Very intriguing game tonight for a number of reasons. The first being the fact that the Senators finally get to play on a Saturday night. Seems like a really weird trend that developed this year where Ottawa had a number of Saturday's off. Hope that's a trend the NHL's scheduling department breaks next year.
Also, it will be the debut of NCAA star Stephane Da Costa as he pulls on the Sens jersey for the first time. The game will trigger the first year of his two year, two way contract per CBA guidelines. No word on what line he skates on just yet but you would have to assume Clouston uses him in a top six role.
Da Costa will wear #24.
Erik Karlsson will be out of the line up after suffering a cut to his leg against the Panthers. A defeseman will be called up in his place. Colin Greening was sent down yesterday to make room for Da Costa in the Sens line up.
This really is an all or nothing game for the boys in blue and white. The Leafs are currently five points out of the final playoff spot with just four games to go. A loss would essentially end their late season run.
I know fans are worried about draft positioning but winning on Saturday, on home ice, while I'm in the heart of Leaf Nation, to ruin the Leafs playoff aspirations? Sounds pretty good to me!
GO SENS GO!
Looking forward to Da Costa's debut and hoping for a big win from the boys tonight.
Agree with you 100%.
Would have sent Lessard down and kept Greening, but I guess
Clouston wants to keep Lessard, should the intensity and chippy play flare up.
I also think that Alfredsson will play either vs Flyers or the Habs.
Expecting lots of scoring, with Ottawa winning 5-4
normally im all for sens beating the leafs and especially so when it crushes hopes of making the playoffs but all of my die hard leaf fan office mates dont care and fully dont expect them to make the post season. So i would totally be ok with a sens loss tonight. Can only hope mcbackup gets the start but i know he wont.
As for Sens not playing too many Saturday night games... I guess CBC asked the league to avoid the Saturday night Sens games -- so they would not have to deal with 'us' fans complaining they never show Sens games.
For the Sens to win tonight Anderson will have to stand on his head. Let's hope Sens can find a weakness in Reimer. Just don't shoot glove side.
as for leafs, i`d love to see the sens win this game. if there is one team that i hate losing to it`s the leafs. not so much the team anymore but the fans have remained the same and there is nothing more pleasurable than a disgruntled, unhappy leafs fan!
hopefully we actually get a good look at him.
i do like the fact that he`s playing with condra and shannon- two smart players that have been finding a way to contribute- would love to see the kid put up a point in his first game!
@ Lambschops, your twins looked really good yesterday...
Chirp welcome to the nightmare of TO. Best place to catch the Sens is at Grace O'Malleys on Duncan street just north of King St. for us Sens fans. Not far from the Rogers Centre. (5 mIns Walk)
Quoting Demers19:
Zach Smith will centre the 3rd line with Foligno and Neil.
Zach Smith will centre the 3rd line with Foligno and Neil.
Oh my mistake, on Twitter Brent Wallace posted it like this
Michalek-Spezza -Svatos Neil-Smith-Foli gno Shannon-Da Costa-Condra So I thought it was the 3rd line, Considering Clouston doesn't know anything it wouldn't be a surprise to see Da Costa on the 3rd
So stupid. I get that we aren't going to send Lessard down, and that there are rules about the number of 2 way contracts on the roster but what about sending Zach Smith down for a game or two?
Nothing against the guy but in my eyes, I would rank the value of the 4 Bingo prospects (excluding Lessard of course) as Greening, Condra, Butler and then Smith. Besides a few fights, Smith has mostly contributed to stupid penalties and a message needs to be sent there. If the goal is to give Da Costa some top 6 minutes, just alternate Condra and Greening on the 1st/2nd and the 3rd. They both can play that role without any issues.
But if we could kill their chances of making the playoffs by winning, it would almost be retribution for the 4 rounds of playoffs they stole from us... Almost...
Go Sens.
Wow Brent Wallace need help spelling.
On another note, I'm hoping for a sens loss and not a Leafs win. Lets be real here, the Leafs are not making the playoffs. 5 points back with 4 games. Do the math, they need 3 more wins than the Rangers get in their last 4 to pass cuz the Rangers have more wins for the tiebreaker. Not to mention the fact that even if the Rangers manage to fuck up, Carolina has 2 more points and a game in hand on the Leafs.
So to recap, Its definately not worth messing up our draft pick to make the Leaf's playoff hopes fall from 1% to 0.5%. I actually enjoy watching the Leafs fans have so much hope only to be crushed at the end of the season with another 9th place finish. Its like a yearly spectacle.
Carolina can go either way. Some nights they look like the leagues best team... other nights..downrig ht terrible.
I give the Leafs a long shot... but it's not over until it's over. Sens, let's do your part to make it over.
because he hasn't been doing anything for the past 6 games, except for pick up a few 2nd assists..
kid needs to shoot more (8 shots in past 6 games)
and those shots can't be directly into the goalies stomach (see: OTT vs. FLA)
Even if you're shooting at 15% accuracy (kovalchuk, parise,gilmour) 8 shots would only be 1 goal
Butler's going to be great next year, I think he's just struggling under Clouston's lack-lustre skating/conditi oning program
Um the Rangers are playing very defensively tight playoff hockey. Just because they don't score doesn't make them terrible. Also aren't they one of the few teams to have success against us lately? As for Carolina, you can count on Ward alone to steal them a game or two down the stretch.
They sure did not look very good against the Islanders the other night.
I think Butler is now on other teams radar, but just because he isn't producing doesnt mean hes not helping the team. There is a reason why Spezza is one of the hottest players in the NHL right now, better players on the ice with Spezza open up more ice for Spezza. I bet we see Butler/Svatos flipped by the 2nd period.
Yes Sandy, Its always the smarter idea to take their last game and make conclusions from that instead of looking at their last 10...
I dont feel like posting all the results but you can look for yourself.
Michalek - Spezza - Svatos
Foligno - Da Costa - Greening
Smith - Winchester - Neil
Condra - Shannon- Butler.
Or something like that
Greening was an emergency call up. He had to be sent down
For instance, DaCosta could play 20 minutes and we'd still have a dozen fans saying he should have got more, not to mention a bunch saying he should get less. No matter what line he gets put on, we'll have a couple of dozen people complain, then tell everyone what line he SHOULD be on and how Clouston is 'ruining our prospects' etc. UGH
Maybe you are right.. but I've seen most of their last 2 games and they do not look very good. They are pushing for a playoff spot.. you would think they would have had a better effort against the Islanders.
I'm just commenting like some other hockey people in saying the Rangers have not looked good lately.
I've always thought people were too high on Butler. He clearly plays the goal-scorer's game, but there's a good chance it won't catch on at the NHL level.
He's young, so people assume he'll just get better and better until he's putting up 25+ goals on our top line. He wouldn't have even been on our top line if our team weren't so talent-bereft.
I still hold out hope that he can be a consistent 20 goal scorer, but he's got a lot to work on.
I wish I could give this comment 100 thumbs up. We spend too much time hating on the Leafs. They are pathetic as is, no need to waste our time on them. MLSE runs every team they own into the ground (see Raps and TFC). We need to focus on hating the Habs and their stupid fans. Can you believe some of them actually called the police to report an assult when Pacioretty was hit by Chara? Then they throw a protest outside the Bell Centre... Wat a clown of a city. If we could keep them out of the playoffs, I wouldnt care how many draft spots we moved down!!!!
Further to my other post re: Rangers..I'm not saying they are a bad team as they are not.. but they haven't been at their best when they should be.
The lose to the Sens in OT.. then beat Boston & lose to both Buffalo & NYI.
They may have a good record in their last 10 games.. but their last 4 they are 1 - 2 - 1. So 3 out of 8 pts -- with 2 of those games against non-playoff teams and they lost both. By rights they should have blown the Sens away since we are mostly AHL players...but I guess they took the possible win for granted -- same as NYI...That could cost them in the long run especially if Lundquist is out for very long.
1) It was either Greening or Condra that had to be sent down, as those were the guys called up on an emergency basis. Greening's demotion has nothing to do with his performance or the team trying to get a better lottery position.
2) As far as I know, Lessard was not on the "clear day" roster and is therefore ineligible to play for Bingo in the playoffs, which is why he's still here. Plus, Bingo's battling for playoff position, so instead of taking more core guys from them, we've got Lessard.
3) Da Costa playing one game burns one year of his contract. He is set to be RFA in the summer of '11-'12. So even though we burn off a year for 4 games, he's still restricted after next season.
4) Most of these younger guys, especially the collegiate ones, have never played more than 50+ games in a season, let alone bounce around from the A to N all year. Give 'em a break.
Also: for anyone interested, here is the clear day list for AHL Playoff Rosters: http://theahl.com/2011-clear-day-lists-announced-p169897
I say Kelly...
Uhhhh ya.. I could be you... cheering for your own team to lose..
Go Sens
Kelly will probably be a close 2nd to Campoli. I've watched a couple Blackhawks games since the trade, and he gets a ton of ice paired with Brian Campbell.
Was always a huge Campy fan, would love to see a Van/Chi first round match up and see the cup champs take out the number one seed.
Go Campy Go!!!!!
Does anyone remember?
I just pray hard that San Jose gets nowhere near that Cup. That would make this year utterly disastrous.
Tampa Bay I believe, don't quote me though...
couldn't agree more.
Smith is at best a 4th line player.
I would have sent him down and kept Greening. Smith has given us nothing but bad penalties.
If there's any consolation for the Greening re-recall, it's that Bingo needs him more than the pro club does for their playoff push.
I'm sure all of us here would like to see Bingo make the playoffs and do well, so I'm not complaining.
BB16 scores in the second tonight. 4-3 OT Sens win.
Gotta love a negative vote on common sense. Either a leaf fan or a diluted tank nation member that doesn't want to give up 4th last for 5th.
I'm not sure how one becomes a "diluted" tank nation member but I suspect I may be one. Many people are overlooking the fact that finishing fifth last does not guarantee the fifth pick. A team behind us could win the lottery knocking us down to sixth pick. My bottom line is that I'd like, at a minimum, to draft either Couturier or Strome. Whoever picks sixth will most likely miss out on those players as well as the big three (Larsson, RNH and Landeskog) who appear to have separated themselves from the pack.
How does the lottery work? How many teams are moveable in position? What are the odds of ending up 5th last and drafting further away from that spot?
The bottom 15 teams are in the lottery. But the winner of the lottery can only move up a total of 5 spots. So if a team in 6th last to 10th last wins the lottery, they can move up 5 spots and bump the sens to the 6th pick
All 14 non-playoff teams take part in the lottery. The team that wins moves up four spots and the four teams immediately ahead of the winner each moves down one spot. I don't know the odds but they are heavily weighted in favour of the bottom teams.
Very true.
I for one would be disappointed for the Sens to fall short and draft 5th or 6th, especially with so much anticipation from the fanbase to draft either of the big three.
So, I'm rooting for a Sens win tonight, and then 3 losses to finish out the season.
Go edmonton, go islanders, go panthers, go avs!
In 2007 Philadelphia finished last while Chicago finished fifth last. Chicago won the lottery and drafted Patrick Kane #1.
I hope so. Winning the lottery is our best shot at getting one of the big three and that would indeed be sweet.
!
This guy is by far THE most biased broadcaster against in the Sens. My goodness, I just keep losing respect for CBC more and more.
In explaining why Stephane Da Costa chose Ottawa to play for, Healy said "because Ottawa is lousy and he knew that he could play here". You don't EVER as a national broadcaster say something like that.
He's so cynical when talking about the Sens.
Don't even get me started with last year's playoffs hearing that man commentate...
good grief
All CBC does is talk about the Leafs.
Frustrating
So Sandy does Kessel have your respect now!
SENS not showing much life, Leafs definitely want it more right now!
Lets hope SENS adjust for the 2nd.
So are you saying that there isn't anything that can be done about the play? lol get outta here.
Kuba flat out miss read that play and was caught flat footed. The least you can do against a fast skater is put a body on him. Of course Kuba is to blame man. He was completely blown by.
Everybody knows you have to do better than that.
Anybody saying how that goal wasn't Kuba's fault is ridiculous.
And yes Kuba got caught off guard BECAUSE of the speed, nothing he could of done, except clear the rebound after Anderson made the first save.
Go SENS beat these douche bags.
I'm not denying the fact that he chose Ottawa because he would have more opportunity, I'm just upset that a Canadian national broadcasting company has hired an individual that says dissenting comments like that, especially during a game of which many Senators fans are watching. As a broadcaster, you need to be unbiased an professional.
Glen Healy is NEITHER.
I said the Leafs would win because they have a purpose, they want it more...and it shows.
I can't believe this guy
Did you hear him questioning Ottawa goal scoring?
"Good luck!" he says like goodness I feel like I'm listening to Leafs TV. Isn't CBC supposed to be an unbiased, Canadian station?
The kid's getting some quality chances and is looking more comfortable by the shift.
TSN is the only sports station worth watching.
(and maybe thescore, since they support SensChirp)
Kuba is down right horrible. Someone please explain to me how he isn't.
Foligno's having a great game too and working hard.
Gosh I hate Healy!!!
Let me guess Tookie "Grabovski is too strong". aha
Our next Captain!!!!
Butler is not a bad linemate for Spezza now is he?
Neither is Michalek my friend.
tookie is just ridiculous. Everyone on here knows that.
Neither is Michalek my friend. Bobby Butler's a good player with great potential.
tookie is just ridiculous. Everyone on here knows that.
jasonontheoldsenschirp said, "Neither is Michalek my friend.
tookie is just ridiculous. Everyone on here knows that."
True, true...
HAT TRICK
HAT TRICK
C'mon Spezza haha
point proven.
get this idiot off my team.
Isn't he like... 13-1 on faceoffs tonight?
Did he not just take a 5 minute major and possibly ruin our chances of a comeback?
Seen that exact same hit on our players at least 3 times tonight without being called.
And we ruined our chances to win this game when we let 1 in. LOL
face it, it was a dumb penalty. I have seen season long stupid penalties taken from Zach Smith. That is just something he has to fix.
I'm not trying to defend him, per se. And you can't blame our players for not being pussies and dropping to their knees after the wind blows by them.
Dumb penalty, yes. But what isn't a dumb penalty?
Would be a penalty shot (which is worse), no?
Not necessarily. If not in the act of shooting, a two minute minor, no?
Perhaps I just overlook his shitty play because it blends in with the rest of the team this year (not including Spezza).
I'm not trying to infer that our players shouldn't be pushovers, but he does indeed have a bad habit, and it needs to be fixed, especially if he has intentions of making this team next year.
He has some commendable attributes- works hard, hits hard, good on the draw, good kid. But the detriment of taking terrible penalties makes all of those things obsolete.
I just don't see room for a guy like that on a hopefully improved team next year. We need players who can hit and work hard, as well as play SMART.
am I the only one who notices this bad habit? I think it was lat game or two ago where he must have taken 2 or 3 consecutive penalties! It's pretty blatant,
Just a reminder that the Sens had to send Greening down because he was an emergency call up in the first place. They had no choice due to call up rules.
Then again. Without him throwing the body around, our finesse players (ALL OF THEM) would get destroyed all the time.
I honestly think Chris Neil is injured or something. He's not playing like his rock-em-sock-em self.
Spezza did all the work on both goals and carried the team tonight when nobody else stepped up.
But like I predicted, Leafs win cuz they wanted it more. Also what did I say about the rivalry being dead, Winchester apologozing to McArthur on the high stick. These kids dont know the old rivalry and could care less.
I hear that rumor to be true.
IDIOT
Three reasons why Clouston will not be back next year:
1) #24 da Costa, 16 shifts, 11:22. How are you going to find out what the player is if you don't play him? He looked nervous in the first, but I thought he looked very comfortable later on, he just barely saw the ice.
2) Giving Smith another shift after that asinine boarding penalty. He deserved the major, it was a dumb play, and if the coach had any brains, Smith's ass would have been stapled to that bench for the rest of the game.
3) That last shift by Kuba was a comedy of errors. How this guy sees the ice in a close game with under 5 minutes to go shows how out of touch coach is.
So long Clouston.
It's called respect. I actually appreciated Winchester's sportsmanship there. It's nice to see Jesse pick up where Fisher left off in that area.
AMEN BROTHER.
There is absolutely no room for plays like that with 8 minutes left in the game trailing by a goal.
1) Are you serious? Yeah. I'm sure the best coach in the world would play a COMPLETE pro rookie in one of the most hostile game rivalries in a super close game for a full 22 minutes. /endsarcasm
2)Even with the shitty penalty, Smith had more effort all night than a lot of our players. Combined with Svatos leaving, we needed him to fill the space.
3) Kuba Kuba Kuba. In an ideal world, we'd have had Karlsson and Gonchar out there. Clouston often has shit to work with back there. You can put some paint on it, but it's still shit.
Considering his first game ever is the Battle of Ontario, I'd say he looked pretty good.
After a few practices I'm sure he'll be gravy with his linemates.
Meh, Kuba was garbage all game, throwing out a mouth guard would have been a better choice. Don't let the door hit you on the way out Kuba and Clouston
First game? No. Next game I fully expect him to be in the 16 minute range though.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IM TRYING TO EXPLAIN.
AMEN.
^^ LOL, maybe he got injured when he completely turned the wrong way and got burned by Kessel.
Kuba's been garbage all decade. He's my most hated Sen.
Phillips and Lee can't play all 60 mins.
And really, your other choices were Benoit, Wiercioch, and Lessard. And at least 2 of those were just on the ice the previous shift.
Let's at least relish in that thought for a bit. It was an entertaining game nonetheless, Spezza got me two crucial Hockey Fantasy goals, and the possibility of seeing Landeskog in a Sens jersey looks more and more real.
Ah, that felt better.
He was hit once early in the game at the blue line open ice and bounced up like nothing happened. He looks like a very skilled puck handler and could be quite the sniper. He beat Reimer far side with a wrister that hit the post. Very quick release! I think he'll fit in very nicely next year. Looking forward to game 2 and hoping for a similar result to his 2nd game in Merrimack! :)
I lol'd
I'm not religious, but I'll AMEN to that.
I'm also quite content the Leafs will not pass NYR.
Agreed
Oh, I forgot, I'm not allowed to criticize him... it'll just lead to fellow chirpers saying shit like, "what you don't understand is that Spezza is a rare first liner, or a point-a-game player or he needs better linemates or he needs to play that risky style or he also got 2 goals tonight or it was someone else not reading his pass correctly blah blah blah" I've heard it all.
I honestly don't know how bad it was tonight, but I heard it was terrible, and at a key time. I know Spezza's value to our team, but anybody who passively accepts these giveaways as part of his game needs to go back to JR novice and be yelled at by a coach.
Maybe I shouldn't jump on it, since I didn't see it... I'm just assuming. Anyway, go draft pick - too bad FLA or NYI couldn't win tonight... we certainly should never expect them to.
I hate the Leafs probably more than anyone -- and I hate their fans more.
The Leafs should have won tonight with the Sens playing 4 AHL D -- total 3 D are rookies, Hale not much experience, Phillips and useless Kuba.
Leafs had to work hard to beat an AHL team - most of them rookies.... they could not even score on a 5 min PP. What in hell do they have to brag about?
Listening to those blasted fans after the game you would have thought they won the Cup.
Carolina won - Leafs are 2 pts back... BUT it's the Rangers in 8th -- who play I believe Philly tomorrow. Leafs are just 3 pts back from that. It's not Buffalo they have to catch now.. it's the Rangers who have fallen the last 4 games.
Spezza looked good tonight as hard as the Leafs bashed on him over & over.
Lost Svatos with a concussion from a stick to the head... Hello Greening again.
Liked DaCosta. Nervous 1st period.. but he looked okay the rest of the way.
Where is the integrity in that CBC? You are supposed to be an unbiased TV station NATION WIDE... Not Toronto centric?
Told them how disrespectful it was for him to do that on National television.
When last did he call the Leafs lousy... when they have been that way for years.
Cant believe Kuba though, he is to defense what Elliot is to goalies, i think with karlsson out and kuba seeing more ice time our draft picks are safe, the PP looked like a joke most of the time.
Da Costa looked shaky his first shift but but picked it up nicely after that.
Blind pass cross ice in the offensive zone, pass was blocked, went the other way, Kessel blew by Kuba and scored
Be looking for Greening to come back up and somebody else. Cause Svatos will be out and Smith will more than likely get suspended for at least one game for that hit, I would be suprised if he didn't.
I remember him on the TSN panel several years ago. One night, he came out and said, exact quote, "I played for the Leafs and I hate these guys (referring to the Senators)". Expecting any different from him is unrealistic.
On top of this, the CBC is 'national', but realistically they are a Toronto station, just like TSN is.
As Senators fans, we need to accept that our team is ALWAYS going to play 3rd-fiddle to the Leafs and the Habs. We have the unique position of being the only NHL town wedged between the 2 most popular teams in the NHL. It is inevitable that our team is going to be treated the way they are.
We need to accept this and support the team regardless, because we won't win the battle against CBC or TSN. Their directors love the Leafs, and bias doesn't matter, because (allegedly), the Leafs are "Canada's Team". If that's a fact, then it's no wonder Americans think we're retarded.
Sandy, I did the same thing last year during the playoffs when we played Pittsburgh. That was THE most brutal 6 game series I had to watch because of Glen Healy.
The letter I wrote was like 2000 words long. Obviously they don't give a two cents, because he's still talking his BS on TV. I absolutely cannot stand that guy.
CBC is garbage.
I got shat on 2 weeks ago when I mentioned how dumb his penalties are
nice to see people are starting to come around
PS. zach smith sucks, we could literally replace him with our worst bingo player and the only difference you would notice is fewer penalties
Despite the hint of sarcasm noted in the post scriptum, I agree.
I guess he's really only been up here because of our situation up front- with all of the trades and injuries and all.
But I honestly hope he doesn't make the roster next year. I would really like to see the roster shift away from a grinder type of one that we've seemed to have for years, to one with more skill.
Smith ain't got none.
are the rumours true???
JaysChirp2011?
what about the Jay Rosehill crosscheck to Svatos' head?
Rosehill was running around a lot last night.. trying to cheapshot Spezza -- I guess that was Ron Wilson's plan... take out the best player for Ottawa.
When Lessard challenged Rosehill at one point in the game.. Rosehill walked away...
I didn't hear to many people complaining whenever he kicked the shit out of Matt Bradley (after he boarded Wiercioch).
You can't just have a whole team of cream puffs like Marek Svatos on your team. Smith gets some penalties, but so do alot of players that play his mean S.O.B style. He is still young, and will get smarter with more experience.
Who cares if he put Matt Lashoff's head through the glass? Good, I was happy. Payback for Svato's bitches. You need players that aren't afraid to dish out retribution.
He is still a young player and will learn to pick his spots...
I still like his toughness and you do need that in your lineup especially against goon teams like Toronto & Philly.
They are 1 pt behind 4th with 4 games left to play.. but the other team has 1 game in hand.
However, Bingo is 5 pts ahead of the 4th place team in the other division for the crossover spot (Worchester).. both have 4 games left.
So if Bingo can win today and Worchester looses -- the lead would be 7 pts for crossover with only 3 games left.. that should clinch them the playoff spot.
Today is a key game..
I'm just appalled that they treat Ottawa like the bottom feeder of the league, or at least among the Canadian teams. They get no props.
Jason Spezza statistically, has been one of THE hottest forwards in the ENTIRE LEAGUE for the past 30 games, averaging over a point [check: 32 points in last 28 games], and has got NO recognition whatsoever. This guy is literally putting a young, inexperienced, injury riddled team on his back and still scoring.
That, in my opinion, deserves more recognition than Steven Stamkos, who plays with Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier.
The guy deserves more credit.
I'm sure you already know this, but theres actually 2 crossover playoff spots. If Bingo is ahead of the 3rd seed of the 7 team division (which they are), they move into their spot. It's nearly impossible for Binghampton not to make playoffs.
I like Smith for one role only, a grinder that can tussle. He's good for a callup or for nights when things might get out of hand, but the reality is, Smith shouldn't be playing more than 20 games next season.
Definitely agree... could not have said it better myself.
The league does not exist outside of Mtl or Tor...but I guess they have to give Vancouver some airtime as they just won the President's Trophy.
Agreed Johne, and to be honest, I don't want him for one damn second on the ice next season. Only by absolute necessity should he get called up, due to injuries, trades, what-have-you, and even then I'm going to go through Butler, Greening or Condra before him.
Enough with these grinders who check and take penalties for the sake of making the team 'tougher'.
We need guys who can put the puck in the net.
Did not know that.. thanks for pointing it out.
I was just concerned with them making it in -- in the first place.
A win today and a Worcester loss should do it.
If they keep winning to land higher in the standings... that's just gravy.
Bingo overall has done very well this season considering a lot of their players are rookies.
Toronto Marlies on the other hand... looks like they are out...
Bingo will most likely play Manchester in the first round.. anybody got a good scouting report?
... god the AHL playoffs are confusing.. 30 teams just like the NHL, why not have 6 divisions of 5 teams instead of 4 divisions, some with 7 teams some with 8?
Yes, TO and MTL are and will continue to be more popular than Ottawa.
Fact: Ottawa IS a shitty bottom feeder in the league right now. Our disaster of a season is proof of that.
Not BinghamPton
haha I love how our season always ends up better than the Leafs'. Either we finish in the playoffs and they don't or we finish with a high pick and they get an avg pick + no playoffs. LOSERS!!!
Most 2nd round guys don't have a big NHL impact, if any at all, but we've significantly increased our chances of picking up a 2nd round gem just by virtue of having more picks.
There are usually 3 or so solid-to-except ional players that get drafted in the second. To give us the benefit of a few years hindsight, here are some of those players from 2003-2006: Lucic, Seabrook, Carle, Neal, Statsny, Dubinsky, Goligosky, Krejci, Eriksson, Bergeron, Weber, Backes... I like our odds.
By the way.. the Marlies lost today...
I question the coaches choices for the shootout.. well at least some of it...
Keller, Potulny, Hoffman -- okay but Cody Bass? What about Greening?
1) Da Costa actually looked really good in his debut. He didn't get any points, but on the whole his game was good and I can see him as a top 6 player. He made some really nice passes (specifically the one through 4 Toronto players to Foligno at centre ice...too bad Foligno couldn't do anything with it or it would have really made Stephane look good.) Despite being small he didn't get bullied and he fought well in the corners and on the boards...he was never pinned down. He had some nice scoring chances too like the shot off the crossbar/post and one that Reimer got with his shoulder. Awesome.
2) Kuba is the worst player on this team.
3) Spezza is amazing.
That is all.
Kuba did look bad... but Clouston did say he has an injury and probably should not be playing... but he has no choice due to the current injuris on the team.
Spezza is indeed great. He has really grown as a player down the stretch. For those Sens fans that don't like him -- I really question their hockey judgement.
DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE KUBBBBBAAAAAAAA AA DIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Went to the game last night, hollly FUCK this guy is terrible, the fact he makes $3.7 MILLION DOLLARS a year is enough to make me physically sick....
Get this guy off the Senators right now! PLEASE! I will come up with a fundraiser to buy him out if I have to but just make sure he stays away from Ottawa forever!!!!
/rant
On a positive note, Spezza is absolutely on fire right now, I think he's adapting his game quite nicely from setting up 50 goal scorers to potting more himself, next year if he plays like this and stays healthy he'll b looking to put up 80-90 points again easily....
Seabrook was 14th overall. You're think of Keith. I definitely see your point though. There's always going to be late bloomers or guys that prove the scouts wrong. The more picks the better.
You're right - I was thinking about Keith... heh heh
Can someone show me a resource that lists our picks specifically? I know we have to wait for April 12th, but I can't keep the picks straight in my head... aside from our first & second, we have Nashville's 1st, then Boston & Chicago's 2nd? The Ruutu and Kovalev picks I don't care about so much.
The sixth rounder from the Ducks is actually Phoenix's (that they had traded to Anaheim).
The pick from Pittsburgh is either their 6th rounder (if Pittsburgh wins one round and Kovalev plays half their first round games) or their 7th rounder.
I think I saw you at the Jays game on Sat. Were you wearing an Alfy jersey? I yelled go Sens go from far and got MANY dirty looks from all the Maple Waffle Fans that were there.
Good weekend for the Jays....my buddies and I were getting ripped all night...worth it, we were cheering hard for the Sens right till the end!