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Sunday, 26 February 2012 20:49

Lehner, Sens Cruise to Victory

On a day where the Ottawa Senators made a statement by adding goaltending depth in the form of Ben Bishop, Robin Lehner made a statement of his own, picking up a huge win over the New York Islanders.

Lehner made a number of key stops throughout the game and was named the first star in a convincing 5-2 win in just his second start of the season.

After Alex Auld struggled against the powerhouse Bruins, MacLean turned to the 20 year old netminder and got the strong performance the team needed.  Safe to say we'll see Lehner between the pipes again on Tuesday night in Boston.

It's becoming common place lately but with another multi point night, Erik Karlsson set a new Ottawa Senators standard for production from the back end, breaking Norm MacIver's record of 63 points.  Karlsson now has 65 points on the year and sits 7th in league scoring, tied with Phil Kessel.

There was a scary incident in the second period when an Alfredsson shot hit Spezza in the knee and sent the star centre directly to the locker room.  Thankfully Spezza returned shortly after and scored a huge goal to give the Sens a lead they would not relinquish.

Michalek, Spezza, O'Brien, Neil and Turris tallied for the Senators.

Sens are off tomorrow but return to the ice on Tuesday when they visit the Boston Bruins.  If it's anything like the game we saw on Saturday night, we should be in for a treat.  Ottawa trails Boston by just three points for the Northeast Division lead.

  • Be sure to stop by the website tomorrow as we'll have wall to wall coverage of Trade Deadline day.  Not expected to be a busy day for the Sens but we'll be ready just in case Bryan Murray decides to surprise.  Going to set up a live blog that will likely kick off around 9:00 AM
  • Big fan of the move Bryan Murray made today in acquiring Ben Bishop.  The guy is excited to play here and will be help push Robin Lehner moving forward.  Bishop is expected to arrive in Ottawa later tonight and will travel with the team to Boston.
Last modified on Sunday, 26 February 2012 21:31

Comments   Jump to Last Post

 
+5 #1 TheBoss 2012-02-26 20:53
Glad for the W tonight.

And the Bishop pick up is great. You can never have enough. What if Lehner or Auld gets hurt? Then who comes up? A goalie from the OHL? Ya, no thanks. This was an issue BM needed to address, and it's better he did it now rather than later.

Will also add.. Suck it Phaneuf (& Kessel). King Karl will finish the year with more points than the leafs "top" line. And that to me, is as sweet as him potentially winning the Norris.
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+7 #2 jasonontheoldsenschirp 2012-02-26 20:55
Go Sens. Leafs suck.

That is all.
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+5 #3 Sensnation 2012-02-26 21:03
Complete team effort tonight anchored by a great response by Lehner to the acquisition. Now time to show the Bruins what we can do with a real goalie.

GO SENS GO!!!
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0 #4 Spinorama 2012-02-26 21:06
Less than 24 hours from the deadline. I wonder what will happen with the Sens. Will a team overpay for rentals ? Always a fun day at work when trade tracker is on the computer all day Lol
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-1 #5 Sensnation 2012-02-26 21:18
Night before the deadline:

1. Goaltending depth filled
2. Could still use a 4-5 defensive dman
3. Need an upgrade on Butler in the top 6
4. Bottom 6 has pieces to spare

Keepers: Spezza, Michalek, Alfie, Turris, Smith, Neil, Karlsson, Cowen, Phillips, Anderson, Bishop, Lehner

I would also include Foligno and Greening in the keepers unless a top 3 forward or dman is coming back.

Assets: Butler, Condra, Daugavins, Kuba, Gonchar, Lee, Carkner, Konopka, Wiercioch, 1st rnd picks

Bag of pucks: Regin, Winchester, Auld

Some good pieces to get the depth/role players Murray is looking for, but not expecting any Nash type players unless the price comes way down. A Grossman or Morrow type of player seems most likely.

Thoughts?
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0 #6 darthsens911 2012-02-26 21:19
Live blog tomorrow?
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+3 #7 SensChirp 2012-02-26 21:21
Quoting darthsens911:
Live blog tomorrow?

That's the plan! Assuming I can remember how to set one up...
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+1 #8 Segs 2012-02-26 21:24
Did Auld played his last game with the Sens.
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+2 #9 T K 2012-02-26 21:26
Lehner started nervous but got better as the game went on. Sens also guilty of a slow start. Lehner kept them in it til they all woke up in the 2nd.
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+1 #10 Cy Denneny 2012-02-26 21:29
40 min of hockey good enough to despose of the Islanders. Will need a solid 60 min to get by the B's. Would like to see our forecheckers put a body to Chara each time they dump and chase. The only one to do it Sat night was Spezza(go figure) and this caused CHara to retaliate and get a penalty.
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0 #11 SENSational 2012-02-26 21:35
Forget Nash, I wonder what our chances would be of landing Parise in the summer. He took a one-year deal instead of a multi-year contract with the Devils. We've never had much luck attracting big time free agents but with the huge amount of cap space maybe we could overpay a little bit and acquire him. The only high salaries we have/will have are Spezza and Karlsson. Alfie will probably hang em' up after next year and add to that the cap space created from Gonchar's departure. Parise is a heart and soul high scoring winger and we definitely need another high end forward on our team. In my opinion, Zibinajad, Stone, Prince, Peumpel, Da Costa and so on won't be ready for the big stage (in an impactful way)for another 4-5 years. We should let them all be groomed down in Bingo instead of forcing them into the Sens lineup to quickly. The only exception MIGHT be Silfverberg. Can anyone see a downside in landing Parise? Or I suppose we could wait for Perry to become unrestricted in 2013 (with the Murray connection our odds might be better).
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+1 #12 jasonontheoldsenschirp 2012-02-26 21:35
Quoting Segs:
Did Auld played his last game with the Sens.


I very damn well hope so.
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+5 #13 Mark33 2012-02-26 21:43
Suck it phaneuf
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+1 #14 Canucnik 2012-02-26 21:53
Ben may be the end of Robin. One way vs two way...5 years in the A or as back up...someone will demand a trade and forget these "Tough guy, Manager Type" entry level contracts...the agents just laugh at 'em!

This may work out I just hope the Bishop is better than the Pope!
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0 #15 Andrews Theory 2012-02-26 22:05
Quoting jasonontheoldsenschirp:
Go Sens. Leafs suck.

That is all.


Fantastic!

I'm not near a computer or tv till about 4 tomorrow... Man I hate missing deadline day!
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+3 #16 Andrews Theory 2012-02-26 22:11
Seriously, how many GM's kicked themselves for not grabbing Bishop today...

This is a huge addition, No pun intended.

Darren Pang covers the St Louis games and is very familiar with this kid, he thinks he's a star in the making.

Paying a second in 2013 was well worth the price.
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0 #17 NotwinninforM­acKinnon 2012-02-26 22:35
Colorado Ottawa working on deal will be announced tomorrow... scouts we there yesterday and today's game only one there today was Avs scout

Mendes interviewed Murray and asked him about a depth forward tomorrow, Murray basically said something like "Well I don't know if there will be anything, but if I were you I'd be around tomorrow."
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0 #18 NikoTn 2012-02-26 22:45
Chirp, can you keep updating in the main blog? i.e. UPDATE 11:22 am...

Some of us at work cannot open the full story so we don't get the updates if they are added to the bottom of the blog. food for thought. Looking forward to tomorrow.
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0 #19 Hax 2012-02-26 22:52
Don't worry about the one-way on Bishop.

Lehner either steals the NHL job in camp and Bishop gets the full-year in AHL or Lehner gets another year to develop in the A (which is probably better than 10 games in the NHL).
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-1 #20 Cant say 2012-02-26 22:56
Quoting TURRIS91:
Colorado Ottawa working on deal will be announced tomorrow... scouts we there yesterday and today's game only one there today was Avs scout

Mendes interviewed Murray and asked him about a depth forward tomorrow, Murray basically said something like "Well I don't know if there will be anything, but if I were you I'd be around tomorrow."


Fact is Avs scout was at the Bruin game as well. The Av's scout is based in Ottawa and takes in a few games a month, nothing unusual there. However, the Senators may still deal with Colorado for Gagliardi or Jones. No surprise if they do.
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+2 #21 TheSensTruth 2012-02-26 23:06
Nothing wrong with goaltending depth. Good trade by Murray since Bishop a better gamble then the player they would get with that 2nd round pick. I like the fact he bridges the gap in age between Andy and Lehner. You can always trade one of them later if everyone pans out, probably for more then a 2nd round pick.
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0 #22 Canucnik 2012-02-26 23:38
Hax:

"Andy" is here for three more years.

Ben's one way insures the back up job for one year and he plays cheap 650k (as opposed to $870K)...how do you loose a back up job when you are scheduled to play 10 games?

Robin is a star, there will be offers from everywhere (Russia; Sweden) or he will demand a trade (especially if they think he got a raw deal), he is not going to play another two or three years in the "A" for peanuts. His agent will kill us (Ottawa) with another Russian Type story...and in fairness he will be right!
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+2 #23 Tookie 2012-02-26 23:45
Quoting Canucnik:
Hax:

"Andy" is here for three more years.

Ben's one way insures the back up job for one year and he plays cheap 650k (as opposed to $870K)...how do you loose a back up job when you are scheduled to play 10 games?

Robin is a star, there will be offers from everywhere (Russia; Sweden) or he will demand a trade (especially if they think he got a raw deal), he is not going to play another two or three years in the "A" for peanuts. His agent will kill us (Ottawa) with another Russian Type story...and in fairness he will be right!


I agree man, one way this is great as this will push Lehner to be better, but on the other way this oculd be the end of Lehner IF he doesnt play better. Bishop is know to be the best keeper NOT playing in the NHL...That means better than Lehner...

Either way I think its good news, we either get Anderson/Bishop or Anderson/Lehner for the future....thats much better!
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-3 #24 Canucnik 2012-02-26 23:51
The Sens Truth:

Where do you guys get off buying into this 3 to 4 year gap between "Andy" and Robin?

Lehner is a star...he's the American League playoffs MVP...did you watch him beat the Isles yesterday. Do you think he will continue to play for peanuts because you think he's not emotionally mature enough! Those days are over, it's 2012 not l967!
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+1 #25 shamarke 2012-02-26 23:52
for whatever reason, i always feel more comfortable when lehner is in net. i guess i just like the way he plays.
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-3 #26 Canucnik 2012-02-26 23:57
Tookie 19:

We (Mgmt) are going look bad here again. I like Lehner and I think we just lost him.
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0 #27 TheSensTruth 2012-02-27 00:13
Quoting Canucnik:
The Sens Truth:

Where do you guys get off buying into this 3 to 4 year gap between "Andy" and Robin?

Lehner is a star...he's the American League playoffs MVP...did you watch him beat the Isles yesterday. Do you think he will continue to play for peanuts because you think he's not emotionally mature enough! Those days are over, it's 2012 not l967!


He may be a star. In which case great trade Andy and Bishop. It's never a bad thing to have options.
By claiming he will be a star immediately without him ever have even played a full season at the NHL level is premature at best, foolish at worst.
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+2 #28 TheSensTruth 2012-02-27 00:15
Quoting Canucnik:
Tookie 19:

We (Mgmt) are going look bad here again. I like Lehner and I think we just lost him.


Well technically you won't lose him four another 6 years when he actually becomes a UFA.
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0 #29 TheSensTruth 2012-02-27 00:17
Plus Andy is only 30. If he Kees playing well there's nothing that says he won't be are starter for the next 8 years. He's just reaching his prime.
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+1 #30 TheBoss 2012-02-27 00:18
Quoting Canucnik:
The Sens Truth:

Where do you guys get off buying into this 3 to 4 year gap between "Andy" and Robin?

Lehner is a star...he's the American League playoffs MVP...did you watch him beat the Isles yesterday. Do you think he will continue to play for peanuts because you think he's not emotionally mature enough! Those days are over, it's 2012 not l967!


Yeah I saw the game, he beat the Isles. A team we're SUPPOSED to beat. He did not beat the Canucks, the Penguins, the Devils, or the Wings. He beat the Isles. They're not exactly cream of the crop you know.

Let's not jump to conclusions guys, he won us a game that he should have won either way. He hasn't proven anything, it's only game one, with many more games to go.

Robin is has the skills, and attitude to be a star one day. However, if he goes overboard with his rock star status, you know what'll happen- he'll get run out of town.
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0 #31 Skelly 2012-02-27 00:43
Tuesday will be a massive test for this young goalie. If Lehtner plays well hes definately in over Auld until Anderson gets healthy.
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+2 #32 T K 2012-02-27 00:47
The danger with Lehner is that he can be an Emery Ver.2.0. Pouting in a corner because a short Swiss goalie gets to play more often than he does. As long as he thinks he's entitled to the #1 job in Ottawa, he won't always put in the full effort. Bishop forces Lehner to earn the job. Lehner's got lots of self-confidence but a dash of humility won't hurt. If Robin's ego is so delicate that Bishop's arrival shatters it, it's better to learn that now than at some point in the future when a healthy Lehner is the only option available.

P.S. Lehner is not a *star*. He's a prospect. He's not proven anything more than Mike Brodeur did in Ottawa.
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0 #33 Canucnik 2012-02-27 00:52
The Boss:

You don't get it. Ben beat out Elliott in St Louis and lost out to a one way contract...thes e goalies understand this that's why he insisted on a one way contract before coming here. We know this kid is good, he's not going to lose this back up job playing 10 games a year. Robin is as good as gone he's not going to sit in the "A" for two or three more years...I think we have made an old timers mistake...the kids are the boss now! Lehner will come back to bite us!
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-2 #34 Canucnik 2012-02-27 00:59
TK:

If you don't think Lehner is a "Star" watch the line up for him when he demands a trade!
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+1 #35 T K 2012-02-27 01:09
Quoting Canucnik:
TK:

If you don't think Lehner is a "Star" watch the line up for him when he demands a trade!



If / when that ever happens, it'll be OK because it'll mean that the Sens have 2 better players in the roster.
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+4 #36 conor smythe 2012-02-27 01:13
Lee = Win
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+1 #37 hq8 2012-02-27 01:23
wow...even though there is no goalie controversy in Ottawa, people on this board sure have tons of ability and capacity to make one.

while from the high-level optics, this looks like a bad message to lehner. it really is not. the kid is 20 and is having a shit year down in the AHL for a wide number of reasons, amongst which one is his own declining play. They need him to fine tune his game to the point where they and Lehner both know it can be: world beater level. They need Lehner to dominate like he really can, because they want to develop this guy the proper way.

Bishop gives Ottawa a plethora of options going forward. He bridges the gap between Anderson and Lehner.

couple of years down the road, Ottawa's goalie tandem will be Bishop+Lehner. Im just hoping that before that comes to happen, Andy gets us a cup =D....and why not???

i think BM owes a great deal of thanks to some people for this year because it has allowed him to make deals on the real real needs of this team this year. First off, Paul Maclean. Then the vets on this team in Alfie, Spezza, Neil, Phillips, Kuba and Gonchar. Then he needs to give special thanks to Erik Karlsson. Then he obviously needs to thank the rest of the roster and another special thanks to Anderson. This team has played in a manner and the coaching staff has done its job so supremely well, that it has allowed BM to get a guy to fill the 2LC spot (a long term gripe for Ottawa) and now he has gone and grabbed a stud goalie in Bishop while keeping Lehner.

The organization is finally deep in all departments with a little more touch up needed on defense. At this point, this year already could not have gone any better for the sens, they have absolutely defied every expectation and they have most definitely surprised their own GM.
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0 #38 Canucnik 2012-02-27 01:46
hq8:

You are missing my point...you have forced the kid's hand. I think Lehner was one of the building blocks to quote Coach Paul, to winning the Stanley Cup and now he's being forced out.

Both these guys are good, I think Lehner is the Champion!
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+1 #39 That Guy 2012-02-27 02:32
Quoting Canucnik:
hq8:

You are missing my point...you have forced the kid's hand. I think Lehner was one of the building blocks to quote Coach Paul, to winning the Stanley Cup and now he's being forced out.

Both these guys are good, I think Lehner is the Champion!


You understand that Lehner is the -future- of this franchise, assuming of course, that he continuously improves his play. We do not need a goalie that thinks he's a "rock star" and demands special treatment. Remember our last "rock star" in Ray Emery? Yeah, no thanks dude, Ive had enough of that noise, let the kid develop playing in the AHL PROPERLY.

Want a perfect example of Teams rushing their "saviour goalie" into a full-time job? Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Remember Justin Pogge? Who was lauded as the next big goalie that would take the Leafs to the playoffs? Yeah where the hell is he now? They rushed him and he got railed out of town. Remember Tuuka Rask? Yeah, they didnt let him develop and when he couldnt keep up with Toronto's pathetic defense, they blamed HIM for losing games. Look at him now, he TOOK the job from Tim Thomas for a while and won a Stanley Cup! Why? Because the Bruins did it RIGHT. More proof? K, look at Reimer. OPTIMUS REIIMMM Ooooo thats the name TSN was spilling everywhere, claiming him to be the Leafs' next undisputed starter after he had a good half season. Then they forced him in the starting line up and look at him now. They've broken the poor kid and thrown Gustavsson in net.

The Senators are doing this the RIGHT way. Lehner will earn his right to play in the NHL when he can put up consistant solid numbers in the minors.

-That Guy (Actually Spanishflea12, just too lazy to sign in)
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-2 #40 Canucnik 2012-02-27 03:02
That Guy (Spanishflea 12):

You have missed the message, after being promised big league games this year as our #2 man, you are now demoted to number 3. Robin was only supposed to play in A for playing time.

Your GM says you have only played 50 games when you have played 80 as a pro and won an MVP.

The other guy gets the one way contract and "Andy" has 3 more years.

Wake up, do you think the "Rock Star" is going to play in the "A" for 3 more years to become the back up!

We have made a big mistake. Let's hope the "Bishop" is a world beater!
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0 #41 NickG 2012-02-27 03:58
Can someone clarify Ben Bishop's contract status for me?
I keep reading and hearing that he has a one-way.

But here (3:06): http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=160511
Bryan Murray says he has a two-way.
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0 #42 The Apostle 2012-02-27 07:11
Bishop currently has a 2 way contract which expires at the end of this season.

The contract that he is expecting to sign for next year is a 1 yr 1 way deal (as confirmed at 6.45)
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0 #43 RUSHRLZ 2012-02-27 08:13
Quoting Andrews Theory:
Seriously, how many GM's kicked themselves for not grabbing Bishop today...


Leafs fans are PISSED! It's awesome!
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+1 #44 SensCherub 2012-02-27 10:07
Simply put, this is probably the deepest well of goaltending the Sens have ever had from a talent and potential perspective. Anyone who claims that we have now "lost" Lehner is simply being a sensationalist (no pun intended). Lehner has plenty of people around him who will keep him going in the right direction; Henrik Lundqvist being one. Henrik (coached by Robin's father in the past) did not crack the Rangers line-up until he was 23 or 24. Development is part of the game and is generally understood by most people.

Kiprusoff is another example. Stuck behind two goalies in San Jose until he was 25 and went to Calgary to shine. Didn't seem to hurt him.

Lehner is only 20. If he gets a little pissed, so what. We didn't lose him and he will be better for the competition.
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0 #45 Blanchepvf 2013-01-31 23:18
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0 #46 Blanchepvf 2013-01-31 23:18
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0 #47 Fredericasat 2013-01-31 23:20
ルブタン 通販

アグ 店舗

UGG 通販
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0 #48 Fredericasat 2013-01-31 23:20
ルブタン 通販

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0 #49 Corneliaheg 2013-01-31 23:21
ティンバーランドスニーカー

グッチ新作

グッチ 財布
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0 #50 Corneliaheg 2013-01-31 23:21
ティンバーランドスニーカー

グッチ新作

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