As Sens fans look forward to the pivotal Game 5, and debate over whether or not guys like Jakob Silfverberg and Mark Stone could be ready to contribute to this team's playoff run, we have the latest edition of "Tom Says...".
This week Tom looks at the Sens improbable run this season.
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Yesterday the NHL released another edition of the “Because it’s The Cup” ads, this time featuring the Ottawa Senators (see it here). The ad is great and really hits the nail on the head when looking back on where the Senators started this season and where they are now. I think for most Senators fans this ad really does encapsulate the emotion of this season and the way we all feel about this team.
“Because 5 months ago outsiders didn’t give them a chance”
It’s no secret that the Senators were counted out almost unanimously among the “experts” when the season began. Not a damn person outside of this city thought the Senators would even get a sniff at the playoffs let alone the 29th spot. Through our first 6 games, the Senators held a record of 1-5 and things were looking grim. After a couple of embarrassing losses to Philadelphia and Colorado, Paul Maclean sat down with his leadership group and hashed out a plan to make sure this team wouldn’t fulfill these prophecies. Play as a team, win as a team.
“Because the Sens Army never doubted it.”
So as a Sens fan, reading day in and day out that your team will have trouble even being competitive on any given night starts to take its toll mentally. When you love something as much as we all love this team it starts to become frustrating that next to no one is giving your guys a fighting chance. Are they really as bad as everyone says?
It became very obvious early in the season that this team was special. They might not have the most talent, or the name recognition that you expect to find on a playoff bound team, but the Sens didn’t seem to think that was an issue and it didn’t seem to be an issue to the fans in this city either.
It’s pretty obvious that this feeling has expanded tenfold into the playoffs. The city is alive with Sens fever. Listening to the players tell it, the crowd support drives them even harder. Scotiabank Place was electric in games 3 and 4. You could feel the building shaking. You could feel the city’s excitement in every Go Sens Go chant, or Alfie countdown. The epitome of this came during a TV timeout in which the crowd at SBP cheered louder than I have ever heard, on their feet screaming for the entire 2 or 3 minute break in action. The players had no choice but to hear it. You could see them soaking it in and building them back up. We didn’t doubt them for a second.
“Because this story’s ending has yet to be written.”
Tied at 2 games apiece in their Eastern Conference quarter final matchup against the New York Rangers, Ottawa is as alive as ever. Nothing has changed. They are the same team now that they were in the regular season except for one difference. They are hungrier. They want it more than anything.
Its pretty obvious that every single member of this team has bought into the “Family” mantra that has shown up in every interview they have given in the past few weeks. They are playing for each other and don’t seem to care that they can still barely get any backing from anyone the in main stream media (I’m looking at you Stan Fischler). Four games have been played, and in my humble opinion the Senators have been the better team in the last three games. They know they can beat New York. They’ve done it all season. Like Chris Neil said to Colin Greening and Zack Smith before scoring the Game 2 OT winner, “Why not now? Why not us?”
“Because it’s time the cup returns to Ottawa.”
Now this is a bit of a stretch. The Sens have an incredibly difficult road ahead of them. Even getting out of the first round is no guarantee by any means, but if you have watched this team at all this season you know that crazier things have happened. Because it’s The Cup.
You can follow Tom on twitter @TomSENS
As for Silfverberg, since he won't be able to get a full practice with the team, I can only see the Sens asking him to play game 6 if they lose tomorrow night and Alfie's still out. Should the Sens lose a low scoring game tomorrow, they will have to get as much offensive help as they can.
On the Rangers side, fans are saying that the Rangers are ready to explode offensively in Game 5. I personnaly think it's the opposite. Spezza and Karlsson are due.
Go SENS GO
Haha yup and I can not figure out how to change the damn thing. For now, SensChirp has it's own time zone.
Still not sure if I'd want to see Stone, Hoffman, Klinkhammer or Daugavins in though.
If MacLean is only planning on giving whichever guy it is about 4-5 minutes of ice then why not Stone? Get him a taste and see what he can do? If he expects more from whomever draws in then I would have to go with Klinkhammer or Daugavins.
Remember, MacLean continues to talk about how this playoff series is a great "building block" and helps the "foundation" for the future etc.
Nah bro its SCT, senschirp time (:
Still, I wonder how the decision is made. Does the coaching staff go purely on how a player looks with the rest of the team (chemistry, skill, etc), or do things like experience (U-18, Calder Cup, etc) and player type factor in.
I'd sure like an inside look at how decisions are made behind the scenes...
It'd be cool if SBP was setup for a playoff reality tv show like 24/7... they could hide cameras and let the players know; someone from the organization could do the editing, making sure that nothing bad leaks out. If done well, I'm sure it would be a hit.
IMO (whatever it's worth) it's about 80% about best lineup to win the game in question, 15% about best lineup to win the series (i.e. maybe getting a player in now will help a little in the "next" game but more in the following game) and 5% about long-term future (i.e. getting a guy some experience for next season and beyond).
So if it's a close decision between two players on the "win the game in question" part then mabye the other stuff comes into the decision.
Really it depends on what they want from the guy replacing Winchester. If they want that guy to play a decent number or minutes then it has to be Klinkhammer or Daugavins IMO. If they aren't expecting much but hoping for some luck then Hoffman and Stone become options.
I wouldn't put too much stock in "first to get cut" since that doesn't mean he was the worst guy in camp or anything. It simply means they decided early that he needs more time and would benefit by being an over-ager.
But yeah, I think he's improved as much as any other prospect or more.
Yes he would - anyone who plays in the finals gets their name plus guys who helped get them there but didn't play in the finals for some reason:
http://proicehockey.about.com/od/stanleycupbunker/f/stanley_cup_nam.htm
Yes, definitely...Ke n Dryden, for instance, won the cup before his rookie year, and I'm sure his name is on the cup...
Yeah. The Twilight Zone. Haha.
Let's get this one circulating! #PraiseAlfie #Sens @6thSens @SensNation @redscarfunion @silversevensen s http://pic.twitter.com/jfuwI4pT
I can see Philly closing things out. Keys to the game? Flyers need to tighten up the defense a bit and make sure they get sharp goaltending, if they can be super chintzy and allow less than six goals tonight they should advance. LOL.
Dude, what the hell are you talking about, lol?
The factors that go into deciding who draws in to replace Winchester.
But yeah a bit of a rambling rant there.
It's 4:20 today. Everyone deserves a little slack, especially myself.
Be interesting to see Stone. I guess he is over his injury.
As for Silfverberg -- he needs practice time. He is not used to smaller ice surface and especially the physicality of NHL playoff hockey.
If and when he comes into the lineup I would start him on the 2nd line. Spezza's line gets the top checkers on the other team and not a lot of space....
We also have to temper our expectations as it will take time for Silfverberg to adjust to NHL hockey.
I have a feeling that the Sens win game 5. That crowd noise and appreciation of this team, will carry with them to game 5 and to a win. They know they can score on Lundquist if they get the puck up....
Go Sens....
I noticed that Boyle and Prust are logging a considerable amount of minutes above what they both usually play during the season. Boyle for example played about 18 minutes in the first 3 games, and just about 21 min in game 4 (More than Gabby played if you can believe it). Prust as well, sitting around the 14-15 min mark for a 3rd-4th line guy. I get why Torts wants to give Boyle especially some extra mins (than usual), but c'mon.....21 mins for a 3rd line center?? Speaking of an inbalance in playing time, Rangers also had 4 players that logged between 3-4 mins in the last game (Kreider, Mitchell, Rupp, and Bickel). The Sens had a balanced attack that saw all our players (except for Winchester who got hurt) get 12 + minutes including Konopka, which brings me to my last point. Special K is 24-11 in the faceoff circle in the 3 games hes played.
Not sure what my point is in this post, but lets just say that Torts seem to be all over the map with his matchups and dishing out of minutes, while Stash seems to have all lines rolling. Its working out so far I think.
Fair enough!
...I would say replace Winchester with Klinkhammer and leave everything else the same. At least Klinkhamer can hit - I have a feeling the Rangers are going to be VERY aggressive tomorrow night..
I love the Sens as much as anybody, but I hope you're not losing any sleep over this scenario...
Ya, I've noticed that Ottawa has been rolling 4 line and 3 D pairings, while NYR seem to be playing 5 D (plus Bickle sitting) and 9 forwards more than others (haven't seen much of Rupp/Mitchell/K rieder). I thought NYR was supposed to have better depth than us.
Also, I read in the pre-season that Yakupov would be joining the team in June... does that mean he could play in the finals if we make it? (JOKE!)
Maclean trusts his players and he empowers them. These guys are all playing with so much confidence right now. The Sens play the game the way its meant to be played, pure puck possession and they're a very good skating team.
If Tortarella doesn't make some changes and extend his bench, the fresher legs of the Sens are going to take over this series in games 5, 6 and maybe 7.
A reporter asked Spezza about it and he said Maclean was showing him that he didn't have a shot on goal yet and 7 shots that missed the net. Then he finished off his answer with that awkward Spezza giggle.
(long, deep inhale)
We're talking about life, man... Sens-life... ya.
(cough, cough)
My wife will be disappointed! She loves his flowing locks...
I agree, Silfver will be in the lineup Monday night. Too bad his team could finish it in 4. He would have had a full practice and be ready for tomorrow.
I love the feeling of being an underdog in the playoffs and I'm really excited for next training camp. Would the So called Experts (Cough.. THN...TSN...Cou gh) dare to put the Sens out of a playoffs spot next season?
Now let's hope Donald Fehr doesn't F*ck up next season.
Go SENS Go
2) stone is our top PPG player in our system, his hands are the elite scoring kind.
3) if alfie is still out monday silfverberg would definatley be in.
4) Go Sens Go!
My wife will be pissed too! Haha.
Interesting on those numbers. If the Rangers don't watch the minutes of some of their key people.. fatigue may be a factor going into games 6 & 7.
The Rangers played this way all season. Blocking shots and tight checking. The Sens are a fast team... and that could be wearing down the Rangers.
Alfie *will* still be out and putting Jakob in is probably 50/50 for this series. The optimal time to put him in would be (god willing) game 1 of next round. Let him "ease" into the playoffs establishing the series and not in an even more pressure filled do-or-die situation.
That would also give him ample time to practice with the team, learn the system, click with his linemates.
I trust whatever The Stache decides, but the best frigging thing we could do is wrap this up in six games and not even need to use him this series. That will also buy some of our banged up guys a couple extra incredibly important recovery days.
Sens in six would help our chances a lot compared to a seven game series. Go Sens, let's annihilate these guys!
He may get more room to move... He has to adjust to the smaller ice and a lot more hitting...
I fully expect the Rangers to be up to their dirty tactics tomorrow.... who do they target next?
Uh, yeah we could... if WAS, SENS and FLA win, then FLA is the highest seed and OTT the lowest... hence the possibility (even if remote) of OTT/FLA in the 2nd round. Match-ups are based on seeding, not on divisions(not any more).
Elementary my dear Jack...
If Washington beats Boston (and we beat the Rangers) we'd play Florida. Well, IF Florida beats New Jersey that is.
Put another way: If we make round 2, we play Boston. Unless Boston is out then we'd play Florida. Unless Florida is out too then we'd play Philly (or Pitt).
Yeah! What he said!
That is such a big if but it gives me goosebumps... Rangers, Boston and probably Penguins already out heading into the second round? Wow we could realistically beat any of the remaining teams in the east!
*smacks himself in the head* Not to get ahead of ourselves that is!
Sens Store at SBP does not have any, nor does Hockey Life.
Anyone?
By "Mikka" do you mean Mika Zibanejad?
Start here maybe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-llNHzjP02k and look through related if that one isn't the one you were thinking of.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh_GhSGzltI&feature=BFa&list=PLB94F40819D5EA83A
Because his story as one more chapter.....
Shit there goes a needed 5 lbs. !!
Great find - that is awesome. Hopefully Alfie gets to play again this year.
:') damn you man I got...ummm.. sand..yeah sand in my eye from watching that
Hahaha! Nice!
Silvferberg - Zibanejad - Stone
YAy!
Can't wait for tomorrow night, it's time to SHOCK THE WORLD!
I've seen some radical ideas about adjusting the NHL standings so that shootout wins don't count as much.
The most radical of ones I think are at least feasible is:
3 points to win in regulation, loser gets nothing.
3 points to win in OT, loser gets 1 point.
2 points to win in SO, loser gets 1 point.
Looks very radical but certainly could lead to more aggressiveness in OT to get the extra two points instead of one. Plus more incentive to win in regulation of course - especially if it's a division game.
Having said that, the same 8 teams would be in the playoffs this year if they scored it this way (except that games may have played out differently with different stakes).
Washington would have won the division though and we would have finished 7th ahead of Florida.
I doubt they'll dress 13 forwards (since we have 11 from last game that are healthy there's only one spot open). So Klinkhammer and Daugavins would only both start if they make some other forward a healthy scratch.
Couldn't agree more with you on that
I'm not sure about your statement. As a young star trying to enter the league and make the team next year, I'd certainly fly my ass over despite missing the Worlds to showoff to PM and company. That's just me though.
I don't think there's been any promise to put him in a game.
NHL points system is the joke of professional sports. We need to dole out the same number of points regardless of game outcome. Very simple to achieve this:
Regulation win = 3 pts
Overtime / Shootout win = 2 pts
Overtime / Shootout loss = 1 pt
I've been wanting to say that for a while, but it's such a homer comment... we haven't even had a lead this playoffs!
Still though, Imagine that... FLA in the second round
And I was praying we'd face the Panthers in the 1st round
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRZmVTUKhfA
love this vid.
Half Swede, half Iranian... awesome
Quoting Sharmarkee:
Ya, we had that a while ago... remember when Peter Schaefer and Mike Fisher played on the 3rd line? Ah, those were the days. We had Havlat and Hossa and Chara. Schaefer would take the puck along the boards while everyone else took a 5 min break.
But ya, it's awesome to see a team that gels again.
HAHAHAHA... our rebuild vs the Leaf's past 8 years... awesome
This season in the Eastern Conference, I checked the final points from the top 8 teams, and the following results,
in the standings looked like this:
1- Rangers 109
2- Penguins 108
3- Flyers 103
4- Bruins 102
5- Devils 102
6- Panthers 94
7- Capitals 92
8- Senators 92
With the realigment coming next year, this should be the way they finish in the standings. Panthers would have been 6th and not 3rd. Bruins would hae been 4th and not 2nd, and
so on !
it's gonna be the Daug and you heard it here first ,now have at it "experts "
I'm no expert, and don't want to argue. I like Daug's. He's a hard worker.
But he doesn't have much finish. I'll buy it, but I won't be surprised if he's held off the scoreboard. I also won't be surprised if Daug's doesn't make the line-up. We need someone that can score.
If I wanted to make a bold statement, I'd pick Konopka.
Go Sens
thanks
http://atdhenet.tv/46203/watch-philadelphia-flyers-vs-pittsburgh-penguins
our black aces are family, the dog will be inserted when neil,foligno,sm ith,condra or any other simular type player is hurt,suspended or ailing. The dogs is family but we only have room for so many dogs on the ice. Alfie is hurt and he's skill, we need skill so I can see stone cracking the lineup.
Dauggie certainly has the playoff gear. Check out the youtube vids from the Bingo Calder run.
But my money is on Klinkhammer as I think MacLean wants to cycle all the guys through to keep some fresh (and motivated) legs out there. With Torts shortening his bench most games fresh legs really can make the difference.
If Butler wasn't skating well and looking okay in the top 6 then I could see Stone or Hoffman drawing in for him - but neither fits in the bottom six really and certainly not enough to warrant "going against the family".
Black Aces: Definition - guys not on the official roster but hanging out with the team. They don't practice with the team. (But yes they are somewhat part of the "family")
Hence Hoffman getting "called up" from the black aces then getting "sent back" to the black aces when they went with Butler again instead. Hoffman looks to have been "called up" again today along with Stone. But I don't think either will play in game 5.
But ... in Paulrus we trust.
I believe stone went to NY with the team, not sure about hoffman making the trip.
Wull ...
He could have been grinning simply because he was practicing with an NHL team in the playoffs.
Doesn't mean he plays.
Would argue it's contrary to MacLean's approach if he does play though you can only bluff so many times I guess.
My money is on Klinkhammer drawing in:
Greening Spezza Michalek
Foligno Turris Butler
Klinkhammer Smith Neil
Konopka O'Brien Condra
That's what I expect - not saying that's what it should be or that I'm smarter than MacLean (which I am not - and neither is anyone reading this).
What is the difference between playing Stone or NY playing Kreider. Stone is a big body, good along the boards with snipers habilities, I think MacClean saw something with Turris' goal. We need quality shots and Stone can bring that more than Kljnkhammer or Daugavins.
I hope he plays and his play only will dictate how many minutes he will be used. Monday will be Silfer time.
Go Sens Go
1-(87th overall) DenisVial 87 points
2-(128th overall) nyjets1967 85 points
3-(194th overall) Bradweiser 83 points
4-(240th overall) Miasow 82 points
5-(287th overall) tcharger 81 points
6-(365th overall) PaskySensFan 80 points
7-(535th overall) Eagle8 78 points
8-(773rd overall) Bluenose 76 points
8-(773rd overall) Kratos71 76 points
8-(773rd overall) RUSHRLZ 76 points
Thats the "top 10".
And onto today, I am SO excited I tried to convince the wife to go for a road trip to NYC for "shopping" this weekend....haha ha she didn't even come close to falling for it...Didn't help that we were there about 2.5 months ago hahaha
for all stream needs... ive posted many times. But only useful for non sens games since CBC streams in HD for us. for free at
www.cbc.ca
should find out soon, game day.
I think Stone is an upgrade over Klinkhammer or even Daugavins, not really going to know until we try him.
What ever happened to going with the guys who go you there??? Daugavins 65 games good on the pk, solid in his own end and much more reliable, perfect for a road playoff game. Same goes for Klinkhammer. Stone ZERO NHL games, will be a good player for years to come but as of right now doesn't bring anything more to the line-up then inexperience.
Were going stride for stride with the nhl's best team why change the approach? Both Klinkhammer and Daugavins play a slimmer game as Winchester thus continuing with the same line-up approach.
And lastly common on people do you really think Silfverberg is going to play this round??????? If the team wanted him that bad he would have been on a plane Friday. I'm as big a sens fan as any but can we please use some common sense. If we advance i could defiantly see him being used in round 2 just not now given the time constraints and the do or die game situation
It is always good to post streams, I am ok as I get NBC in Florida, had to change my programing to get it but cbc does nothing for me if I needed a stream.
Were going stride for stride with the nhl's best team why change the approach? Both Klinkhammer and Daugavins play a slimmer game as Winchester thus continuing with the same line-up approach.
And lastly common on people do you really think Silfverberg is going to play this round??????? If the team wanted him that bad he would have been on a plane Friday. I'm as big a sens fan as any but can we please use some common sense. If we advance i could defiantly see him being used in round 2 just not now given the time constraints and the do or die game situation
Nah i think ur wrong, i think they want to base there decision on silfverberg on tonights game, esp if alfie and wnch cant play in game 6 either