competition = vs 1st and 2nd lines. a - quality of competition= vs 3rd and 4th lines
example:
minimum of 40gp, top quality of comp last year:
1- Gorges 0.98
2- Seabrook 0.93
3- Phaneuf 0.9
4- Chara 0.89
5- Girardi 0.86
This year (min 20 gp):
1- Phaneuf 0.214
2- Chara 0.169
3- Boychuck 0.165
4- Holzer .143
5- Regehr 0.131
So what does this tell you? Holzer was in wayyyyy over his head and is now sent down because of poor coaching and not using him and protecting him properly IMO
I also agree that Cowen will turn out to be a better player than Wiercioch, he may not be able to contribute on the scoresheet as much as Wiercioch will be able to. But all around I think he will be better. I believe that BM & Co. also think this way because Cowen did not need to spend much time in the AHL as compared to Wiercioch did. I don't care how many stats you throw out there about the two players it's not going to change my mind. But here's a stat this season Cowen did not play a game in the NHL, last season Wiercioch did not play a game in the NHL. Hence trying to compare these too players is as pointless as arguing about who has the nicest stache between Pmac and Paros...
Dude give it up man, it was settled, we all moved on...
Wiercioch fringe? He's played 26 games out of 30 haha. too funny.
Was my first post in a while so I just wanted to make sure it wasn't more than that. At some point you should just remove Tookie though, instead of punishing the rest of us for not putting up with his bs. He seems to start over half the problems on this site.
Thats what I was looking for...haha I had aroundthecrease , aroundthenet, haha.
Thanks Alcatraz
What problem? you mean discussion about Sens players?
Great post Sandy, touched on so many good points. I do think Ceci is within 2 years of the nhl, and Noesen will be considered for a roster spot as soon as this fall, though as you said may need a year in the A.
behind the net sounds like a sex thing, and as for in the crease....
Majority of the posters here are on the sens side of the fence, in which they read everything for surface value, they always predict sens wins, they overvalue current prospects and overvalue current players. These fans also spend money on games, and assume a "we" and "us" when talking about "their" senators. Its personal and they defend all players blindly.
Then you have Tookie who is the polar opposite. He tries to be on the fence about the sens. He is a sens fan, spends money and is emotionally invested but he tries hard too hard not be biased when analyzing the sens.
What happens is Tookie actually comes across as neither on the sens side or the fens but in fact the other side of the fence because he is met with force on every one of his views (negative mostly), which he then defends blindly at times
I try to see both sides and will defend players(Latendr esse) and bash players(Smith) when time called for it, but Tookie continually takes the polar opposite side of the remaining "proud" sens fans who only see the good
Which makes for long debates lol
Just stating that Tookie feels its his responsibility to try and always not be biased and it just comes across as negative, since he does it every single day
Case in point tomorrow we will all predict a Sens win, and Tookie will predict a Bruins win
Thanks Alcatraz, I'm happy you see it both ways, lots of fans are just blindly cheering, which isnt bad per se, just shows they are passionate about the team but the game is played in the real world and sometimes someone like me has to bring them back down to earth, which is then met with hate and negative useless bash Tookie comments, which I find funny.
Proof is in the pudding, your posts, totally fair and unbiased but is met with negativity by Sens faithful, why? who knows.
Interested in hearing who you all think is the best rookie so far this year for the Sens. Some great candidates with Silfverberg, Zibanejad, Wiercioch, Gryba and Lehner to name only the top 5.
Personally I'd put it
1. Silfverberg
2. Lehner
3. Wiercioch
Mainly based on icetime/games played and the quantity of impact game in and game out. If Wiercioch now starts adding the defensive game more with Methot out for a bit, or if Lehner stays around longer, either of those 2 could be at the top at the end of the year, imo!
Tookie, just trying to understand here, did you bring us back down to earth and reality when you predicted they'd miss the playoffs last year or was it when you did it this year?
The problem is you think your take is realistic/non homer, but really you lowball the team so you can claim you're being realistic. That's what is not appreciated, because most of the time you aren't right.
I also think Ceci is a year or 2 away from the NHL, Maybe 1 year in the A, same with Noesen, hopefully they both make it and become impact players like I think they could.
Reminds me of something...
Oh, yah... Chara vs. Redden...
Which one did we wish we had kept again?
Last year the outlook wasnt good, forcast was terrible, I ate crow when I was wrong.
I never said this year they wouldnt make it. I said they would be a bubble playoff team 6th to 8th.
sens cleanup this year in all awards... rookie, norris, lady bing and vezina :)
Hell Ya!!!
I know there are a lot of good coaching jobs this year, but I don't think anyone can top PM right now. Just amazing job. How many games have the broadcasters asked "what did the coach say at intermission to make you guys come out firing so hard in that period"!
lots of time on his hands
That is too painful to be reminded of...
great post!
that is the beauty about it one GM does not have to pick between the two studs... he has them both for many many cups... I mean years
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=418643
Genius* Tookie...
Sorry I had too bahaha