It has been an up and down start for the Flames who come into this one with a 7-8-1 record on overall which includes a disappointing 3-4-1 record on home ice. Alex Tanguay leads the Flames with 12 points while Captain Jarome Iginla is off to a slow start with just 9 points and is a team worst -8 through the first 16 games.
The Flames have scored just 35 goals this season, which ranks them 29th in the NHL ahead of only the New York Islanders. Yet they have managed to hover around .500 thanks to the solid goaltending of Mikka Kiprusoff (2.31 GAA, .923 SV%). He gets the start for Calgary tonight.
No changes are expected to an Ottawa line up that beat the Leafs on Saturday. Chris Neil will miss a third straight game with a high ankle sprain and has been placed in injured reserve. Meanwhile, Matt Carkner- who has yet to play a game this season- appears to be getting closer to a return. He skated with the team yesterday.
David Rundblad is a healthy scratch.
Greening-Spezza-Michalek
Foligno-DaCosta-Alfredsson
Daugavins-Smith-Condra
Konopka-Winchester-Butler
Kuba-Karlsson
Phillips-Gonchar
Cowen-Lee
Thanks to Ian Mendes for this little tidbit. The last time the Sens won a game in Calgary was way back in 2003. Wade Redden scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Sens win. Long overdue for another W in Cowtown.
A reminder, puck drops just after 9:00 PM tonight so be sure to make time for a pre game nap. The game is available on Sportsnet or on The Team 1200. If you are hoping to tune in online, keep an eye on the comment section for a stream.
- Nothing new on the Brassard story I talked about on Sunday. This morning, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun has also suggested the Sens may be interested in the Jackets centre. Should be interesting to see if any updates come out of the GM meetings.
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For those of you that are not aware, the voting for the NHL All Star Game here in Ottawa opened this morning and so too did the VoteAlfie Campaign. Click here and vote for Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, Sergei Gonchar and Erik Karlsson. You can vote up to 30 times per account online, on your mobile device and through text message. This is OUR All Star Game and we want to make sure the Sens are well represented.
Them: Poor offense good goaltending
Low scoring, Kipper decides the game? I'm thinking Foligno with a goal tonight (nice dirty battle in front of the net?). Hopefully Andersson can steal us this game (Calgary being a low shot/game team), and let's light up that top line again...they've been in that slump for too long, they must be getting hungry by now! :)
Tookie. Those other guys will ALL BE THERE. Leave it to their fan bases to vote them in, they will!
The top 20 players in the league will be at this game. Our voting helps fill out the remainder of the rosters with guys that all arguably deserve it, but aren't necessarily no-brainers.
Not to want Alfie, our franchise player, on the ice for this game in Ottawa? That's a joke dude. Every other host team always gets a couple of homer picks in, that is the way it always goes. To fight against Alfie being on the ice for this one? *pukes*
This has been going on for years, but some people in Ottawa decide to wait until OUR game to fight against voting in "questionably deserving" players. Why am I not surprised.
Rush...come on man! My opinion is somewhat like yours...but don't drag a "tookie conflict" as one of the first post (if any) on a brand new thread about a "game tonight" (if any). Please leave that kind of "battle of opinion" on the last thread where it started".
If Anderson can play consistently, an our guys can keep it simple and get down & dirty in front of the Flames net, this has the potential to be a blowout win for us.
I don't need your permission to chime in on the All Star issue, nevermind the fact that my stance is Pro-Senators on this one...
And for the record Tookie's comment was less than 15 minutes old, so I'm hardly dredging up the past and resurrecting an old 'argument' here.
People in the god forsaken town need to wake up and realize that we deserve to be decently represented at this game.
You want to see all our stars? Get a ticket to the next available game buddy.
Some of us actually want to see a star-studded ALL STAR GAME. As much as I live and breathe sens, I, like many of you, love the game of HOCKEY and the players that make it as exciting as it is.
Defense pairings will be : As per Ottawa Sun .
Cowen - Lee
Kuba - Karlsson
Phillips - Gonchar
Hope you post your official lineup soon !!
but we have had a chance to get out west with a couple of days rest, and should be our best game of the western road trip.
Greening,Alfie, DaCosta and Foligno all have big games
Sens win 4-2
As for the All-Star Game... it's OTTAWA's this year... Why not vote in Ottawa's players.. especially Alfie, Spezza, Michalek & Karlsson..
This 'project mayhem' came from Toronto fans trying to 'ruin' this game for Ottawa by voting in players they figure Sens fans would not want to see. Them attempting to do that.. just proves why they are the most hated fans in the league. More concerned about ruining this for Sens fans than voting in their own players...
I'm okay with anyone they want to vote in (ex-Sens players) except for Heatley... who won't show anyway... He will make some excuse for not coming.. so they would be wasting their votes.. that's when Sens fans get the last laugh.
on one side I want to see our stars their, Spezz, Karlsson for sure, Alfie more than deserves to be there, Michalek is a league leader this year and deserves it
on the other NHL fans (MTL and Laff fans) want to see their stars in there as well, and ruin it for Sens fans
so it is a tough debate,
however NO ONE should argue on the merits of one of the longest standing captains, and leaders of their teams, in Captain Aflie!
He has done it all, and even now when healthy is easily amongst one of the best players in the league
Only NHL fans that hate the Sens could ever argue against Alfie.
Pleny of examples of great players that were not in their prime and were at the Allstar game, and Alfie is among them IMO of cours
Derek Brassard heathy scratch tonight vs wild ...deal ???
Could be, but I think he has a left hand problem !
He will maybe not be as promising as he was !
Habs & Leaf fans are voting to bring ex-Sens players to the game... not voting their own players in...
The other 45 players involved with the all-star game will be filled with the top end talent around the league with those who deserve to be there.
alfie-spezza-michale...karlsson-boyle...anderson
that should be everyone's vote IMO (boyle is local boy, would be a huge honor for him)
However, once Ottawa came back, I switched to cheer the local boys with the Flames as backup.
As for tonight, IF Ottawa can get their legs going early, skate hard and go to Kip hard... we will succeed in a 4-1 win.
GO SENS GO!!
Excited? He wont help us "Fail for Nail" unless he continues to be plagued by injuries that is...
I could agree with the anderson point
as for Giroux thats just funny lol he is not local by any means hahahaha he is from Hearst Ontario lol, went undrafted in OHL and then went to Q after being signed by Gatineau
He has done it all, and even now when healthy is easily amongst one of the best players in the league
Only NHL fans that hate the Sens could ever argue against Alfie.
Pleny of examples of great players that were not in their prime and were at the Allstar game, and Alfie is among them IMO of cours
Habs & Leaf fans are voting to bring ex-Sens players to the game... not voting their own players in...
@Sandy,
yes correct pther fand and their own agenda...
our agenda should be clear...our Sens who deserve (4)it and Ottawa boys etc
He's from Hearst... He grew up in Orleans.
false he spent maybe 3 years in ottawa. moved there in 2002 started playing for Gatineau in 2005
hardly "grew up" in ottawa..plus he will be at the game easily, boyle is facing stiff competition from younger dmen now less spots for dmen also
give your vote to him
Giroux may not have been born in Ottawa but he grew up in Orleans my man.
again false
to me growing up somewhere means he learned how to play hockey there and went through our minor league system. Hearst he was 15 years old when he went to ottawa
he may have stopped here for a bit, but come on he aint local
give alfie/michalek- spezza your votes they deserve it
That's the big difference, let the big market teams get their own regulars there, no one is saying they don't deserve to be there just because we don't vote for them in our 6.
its not a matter of worthy when it comes to fan votes...
57th game: hosted in montreal
starting east line: price-komisarek-markov-kovalev-lecavalier-malkin
58th game: hosted in carolina
starting line: fleury-crosby-malkin-letang-toews-keith
see any trends..fans will just vote for their own stars, regardless of who deserves it..so if you wanna use your vote and put in kessle or vanek or kopitar over spezza then go ahead because you know a vote for any fo them will be a waste since crosby will get his votes and then some
Hope that Phillips - Gonchar do not have a bad game,
but cover for each other, like the younger boys will !
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!
Sens 6 Flames 2
Phillips and Gonchar spent some time together last game. We'll see if it sticks tonight. Obviously it's an unconventional pairing with two left handed shots.
There are more left handed shots then right handed shots in the nhl, it's actually a lot more common then you would think to be stuck with 2 left-handers together.
Thanks for the lineup !
Truly believe that Gonchar enjoys playing on wrong side,
and has 2 goals recently, from the right side position !
With Flames having older players , both Phillips and Gonchar, should be able to keep up to their lack of speed !
True. Gonchar is often set up on the right side.
Well said!
I see our players atleast 35 times a year...for once I would like to see the ice full of real stars, the best of the best and yes that includes Karlsson and probably Spezza, Alfie probably wouldnt want to go if he didnt earn it, thats the type of competitor he is.
It seems as though some people are confused that Ottawa's fans votes will count. We are a small city with a divided fan base at that. So why not vote for all Sens players? Show our support and hope that we can squeeze in a few of them?
In the end, you will all get your 'All Star' team as more populous cities (Toronto, Pittsburgh, Washington etc.) will have their way.
Also, the big stars of each team are shoe-ins.
So vote Sens - show you care!!
GO SENS GO!
just support your team, and dont try and "fix" the all-star game system with your lousy 30 votes. the system allows us to want our players, lets embrace it
right now michalek and karlsson deserves to be there off production(shou ld it stick), and alfie will be there off of history...reall y only bubble guy for us to push through right now is spezza
Don't be stupid Tooks, he's a competitor but wouldn't pass up the chance to play in the game for his family and friends. Do you know Alfie personally Tooks !?
"Zebra" game. We are like one in ten vs Mika K in Calgary, Nick and Alfie with their "Violin" in the center are going to pull this one out for us after Zack, Condra and the Dawg kill all the penalties.
Sorry?
Vote for who YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE NHL ALL-STAR GAME, AND DON'T FORCE YOUR VOTE ON SOMEBODY ELSE. Really, it's that simple.
It's your vote, don't tell others how to vote or let it affect your vote, I just don't get this debate.
Personally I'm voting Spezza, Karlsson ('cause I honestly think the are stars), and Alfie ('cause its arguable if he's still should be considered top of the elite...but this is probably his retirement year, on his home ice, he's still a very very good player, and was for sure an elite player most of his career).
That's my vote, and nobody can change it. Does that make me "more" or "less" of a fan because someone voted differently? god no...come on people. I don't get the issue. Some people on here just like nit picking at little things to cause an argument, and yes I think its very wrong for people to be telling others "how they should vote"
End of rant.
I watch the Ottawa Senators, not 18 or 20 different players. I don't care which 18 or 20 players they are because all that counts is the jersey they are wearing.
I get to see the stars of the league as and when they come to play the Ottawa Senators and I'm happy with that.
It's too bad the All-Star game has a bit of a "Joke" feel to it (many stars turning it down and so on), because I'm a Senators fan first, but I'm also a huge hockey fan in general (I do have a few secondary teams that I like watching or cheer for when they are playing the Leafs - I truly hate Leaf fans).
And I like watching the skill competition, and just watching the pure talent playing together on the ice (similar to the olympics which I quite enjoy as well).
no one has called someone less of a fan because they aren't voting sens fans lol..find me the quote where someone did. tat would be ridiculous
peple are defending their right to choose sens players and hwo this system is skewed regardless if people vote the way they want.
"Not to want Alfie, our franchise player, on the ice for this game in Ottawa? That's a joke dude. Every other host team always gets a couple of homer picks in, that is the way it always goes. To fight against Alfie being on the ice for this one? *pukes*
I looked as far as Post #2 to find this:
This has been going on for years, but some people in Ottawa decide to wait until OUR game to fight against voting in "questionably deserving" players. Why am I not surprised."
I could be wrong (text often has a habit of not translating well), but he seems to be questioning "Sens fan that don't vote for Alfie".
I just believe that voting is a very personal thing and that people are getting harshly spoken against if they don't vote the way others believe they should.
fair enough, mind you that was targetted specifically at tookie haha..but i see his point in terms of respecting Alfie and at least attempt to give him a chance to represent Ottawa in Ottawa in what could be his last year
any vote not towards Alfie towards a player who will be in the game regardless of fan voting just doesn't seem right
I totally understand the rationale behind not voting MM9 or Spezz or Gonch, but Alfie, I do feel we owe it to him
I'd really like to see Kipper and Iginla play elsewhere. Both players deserve better than to waste away on a team that has nothing to cheer for presently and an even worse future ahead of them.
I'm going to say Sens win this one 3-2 in overtime.
LOL this would be helluva funny! and a HUGE I told you so...
we haven't had good offence since 07. What team are you watching?
It isn't an exciting hockey game... just skills on display... The skills competitive I like.. and the 'draft' they have on Friday night in the new convention centre should be fun.
I hope Alfie, Spezza, Michalek & Karlsson make the team -- the only way to do that is to vote them in. IF the league picks -- it will probably only take 2. Given the size of Ottawa compared to Toronto, Mtl & Vancouver... it will be hard to get all 4 in... but TRY anyway...
I hope when picking the coaches -- Mclean gets to be there.. In my opinion he is doing a good job with this young team...
FYI - Since 1996, the head coaches for the two All-Star teams have been the coaches of the two teams that are leading their respective conferences in point percentage.
I voted for :
Alfy
Michalek
Spezza
Karlsson
Gonchar
Lehner
Everyone else do the same! I'm going to make another account tomorrow and do it again.
Anyone translate?
http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta/Hokkej/KHL/spbnews_NI276605_CSKA-sobiraetsya-vernuti-Filatova
Lehner? Don't think that will work... he's played 1 game in the NHL... Don't get me wrong -- I love him.. but I believe he would turn it down. Don't worry -- his time will definitely come.
I voted - Alfie, Michalek, Spezza, Karlsson, Chara & Lehtonin... (sorry could not do Gonchar...)
using google chrome i got this:
CSKA going to return Filatov
The Russian striker, "Ottawa" Nikita Filatov could soon return home and join the ranks of CSKA in the KHL, which owns the rights to 21-year-old player. As it became known Sportbox.ru, on the sidelines of the Army Club on the return of Filatov's say almost as a fait accompli.
Recall, last week, Filatov, who joined in the summer, "Ottawa" from the "Columbus" was the second time this season sent to the farm club. On his account in the current regular season NHL games with 6 and one assist.
From google translate:
The Russian striker, "Ottawa" Nikita Filatov could soon return home and join the ranks of CSKA in the KHL, which owns the rights to 21-year-old player. As it became known Sportbox.ru, on the sidelines of the Army Club on the return of Filatov's say almost as a fait accompli.
Recall, last week, Filatov, who joined in the summer, "Ottawa" from the "Columbus" was the second time this season sent to the farm club. On his account in the current regular season NHL games with 6 and one assist.
The Russian striker, who is a graduate of CSKA, has returned to his native club on loan in sezone-2009/10. Last season, the right to purchase from the striker tried to SKA, and hockey player even flew to St. Petersburg to negotiate. But with the advent of the new owner of the Muscovites club is able to offer decent Filatov contract.
The Russian striker, who is a graduate of CSKA, has returned to his native club on loan in sezone-2009/10. Last season, the right to purchase from the striker tried to SKA, and hockey player even flew to St. Petersburg to negotiate. But with the advent of the new owner of the Muscovites club is able to offer decent Filatov contract.
And he deserves it how again?
get butler out. filatov has done much more than butler. need i say more? im not quitting on butler just yet, but i think he is just going through a very tough sophmore slump. none the less put filatov on this team
I meant "relative" to each other.
Our middle of the road G/G is better than their league bottom offense game.
Their middle of the road GA/G is better than our league bottom defensive game.
I guess that was my overly complicated way of saying that it will be a nice tight game tonight that I'm anxious to watch...but I'm sure this will get downvoted to hell as well ;)
i dont think it is fair to put much stock into his stats in the last 7 games since the team is also on a 7 game losing skid i believe (i could be wrong about the length of the streak) but when the team was winning, he did score..
http://atdhenet.tv/41286/watch-ottawa-vs-calgary
i think this one's gonna be a good one!
YEP!
Jealous! Hope to see you guys up and cheering when Ottawa gets one.
#BSens Coach Kleinendorst feels this is becoming a bad environment for prospects' development. Would like to send some to #ECHL Elmira.
such as?
Brassard can't even be considered hockey either. This is because:
1. He's an UNDERACHIEVER
2. He's INJURY PRONE
3. He's GROSSLY OVERPAID
KEEP OUT OF OTTAWA AND DON'T RUIN OUR REBUILD!
Thank you.
take a break ON BRASSARD sensor. CALM DOWN!
ottawa broadcast: "WHAT A SAVE BY ANDERSON"
calgary broadcast: "anderson may have got a piece of that"
...on the exact same save
He did last week! But they were oven mitts and he was baking a casserole...
TRY TELLIN SENSor THAT.......I AGREE WITH YA ALFIEFORMAYOR11
Yeah, that's worked wonders for Filatov...
Please, NO MORE Columbus first-round mistakes!
Look at what Butler and his "negative" Hockey IQ did. How does it feel to WRONG!
scoring doesnt change his IQ. if you read my other comments i said i still have not quit on him i believe i also said its just a sophmore slump. none the less he still has low IQ (that does not mean im saying that he sucks) he is a 1 dimensional scorer thats all
Anyone remember?
...
Go Sens GO!!
Spendzza
Tookie said we would only beat the Leafs! I called for wins over the Leafs, Flames and Oilers. Called that the Sabres would play us a lot tougher at home and they did. And said that Vancouver and Pittsburgh would be their usual selves. I hope I'm wrong about the later.