There were some tense moments in the third period as the Hurricanes fought their way back into the game with a power play goal from Alexei Ponikarovsky. A late high-sticking call to Zack Smith gave the Canes a chance to tie this one but the Sens were excellent on penalty kill preserved the two points.
The win pulls Ottawa back above the .500 mark and within a single point of the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
The NHL leader in assists, Erik Karlsson, picked up helpers on both Spezza goals and was one of the better players on the ice for the home side. What is most amazing about Karlsson this season is how much better he looks in his own end of the rink. He has really learned how to make up for a lack size by getting good body position and having an extremely quick stick.
Congratulations to Sens defenceman David Rundblad who registered his first goal in the NHL on a second period power play. Thought Rundblad had a strong game overall and looked like a more confident player than we have seen at other times this season.
With the end of the month looming, Bryan Murray and the Senators made the decision to call up Nikita Filatov and give him another shot with the big club. Unlike previous call ups, Filatov was given an opportunity to skate on the top line with Spezza and Greening. This was Filatov's fourth game in four nights and he did look a little fatigued at times. Overall I liked what I saw from Filatov in his 15:07 of ice time. Still looks a little bit tentative out there but he should loosen up a little bit once he gets a few games under his belt.
The Filatov call up means that Stephane Da Costa has been sent to Bingo. He is going to have a good opportunity to play big minutes with the BSens and will be a better player for it. Doesn't make much sense to have him playing fourth line minutes in Ottawa.
The Sens are next in action on Tuesday night when they visit the Winnipeg Jets for the first time this season.
Mentioned this in the comment section of the last post but apologies for the couple days of silence around here. Was out of town this weekend and haven't had a chance to get on the computer until now. Good to see the discussion carried on without me.
http://video.senators.nhl.com/videocenter/console
This story is being blown way out of proportion.
I`m just sayin`
Interesting...
Chirp, anything to this?
Definitely an interest on the Sens part.
Let's keep the wins coming!
I'd be OK with it...The only sticking point is his salary.
Sorry... Senators site is for some reason blocked here in China.. (damn communism)
the zibanejad game is the first tab, silfverberg is the 2nd.
Good for Murray
Crosby is a monster the hockey world created. From the age of 12 he's never played in a fair game - every referee since he was a kid knew he was "the next one" and called the game that way. It's too bad since I think he'd be an even better player if he had to fight for his ice more.
The elbow wasn't that bad, two minutes was fine, but the 2 for Foligno is what bothers me. Plus Crosby trying to claim it wasn't an elbow. Foligno clearly struck a nerve with his comments - good for him!
Not nice maurice, play nice or get the fuck out, better yet hope your fired soon. Carolina has hit a new low.
Note: We now owe 'em one for Jason, one for Nick and one for Geno just on general principles!
Why? Are you cutting the cheques? We have $13 million in cap space + Kuba coming off the books. It's not like he's got a Dipietro length contract. They will probably give him away.
Foligno had every right for him to voice his displeasure as he was the one elbowed. But for crosby to go on the defense saying that it wasnt an elbow and calling Foley a dirty player when Crosby has been penalized in back to back games for elbowing, is just plain ridiculous...I really hate the prick and this just adds fuel the fire.. Supposedly I am to be a fan of Crosby since i am Canadian...pfff t..wish someone other than him scored the olympics gold winner...
Anyways..I think Murrays comments are dumb...I really wanted Neiler to smoke crosby in the December game, but now if that happens and Crosby breaks a fingernail, the nhl is going to point fingers at us saying there was "intent to injure"..
Couldn't watch in here in Winnipeg with the CFL game on and all, but I came to watch the stream between plays and commercials.
Super happy Spezza was insane tonight. Captain #2 for sure!
And as for Crosby, I hope the Sens play the Pens like this all next game.
http://www.bugbitten.com/images/649adc59afdef2a8b9e943f94a04b02f/Edinburgh_Fun_Take_Two-99619/Edinburgh_Fun_Take_Two-tb-3784717.jpeg
First, I don't even think it's an elbow. Like Murray alluded to in the video, it was more like a butt-end attempt type thing.
Second, people complaining that this is some sort of "head-shot" similar to a bodycheck type head-shot are either stupid, or just hate Crosby. If Foligno doesn't like it, he should have dropped the gloves. I'd personally love to see a good Foligno vs. Crosby scrap (maybe next game?).
Much to do about nothing...
foligno would love to drop the gloves with crosby except 4 pens jumped on him and ended up giving foligno the penalty.
Solve your differences on the ice, the end.
Bylsma
Do you have to defend your princess? Let him fight his own battles.
NHL.com vs. Sens
I am always annoyed with the NHL.com site as they never seem to project the Sens and their players for who/what they are. Last night, Spezza scores his 200th NHL and adds a second and only gets 2nd star behing Bozak!? I mean really... I 'spose it's every 2nd day a guy scores his 200th...
Sens last night.
Great win, didn't get to see the game though. From the highlights, looked like great goals by Spezza and Smith, 'grats to Runblad as well!
GO SENS GO!
I enjoyed Murray's comment but I hope it ends there. I don't want to see us go out and act like a bunch of goons the next time we play them. Like any other time we play a great team like Pittsburgh, all I want for us is to play them hard and play them fair. If we run around actin like a bunch of idiots all Pittsburgh is going to do is humiliate us on the score board.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=381460
Gotta wonder if Randy Carlyle or Paul Maurice will be next.
agreed with you on all counts, save for the date - it's actually DECEMBER 16th! (Friday)
Does anyone else think that this 1-2 year rebuild is enough? we got 3 great prospects in the first round last year, and a great core going forward. I cant wait to watch the WJHC, when have the Sens ever had this much talent playing in this tourny? we might have 3/4 guys on team Canada alone!
I think Carlyle recently signed a 3 year extension. At least we won't be the only team paying people to coach elsewhere. ie. Hartsburg
As much as I would hate being swept in the playoffs.. I would love for these young kids to get a taste of NHL playoff atmosphere.. I'd think that'd do a whole lot for their confidence and morale moving forward into the 2012-2013 year. And could possibly speed up the rebuild process.
The worst case scenario is that we bottom out for 3 years straight, and when we are finally considered "contenders" we falter in the first/second round for 2-5 years straight. I'm getting the feeling that people think we're gonna vault from 30th place one year to 1st place the next.. We aren't drafting the next Sidney Crosby FYI..
Oh no worries, I agree with you there. I think we do have a good chance of making, and IMO it'd be great. Looks like Columbus will probably get into the top 3.
Muller to take his place..
as was speculated!
I think the pieces that will complete our rebuild will be gained in the next draft and wityh a couple of strategic FA grabs - but it might take 2 or 3 years for those to actually come through. What this means is that we will be able to continue adding good pieces coupled with relative success on the ice.
I still don't think we make the playoffs this year but we do have effort in this group to make it interesting. We can compete against the other teams that are around us, but Pittsburgh showed us how far we still have to travel.
The Pens reminded me of the sens of five years ago or so - able to beat sides by throwing an insanely good 10 minutes or single period together and just not being horrible the rest of the way.
The real jewel that the sens have at the moment is Paul MacLean - for the first time since the finals we look to have a coach who can deal with megastars and minnows.
He's getting far more out of players like Smith, Daugavins, Condra than should be expected. I'm fascinated by wherev this guy will be able to take us when we are truly able to compete with the top teams in the league again.
it seriously bugs me how TSN never miss a chance to slam the sens or belittle what they are doing.
the headline of our last game is how we beat the struggling canes. Now TML beat Anaheim who have fewer points than Carolina and have now lost 5 in a row - that's the very definition of struggling.
also when the sens lose two in a row they are slumping, but the leafs just need to get "back on track"
pisses me off
but i feel a little better than i did 2 minutes ago
Ottawa opened the scoring just 55 seconds into the game as Spezza beat Ward low glove side on a goal that the Carolina netminder would likely want back.
Too funny.
now i'm pissed again
i never bought into the whole media bias thing until i moved to Canada. I always thought it was just whiny fans complaining about it (the way that all fans complain about everything).
But it isn't.
There's no point in in getting upset over the media bias thing my man. It's never going to change. At this point, we should all just laugh at it. I know I do.
I still have a lot of respect for the TSN hockey analysts. Mackenzie, Dreger and company do a great job of giving their un-biased opinions. It's those idiots who write the articles on TSN.ca that are the problem.
The Sportsnet hockey panel is another thing though. What a bunch of clowns they have over there. Kypreos and Maclean take the cake. Absolute morons.
Puempel out, Stone in for WJHC selection camp.
agreed - it's very much a flash anger (if that makes sense)
the TSN "insiders" are great - it's the text reporting that bugs me - and as for sportsnet....
i think both of those guys will get better looks next year
I'm sure they will too. It would have been great to see them get a chance this year though. It's tough to argue against the invitees though. Gotta think that Quinton Howden, Jaden Schwartz, Ryan Strome, Mark Scheifele, Jonathan Huberdeau, and hopefully Mark Stone are all locks to make the team
i think this will provide a better exploration of what we possibly have than the 9 game trial he had at the start of the year
Imagine if this team has RNH, Hall, Seguin, Skinner, Couturier, Johansen... we would blow out every team we played. It's the same case every year.
Columbus sucks, they can't develop prospects, and he's still young enough to be able to fix and steer in the right direction. No one in Columbus is really having a good year this year, I wouldn't lay the blame at Brassard's feet. But don't expect anything superstar level from him, he's just a decent contributing 2nd line C.
Smith has 3rd or 4th line centre locked up and I still like Winchester on the 4th line.
2nd line is an issue but we do have a number of people auditioning for it already (Regin, Zbad and Da Costa). Depth at centre is good and there are only 2 years on Brassard's contract after this - i would be dead set against it if it was any longer though. Those 2 years would give Zbad a wealth of time to develop.
If Murray is to go after him it all depends on what we give up I guess. There have been consistent rumours about Brassard for a while though, seems clear that Murray likes him.
I can't think of anyone we're willing to trade that would bring us a first. Who are you willing to give up?
A very interesting day today! And it would be nice to top it off with Brassard to Ottawa (depending on what we give CBJ).
Poor Boudreau, he will forever be in my memories for all his f-bombs on 24/7... lol:)
Don't forget to keep on voting for our sens on nhl.com/vote
People need to stop looking at michalek like he is a bust or is an aging player who we need to get rid of
He is what 27 years old???
his salary is small for what he brings, he is a part of our core going forward. lose him and you might as well tell spezza to F**k off to his face cause essentially thats what we are doing. "oh spezza we like you so much we are willing to give you greening and condra and butler as your wingers"
Michalek for 1 is worth more than 1 first round pick. He's entering his prime now and has finally gotten past the injury problems of the last few seasons. I personally think you are finally seeing the real Michalek now and not that this is his career year and we should sell high.
Also, as Alcatraz said, Butler & Greening are not really enough for Spezza's wing, and even worse if Michalek isn't on that 2nd line. Maybe if it was the 1st Overall pick and a surefire top end prospect, but I really don't think Michalek's on the block this year or that the return would be worthwhile ... unless of course Columbus wanted to part with Nash ;)
sure he has been injury plagued the last few seasons but then saying he has averaged only 35 points a seaosn is pretty much unfair. Thats like sayign crosby sin't as good as we all think cause he only scored 65 points last year
Michalek has always played at least 66 games in his career, and when healthy has been above a 0.5ppg which is pretty good. his stats shows he could easily be a 30g/30a type guy and with him paying with spezza thats totally not out of reach
our own opinions for sure, I just think trading him so we can field a roster of 20 guys all under the age of 23 is not a smart idea
Ok, you think Michalek is worth 1st overall AND a top prospect?!? C'mon, get real.
Ok so you actually think an NHL team is willing to trade a top 5 pick?!? C'mon get real
Name me all the teams that have traded top 5 picks in the past decade??ALl I can think of is Toronto for Kessle and Islanders for Yashin..now let me know how that turned out
Teams keep their picks or trade to move down a little etc. to think Ottawa can get one is foolish and your wasting our time
Did you read what I said? I said that's the only way it's worth it. You do understand that players like him in their prime are worth more then a 1st round pick right, that's just how it goes. It's not just about who will score the most points in their prime, it's also a matter of how long it will take them to get to those points, which most 1st round picks do not for a few years. Anyways, you have your view on Michalek, but so far you haven't made much of an argument for how trading him for a 1st would be a benefit.
so you want to trade a guy who is 27 and if healthy will score you 25g-30g and get you 20-40a for a just a first rounder that you would hope could be able to score you 25g and 30a???
am I missing something here?
I'm feeling the same way, what are we missing here?
Michalek for 1st rounder + ???
Nope, he won't be. But that doesn't mean he never will be, nor does it diminish the 6th round heist that Murray et al pulled off.
I'm no scout, but if the knock is his skating, it's very unlikely he'll be able to make the junior-NHL jump - he'd just get left behind on every rush, in both directions.
Has improved his skating a great deal this season
We need top 3 forwards...Mich alek isn't one of them. Hence the need to trade for one.
look at it this way, the Nuge didnt make it last year.
so trading for a prospect answers that bell? is Stefan noesen a top 3 forward? what about matt puempel?
by your reasoning any 1st rounder is a top 3 forward?
The skating knock was at this time last year and leading up to his draft. He's done a lot to improve there, and I would not be amazed to see him earn at least some games in the NHL next year, even straight out of camp.
We should trade everyone who's not a top 3 until we have three top 3 forwards? If Michalek puts up 60+pts, is that not worthy of top 3 consideration at least, especially if he's doing it with Spezza? He may be slightly underwhelming as a top 3, but he'd be a beast to have on the 2nd line behind a true 1st line!
surprising is Sudbury Wolves forward Sgarbossa not getting an invite. amongst league leaders in points, was at the August camp, having a great year, had a great camp with the Sharks. speedy guy who should have been given a shot IMO
Well, originally I stated the 5 teams in the bottom 5 and likely to finish close to that....so, yes, the top forward draft picks in next year's draft have a good shot at becoming top 3's.
Sorry was meant to be a +1, clicked wrong button. Chirp is there a way to alter a comment thumbs ranking if I clicked the wrong one?
...I can't knock you on your dreams of just magically convincing a team to trade you a lottery pick, because somehow washington did it with Varlamov but man your arguments have been so loose and off base
My best suggestion would be to not get lost in the hype of prospects, there's no guarantee any of them will be top 3s, let alone one from a draft pick a team would actually trade, which is rarely in the top 5.
You'll do Michalek & Wiercioch for a top 5 pick? K man, I strongly disagree with your valuation of the top 5 pick. You may be right in the end, but I doubt any GM, let alone BM will give up that much for just 1 pick.
Well obviously I'm not a huge fan of Michalek and would rather take the risk on a top forward in next year's draft. It's risky but where else are we going to get top 3's for Spezza? Yea, Michalek is great as a second liner but, as I say, if we finish 18th-20th then where are Spezz's wingers coming from?
I think if you give Michalek another season or two you'll be pleasantly surprised, but very few teams have 3 stars on their 1st line ... maybe Anaheim, Chicago, San Jose and Washington when all 3 of their stars are together.
Michalek, Greening, Butler, Filatov, Stone, Puempel, Noesen, and maybe even Zibanejad give a good pool to start with though.
He had enough time to drop his gloves, and pound on Crosby if he wanted. The game was all but over, who cares about penalties...
Yeah, because the leafs, the Toronto media, and their ass-clown 'fans' are the biggest jokes on the planet. But, as much as we hate the maple queefs, it's the sHabs that bother me the most. 'We hate this goalie, but love this goalie', or that soccer song 'sooo gayyy, so gay so gay so gayyyyy...so gayyy....so-ohh h gayyyy'... ORRR, when the MTL media asked Pageau how he felt going to Ottawa instead of Montreal....rea lly? ...you montreal prick!
....what were we talking about again? Oh right, December 16th being Crosby's last game in the NHL when we blind side him for elbowing and shit-talking our boy Foligno.
~Peluso