Fans have certainly got their money's worth the last couple games.
When Colin Greening scored to give Ottawa a 3-2 lead with just over 2 minutes to go, it looked like it was curtains for the Florida Panthers. To their credit, they battled back and tied the score with less than a minute to play.
But as we've learned early on in this season, this Ottawa Senators team does not stop playing until the final buzzer. Nick Foligno jumped on a big rebound off an Alfredsson shot, made a quick move in tight and sent the home town fans into a frenzy.
That Foligno goal never would have happened if not for the poise of rookie defenceman David Rundblad. He made a fantastic play at the line to keep the puck in and made a quick feed to Alfie that set the GWG in motion. Rundblad is noticeably more comfortable out there right now and is beginning to show what he is capable of.
Stephane Da Costa was given a shot to be the second line centre and delivered what I thought was his best game as a pro. He finished the game with a goal, +3 rating and played just over 15 minutes.
Have to once again thank the good folks at Wisers. Spent a second straight game in that Wisers box and I really don't think there is a better place to watch a hockey game. Be sure to stop by and like the Wiserhood Facebook page.
Two games, two of the best regular season finishes in team history.
- Sens were scheduled to practice at noon today. Will pass along any updates that come from that.
great game last night, its nice having a coach that cares and communicates with the players to get the results, and no more too many men penalties...
also chirp what does a linesman/refere e have to do to get in this league, is there a ratings system, are these guys monitored in any way so they make good calls, or are they power tripping cop wanna be's with no leash?
Is there any chance they send him back to Sweden before his 10th game or are we pretty much committed to him staying in North America?
With all the Zibanejad talk I haven't heard anything about Rundblad.
I personally think he's ready to play on the team we have and develop here, but I also wonder if it's in our best interest to send him to the SEL, let Lee play and then later in the season if we are able to unload Kuba at the deadline we can call Rundblad back after the SEL is done. I guess that would still burn off a year of his ELC if we did that though, so not sure what it gains us.
Chirp - any talk about Rundblad and our plans for him?
I believe RB7 is in the first year of his ELC, he's either staying here of going down to Bingo. He has no 9 game restriction. Its all about roster management now, whichever the Sens decide.
I say keep him in NHL, he is getting more confident each game, I mean to make a dangerous back pass like that when your last man back, at the end of a game.....takes confidence...
Still hate Muckler for that Lee pick. Nothing against the kid but damn does he ever not fit on our team and never has. As good of a player as Lee has become we sure could use that Kopitar right now.
I thought I remember them saying that Rundblad lost a year of his ELC last year for whatever reason, so this would be year 2 of the ELC... I could be way off, but I thought that was what I heard...
Before the season started, I said all I wanted was an exciting team to watch each game. Expectations met.
I don't follow each comments section but has anyone mentioned the improvement in Gonchar's play? I'd still like a bit more from him but he's heading in the right direction. #1 PP says something, doesn't it?
HAHAH I love it...a little bit of compliment, with a whole lot of backhand. WOuldn't expect anything less.
Haha I wish you would have because that definitely wasn't me. Entered through Gate 2 last night. Got the height right though!
whoooo,
gotta say I love this comparison... really close in many ways, hope it pans out
This is my first ever post. I have been following Senschirp ever since Heatley requested a trade. I have followed Senschirp closely ever since, just never wrote anything. I just want to thank Senschirp for the good work he puts into this site and for all the posters, good or bad (Tookie) to keeping me entertained throughout the years.
- I'm an NHL fan as much as a Sens fan and I often agree with PraiseAlfie and JQS and ....uh sick to my stomach...yes even Tookie. Lol He has good points sometimes but just delivers them as a douchebag. He's just a 33 yrs old dude who lives in his parents basement in Orleans. Lol Rocking Robert and Sandy, love your positive energy.
Anywyays I'm loving this 4 games win streak and I promise that my next posts will be shorter. Oh yeah, Loving those new Heritage jerseys and I think those should have been our original jerseys.
the tale of 2 d-men in Ottawa
Lee - 9th overall -disappointing, maybe 5-6 d-man may never crack the linep, sits
Weircoch - drafted 42nd overall- huge potential, great pick, future top 4 D,
it is not Lee's fault he was drafted 9th, he will be a good d-man when finally given the chance
Except he wasn't last man back, there was a defense behind him. Good try though.
Even if Florida had picked it off (and if there was no one back, even though there was in this case), they wouldn't have had time to get down the ice. So, honestly, you're just being a huge pessimist. What else is new though, I guess.
Not the most dangerous pass by Rundblad considering the game time left on the clock. Florida would have just been able to make it to blue line to get a shot. Fairly certain a player like RB would be aware of these things. But then again who knows. Another great game by the Senators even though all the W's coming against weak opponents
Yes, Rundblad will be in position to make some serious money in this league in 2013/14 and we shall be in a position to pay him. The only downside I can see is #7 is pushing EriK to try and do too much right now...if that's a downside?
who gives a shit...he could have been the last man standing for all I care, he made a great play to win the game, plain and simple.
In a couple of years I say he challenges Karlsson as our best D-man,
I think I can speak for the rest of us - get over it, please.
As a Sens fan I'm just going to really enjoy these wins. After the bad 1 & 5 start this team had, they have been playing very well & got back to 5 & 5. Who the hell cares who they beat. Any team can beat any team on any given night.
They finish where they finish but I still think it will be in the best interest of the re-build to still be sellers at the deadline. IF Kuba & Gonchar continue to show their improved play maybe a desperate contending team with injuries may come calling.
I really like how Rundblad is playing. He will still make mistakes but he looks a lot more comfortable -- and is adjusting quicker than I thought.
When Carkner is ready to play what will Murray do with 8 healthy D?
Crazy to see the Sens in 8th place.. with 2nd best PP in the league. Boston at the bottom & Vanc & SJ 12 & 13th.
What's with this crazy start to the season?
Why would we sit phillips? He has been playing his best hockey over the last few games. He's being physical and doing what he does best, shutting down offense. If anyone would sit i would want it to be kuba. Sure he has been playing better but i havent even noticed him on the ice since he scored that goal against columbus. He's not doing anything special
i really like how this team is showing something rare in the form that they just absolutely do not give up untill the final buzzer.
with less than 5 seconds remaining, a complete rookie in the NHL in rundlbad makes quite the play and then a grizzled vet in alfie makes the most out of it by absolutely wiring it and a guy in foligno who has really struggled to turn his production into points finishes the play with presence of mind and net drive.
I mean there are atleast three opportunities for three different sens players in the span of 5 seconds to give up on the play and survive until overtime and possibly give the panthers the last little bit of momentum they need, but all three players deny that opportunity to give up. thats something. that shows the drive to win and that the much needed killer instinct is there and alive and breating. and thats good.
tell'em Peluso... your about to drop them aren't you
and next time your in the corner with Tookie give hime the business will ya :)
"Oh yeh they announced 18k people but trust me every one I was never at the game.. didn't watch the game.. but I'm absolutely positive it was more like 800 people at the game and therefore you're all fickle fans and I'm a troll"
Now I'm starting to wonder if he even has a wife like he claims and whether he's a season ticket holder. Do you even have a job?? Because you seem to work here full-time as senschirp.ca troll.
Great game btw.. caught the last bit of it on my way to work.
Start planning the parade!! LOL!!
No disrespect to Peluso but he wouldnt last 2 seconds with me...
Easy Peluso, he is trying to get you an instigater
Tookie,
with all due respect to you... my money is easily on Peluso... name like that, one of the original Sens enforcer, he has to have an edge... I'm just sayin...
It's covered in Article 9 of the CBA, section d) i) "In the event that an 18 year old or 19 year old Player signs an SPC with a Club but does not play at least 10 NHL Games in the first season under that SPC, the term of his SPC and his number of years in the Entry Level System shall be extended for a period of one year, except that this automatic extension will not apply to a Player who is 19 according to Section 9.2 by virture of turning 20 between September 16 and December 31 in the year in which he first signs an SPC..."
hope that helps.
Assuming that's correct (i.e. there's not some loophole that applies to Rundblad, then obviously he should stay in Ottawa or maybe Bingo at some point (like EK did). Was just thinking it might be a way to get Lee out of the press box.
I believe the Sens could LOAN him to the SEL if they chose to, but probably not much point in that as it would still burn another year on his contract to my understanding, especially with his improved play. Lee does deserve to get back in though!
Peluso was a freaking pansy!
Ahh yes that helps! thx for digging that up!
Its either NHL or AHL for RB7, I would prefer NHL...
Talk of sitting anyone for Lee is insane.
No way they send Rundblad back. I don't think he is going to Bingo either.
Murray will have to move a defenseman or two once Carkner is ready to return. Question is... can he?
Even if Lee projects as our #6 D in a couple of years he should be playing ahead of Kuba (who will be gone after this year) and Gonchar (gone after next year if not sooner) and probably Carkner (who projects, at best, to 7th D in a couple years).
Though there are contract and political reasons why they can't just sit those guys and you need some vets in the lineup (including Phillips) but if he sits much longer it will hurt us in the long run.
I'm here to read about hockey not random comments about some guy who is clearly a douche.
I really don't remember Karlsson looking this good through 10games of his rookie year. Rundblad needs to work on his skating this off season and then will soon become a dominant offensive defenseman.
I like that were winning some games and our young players are gaining confidence but I don't want to win too many here. I know were only through 10 games but we simply cannot afford to fall out of the lottery. We have 1 major hole on our roster and that's a 1st line winger. We won't be able to get a legit 1st line guy outside the top 5 this year. Therefore if we finish outside the bottom 5 we absolutely need to make a substantial trade to get that 1st line guy. If that means trading away this years 1st round pick then I'm all for it. As soon as we either draft or trade for that definite 1st liner all we have to do is work with that core for the next year or two and watch them grow to become an elite team
Tookie19 = "Joe from Arnprior" 2.0
Words of wisdom.
Wait, so you don't think our pick will be good enough to get a top line winger so we should trade it for one? So they can draft a guy worse than the one they traded us for the pick?
What about Zibanejad, Petersson, Silfverberg, Puempel, Noesen, Filatov, Butler, Stone, Caporusso, Prince ...
Or you'd rather see proof that the young guys we already have are really far away (therefore we get a lottery pick) to add one more gamble to that list instead of seeing that our young core is actually looking good already?
FK has looked MUCH better the last few games and shhiiittttt HE HAS 2 goals! who da thunk it?
Rundblad's play is not a surprise to me, still has the odd minor BLIP but he definitely belongs here and anyone who thinks otherwise hasn't been watching, or quite frankly need to have their head examined. He's going to pot one this weekend Ya heard it here first!
Also the SENATORS play of late has been no surprise to me. NOT VERY MANY at all are giving this team much, but from the start of the year I said it and I maintain it. WE WILL BE 9-5 in the conference come March/April
Andy is already starting to show the form of last year. Gonchar (like I predicted) is already showing that last year was a fluke, and is on his way to having a bounce back year. Everyone thought we'd have trouble scoring goals, that was a laugh. I never even for a second agreed. With Spezza, 9mm, Gonch, EK, Blads, & Alfie.
It's nice to know that if we get scored on first that the game isn't over. Nice to know that if we were down late that it isn't over. With CC behind the bench last year it was a foregone conclusion, we weren't coming back. It's also nice to know that it's not an almost automatic loss when were're headed to the SO.
We have the right man behind the bench, the right man between the pipes, and the right veterans leading this team! I heard on the team that they thought Spezza is playing like never before
CORRECTION: Spezza is playing the exact same way he finished last year!
Go Sens Go!
I'm dreaming
I HAVE TO BE!
What about Zibanejad, Petersson, Silfverberg, Puempel, Noesen, Filatov, Butler, Stone, Caporusso, Prince ...
Or you'd rather see proof that the young guys we already have are really far away (therefore we get a lottery pick) to add one more gamble to that list instead of seeing that our young core is actually looking good already?
No, I mean If we do fall out of the lottery we should package that 1st rnd pick and get somebody that is a legit 1st line winger
Almost all the guys you named will be max 2nd liners with the exeption of Filatov and or Puempel
We need a truly dominant player to play with Spezza (even if he's young...as long as he has the potential to be a 1st line guy)
That's why we desperately need either Yakupov or Forsberg
5th to 9th is a Pierre McGuire non-prediction, get off the fence.
#17's give aways, failure to clear during PKs and passes to nowhere are being secretly tracked by OSIA and burnt immediately after each game. GW said it's official Filippé is not to be openly criticized in the media. Sather/Tortorel la is our last chance, let's hope Kuba has a big game against Gaborik.
I don't think we desperately need anything in particular - unless we do finish last overall then we're in big trouble.
We've got the following guys who will either be part of our playoff team in 2-3 years or be replaced with upgrades - if they're not good enough to at least hang around the middle of the pack for part of the season then we're nowhere near making any sort of playoff run in 2-3 years:
Spezza, Greening, Michalek, Foligno, DaCosta, Smith, Regin, Condra, Winchester, Karlsson, Rundblad, Cowen, Lee and possibly Anderson.
My point is, we shouldn't want this team to be bad enough to finish last. We need that group to be decent enough to win some games, especially with the veterans hopefully helping. Not many (that's not realistic) but some.
I personally believe we can make the playoffs, and I'm hoping we do.
If we finish last because of injuries or because Anderson turns out to be a bust then I won't be too worried - in fact the higher draft pick will be a bit of a bonus (assuming Lehner plays well in the A). But if we finish last because the guys I mentioned don't play well or improve like they should (depending on which guy and how long they've been in the NHL etc) then I will be very worried. Or if we finish last but lose a lot of really close games and basically play well.
In other words, the closest thing to "standings" I'm watching this year is the progress of those players. We're essentially our own farm team this year in a sense.
Some beauty's on spezzas wing c'mon Brian give him the call already he's almost a GPG
I'm not saying thats somewhere we will finish I'm simply saying that in my opinion that we will be in the mix. I maintain the same statement. I won't be surprised if we make the playoffs. This team is really no different than Tampa ;last year and Colorado the year before. I'll definitley say Sens won't finish 12-15th like all the dumbass idiot critics are predicting.
And yes hopefully Kuba has a GREAT game against Gabbie, so either Sather or Feaster take him off our hands.
I still say Kuba + (maybe) to Cgy for Jokinen
Pretty sure everyone here would rather Jokinen then Kuba. I know I definitely would
If he can't be the #2 center (I'd rather Da Costa) he would fit in on the 3rd line. Could provide some more offense on the PP too.
Why in the name of anything holy would we want to add a 32 year old? I guess it's not worse than having Kuba since Lee could play over Konopka (or whoever sits to make room for Olli) but I have zero interest in anyone who's not going to be better in 2-3 years than they are now. So unless that (maybe) is more garbage we don't want and not a pick/prospect I am so not interested.
He also got nailed in the head with an elbow. I guess a lot of the Bingo players went after him (Sesisto -- I think?) -- even Lehner got into the act.. took 4 min in penalty. Gotta love his fire.
The only thing that will really hit this team hard.. is if Spezza goes down with a long term injury. It's scary what the centres would look like without Spezza.
Gotta say I wish I knew what the Lee love affair is about. The guy has had half a decade to become something. He came out of School too early, rode Nycholat Down here for inflated numbers his first year, and played with an arrogant entitled attitude the whole time. Always played not to get hurt down here knowing he was the callup even though he was far from the best d-man.
i didnt see what actually happened but im told that apparently lehner was trying to fight Sesisto.
as for the lee love.. im sorry but i will still continue to defend lee, taking more sh*t than anyone else and its not liek he hasnt proven him self capable of playing in the few games he has played this year and late last year.. feel bad for the kid, we need to do him a favor and move him to a team that will appreciate his skill..
Yeah he is going to henrik lundqvist house for Halloween party tomorrow night
Moron
Highlights from the Bingo game
Cheers,
He was a top 10 pick, had "half a decade" to prove himself, and the best he can do is prove capable of playing periodically? That's what is expected from a top 10 pick?
Personally, Filatov needs to be left in the AHL. The kid is a product of a franchise that was in desperate need of a future. While still young, he needs to be given the chance to grasp the game. Be able to make mistakes. Learn and grow. Its what the A is for. I say leave him here until the new year, and go from there. TIME. luckily, Ottawa has it right now. Use it! Ya'll not hurting without him anyways.
It would only be for the season, he's a UFA at the end of the year, yeah he isn't the player he was in Florida but Jokinen is still effective none the less. He's good for at least 50 points, maybe him and Alfie could do some damage. So far he has 7 points in 9 games, finished with 54 last year.
I'D TAKE HIM OVER KUBA....
not sure who I would prefer both really do nothing for our team long term
PS. Foligno’s smile after that goal was EPIC
I hate trade proposals.
I know Greening has been playing well but a line of Michalek-Spezza -Bourque would look great
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe he gets the start tomorrow vs the laughs
Go Sens Go, Tear those blue and white bastards a new one.
Well yeah he's slightly less useless than Kuba and I suppose he'd return more at the deadline (but not much). My concern is the "extra" we'd have to throw in with Kuba to get him - totally not worth it.
I could care less about any trade that only improves us this season unless it also improves us in the long run. I would much rather watch some kid with a 1 in a million shot to make the team than some UFA on the downside.
Lucky bum
They advertise on the site and sponsered a few contests. They're part of the reason we get to enjoy this site so we should all go buy some Wisers!
So B-Sens going into Saturday's game without Lehner, Daugavins, possibly Locke, Parrish & Filatov... yikes.
http://chilisports.strikehost.info
So is Snoop Doggy Daug still up? I thought Butler was ready and while Daug was good I figured they'd still send him down - particularly if Bingo is short-handed.