It's going to be easy to label just about every game as an "important two points" down the stretch but this one took on extra significance with both teams in the thick of the East playoff race. And while the Sens started strong, they just couldn't sustain that effort level for a full sixty minutes
Playing his second career game in the NHL and first in a Senators uniform, Rob Klinkhammer played on a line with Alfredsson and Turris and was possibly the Sens best forward. On the game's opening goal, Klinkhammer was hard on the fore check and set a perfect screen for a Jared Cowen point shot.
Late in the first, it was Jim O'Brien with a good hard work shift that resulted in Chris Neil's 11th of the season and a well deserved 2-0 lead after twenty. Unfortunately for MacLean's squad, a strong start evaporated in an awful hurry as the Panthers looked like a different team to start the second period.
First it was Marcel Goc deflecting a shot up and over Robin Lehner and then minutes later, Krys Barch beat Lehner on a breakaway to tie the game at 2-2. Neil took a double minor for high sticking half way through the period and the Panthers wasted no time making Ottawa pay, as Samuelsson deflected a pass in tight to give Florida a lead they would not relinquish.
Kyle Turris had the best chance to tie the game in the third but his snap shot caught iron after beating Theodore high on the glove hand side.
Obviously a frustrating loss for the Senators to drop a game that they were in control of after twenty. You could see just how frustrated the Sens best players were as both Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza took bad penalties.
The Senators have a busy week ahead that will see them play three more games before the week is out. Next up are the surging Lightning on Tuesday night in Tampa Bay.
Seriously, when is Andy back?
Smith, Condra, Greening, Butler, Cowen are all playing this type of hockey for the very first time.
While I believe we can be a playoff team, let's not forget that the team isn't nearly as good as they are going to be in several years. We all have expectations for the team, but they should be within reason. Even Erik Karlsson, whose been awesome all year long, is still twenty one years old. He will make mistakes. Heck, even Kyle Turris is only twenty two!
It's all a part of the process. I hate calling it "growing pains" as those stupid TSN guys pinned the Sens down as in the offseason, but at times it's going to seem like that. I think the team has done so well this season that our expectations have gone threw the roof and have blinded us a bit that we are still in the early building stages of becoming a lethal team for what should be years to come.
These guys are only going to get better and better.
PAul McLean over fucked with the lineup today....hope he learned from that.
Butler needs to come out...
Sens got up 2 goals and figured the would coast the rest of the game. One problem... Florida came to play. They wanted it more.
That was one of the worst games I have seen them play. The first line was awful... Turris' line was OK some of the time. Klinkhammer looked good in his first game.
O'Brien has been playing well.. but McLean he is NOT a 3rd line centre.
Get Smith back in.. sit someone else.. probably will be Butler.
3 undisciplined penalties between Karlsson & Spezza.... most uncharacteristic.
The teams below 8th in the standings..espe cially Tampa & Buffalo are playing well.
The Sens want to be in the playoffs.. they had better start playing like they want to.
How can a team who played probably their best game of the season in Boston, play so badly the next 2 games.
Go with Lehner on Tuesday.... big mistake to go back to Auld...
I think Bishop comes up when they get home on Thursday...
McLean looked really angry leaving the bench at the end of the game.
Golf cancelled tomorrow.. bag skate instead...
Sens got up 2 goals and figured the would coast the rest of the game. One problem... Florida came to play. They wanted it more.
That was one of the worst games I have seen them play. The first line was awful... Turris' line was OK some of the time. Klinkhammer looked good in his first game.
O'Brien has been playing well.. but McLean he is NOT a 3rd line centre.
Get Smith back in.. sit someone else.. probably will be Butler.
3 undisciplined penalties between Karlsson & Spezza.... most uncharacteristic.
The teams below 8th in the standings..espe cially Tampa & Buffalo are playing well.
The Sens want to be in the playoffs.. they had better start playing like they want to.
How can a team who played probably their best game of the season in Boston, play so badly the next 2 games.
Go with Lehner on Tuesday.... big mistake to go back to Auld...
I think Bishop comes up when they get home on Thursday...
McLean looked really angry leaving the bench at the end of the game.
Golf is for teams that miss the playoffs. Brian Burke must be a scratch golfer.
The downside is that teams are keying on Karlsson and Spezza and they don't have an extra gear or secondary plan.
Send Lehner down, bring up BB-Shop.
We could use him on the second line with Alfie and Turris.
Please put Greening on the top line with Spezza and Michalek, they had good chemistry.
Michalek Spezza Greening
Alfie Turris Regin
Foligno Smith Condra
Neil Konopka Obrien
Butler/Klinkahammer
Man you guys are a fickle bunch. I agree it wasn't his best game he could have competed a bit better but this lost should not be put on his shoulders...
Marc 33 I couldn't have said it better!!!
If you think this was a tough game wait until the playoffs where you will be targeted on every shift. If Spezza wants to be a leader on this team & the next captain he needs to grow up & smarten the hell up, after nine yrs you would think he would get it by now.
Except slower,worse defensively, bigger, better shot, more potential, and less likely to reach his potential
O'Brien & Klink have impressed me as well. team has to wake up though and we can't rely on Karlsson/Spezza to score every goal...
I would normally agree in full, and be the first one on here criticizing Spezza. To be fair though, Spezza and Karlsson have beem carrying this team, offensively, all year. I'm a huge Turris fan, but his line has to get it going, to give the Spezza line some room. I see signs of Turris coming out of his funk, and if that happens, i think the whole team benefits, especially Spezza.
Go SENS GO!
I agree. I think this team is going to flourish in the coming years. We've got lots of untapped potential ready to burst. Turris, O'Brien, Hammer, Lehner ect..
I really just hope they snap out of it by Saturday when I'm right behind the Senators net lmao. I might see Bishop in his first or second Sens game! See how he pars.
Also, I wonder what MacClean was saying to Alfie after de second period going into the dressing room. Sure didn't look impressed.
Smith benching won't last, as he just needed a wakeup call. I was a Condra fan from the start but his play has dipped bigtime and he definitely needs a seat in the box. The Daug was a hard worker and should come back into the lineup as well.
We aren't a "lock" to make the playoffs, as someone else said but if we can at least maintain .500 hockey we should be ok. A game like last night would have been huge given the Boston and NJ losses though.
Too many penalties killed our mojo. At this point we really have to avoid the 3/4/5 game losing streaks.
Nip this in the bud at 2 and win in Tampa tomorrow.
Agree with taking BB16 out and get Zach back in the lineup.
Why not give Nicky a try on the top line:
MM9-Spezz-Foligno
hammer-Turry-Alfie
JOB-Z Smith-greening
condra-konopka-neil
Smith is the easiest one to sit because O'Brien is playing well and we generally have Konopka kicking his heels in the press box.
It might be time to rotate those guys every once in a while. 2 or 3 games off over the next month for each of them isn't going to hurt and it would be good to give some of the bingo guys a little taste of the NHL.
This game was lost on 2 fronts. Lack of secondary scoring and stupid penalties.
Karlsson and Spezza are this team's best players but last night, they cost us the game. They looked like sooky little babies taking slashing (Karlsson) and cross checking (Spezza) penalties, especially late in the game. If we have any chances of making ripples in the playoffs, those two are going to need to stay composed, and NOT try to do everything themselves.
As for secondary scoring, man, its hard to defend Butler, Turris, Greening, Condra, Foligno, etc. They are all working hard out there, fighting for pucks, creating chances, just not getting the bounces. New line combinations maybe? What more can MacLean do? Be patient? We'll be out of the playoffs before these guys find any kind of groove...
Right now, O'brien and Klinkhammer are earning their time out there.
ps Solid game by Cowen last night. He's pretty much flown under the radar this year but for a rookie season, its been a solid year. There is great potential here!
Philips is playing well. Sad that you can't see it. But I agree, get Kanopka out and put Smith back in. And make sure he's centring the line you got written down... Greening and Condra are the wingers.
You've been saying that for 20 games now?? LMAO!!
How many games does he need to get out of his slump. It was the same in Phoenix, all work but no results, maybe now we know why Phoenix were ok with trading him. Inconsistent.
I dont care how hard you work, you have to put the puck in the net eventually, especially being our 2nd line centre...
Agree with your take on our lousy play along with stupid
penalties taken by Spezza and Karlsson !
But I believe that MacLean decides on who he calls up, and ultimately who he sits out !!
5th and 6th are only a total of 3pts away but both NJ and PHI have 2-3 games in hand on us.
WIN, WSH, TB and BUFF also have games in hand and are closing in on us. The playoffs are FAR from locked in, whoever said that must live under a rock?
Who do you want to face in the first round, IMO, not BOS or NYR, nor PIT, they are playoff built teams with very strong goaltending and can light the lamp!!
Either FLA or PHI I think we match up the best against, yes the Panthers beat us last game but in a 7 games series It hink we could take em, would be tough games tho. And Philly, yeah they got Giroux, Jagr, Hartnell and all that scoring but their D is weak (no Pronger) and their goalie's are mistakes waiting to happen!
Or IF we somehow pass the Bruins and end up in 2nd, I wouldnt mind WIN, TB or WSH or more probably NJ, I think Brodeur is on his last straw!
our D was looking great in the last few games we had Lee in the lineup...
ever since the trade our D again looks lost... great Goaltending agains Boston squeaked us a win... horrible game against Chicago, only saved by goaltending again.
Last night in Fla, again terrible defense.
Tampa I believe has not lost with Lee in the lineup.
If my numbers are correct, I think that he has won the last 15 games that he has been a start in... coincidence ... maybe, but he is definitely playing great hockey
I did not like the way Lee was treated, and even worse, once he starts to play like a first round pick, he is traded.
Have not seen any value in Gilroy, in fact he is the poor mans Chris Campoli
Terrible trade at the wrong time of the year...IMO only
I'd rather play Boston. We play better as heavy underdogs
List in Order of "Most Losses to Most Wins and Everything inbetween - (Info courtesy of NHL.com boxscores)
Ghislain Hebert ( 4 losses )
Rob Martell ( 4 losses, 1 win )
Marc Joannette ( 4 losses, 1 win )
Stephane Walkom ( 4 losses, 1 win )
Kelly Sutherland ( 3 losses )
Tom Kowal ( 3 losses, 1 win )
Mike Hasenfratz ( 3 losses, 1 win )
Greg Kimmerly ( 3 losses, 1 win )
Dan O'Rourke ( 3 losses, 2 wins )
Dean Morton ( 3 losses, 2 wins )
Dan O'Halloran ( 3 losses, 2 wins )
Tim Peel (3 losses, 2 wins )
Paul Devorski ( 3 losses, 2 wins )
Kevin Pollack ( 3 losses, 3 wins )
Frederick L'Ecuyer ( 2 losses, 2 wins )
Eric Furlatt ( 2 wins, 2 losses )
Steve Kozari ( 2 Wins, 2 losses )
Kyle Rehman ( 2 wins, 2 losses )
Chris Rooney ( 2 wins, 1 loss )
Denis LaRue ( 2 wins, 1 loss )
Wes McCauley ( 2 wins, 1 loss )
Ian Walsh ( 2 wins, 1 loss )
Gord Dwyer ( 2 wins, 1 loss )
Justin St Pierre ( 3 wins, 2 losses )
Stephane Auger ( 3 wins, 1 loss )
Brad Watson ( 3 wins, 1 loss )
Mike Leggo ( 4 wins, 2 loses )
Don VanMassenhoven ( 3 wins )
Francis Charron ( 3 wins )
Chris Lee ( 4 wins )
Dave Jackson ( 4 wins )
As I mentioned last time I posted this, I am not suggesting that games are "fixed" or that officiating will always decide a game. I am merely throwing this info out for you all to make your own observations about it.
*Will update this again at end of season*
We barley beat them once...I dont call that playing better as heavy underdogs. In a 7 game series how many shutouts do you think we can pull off like that, how many games can we play insane shutdown hockey against the most physical team in the league, I mean come on there's being positive but what your saying is dellusional...
IF we beat them soundly in our last game vs them then I might consider a match up with Boston but then again that would only be 2 wins in 6 games, thats a 4-2 series win for Boston, probably very similar to what would happen to us if we played them first round.
Any news on that front SC? I was thinking maybe 1-2 games?
You could also tell that the Panthers game plan was to stick to Karlsson and Spezza everytime they had the puck. The kid had no places to go last night and that's the reason he was so frustrated.
Will we witness round 2 of Karlsson vs St-Louis tomorrow night? Remember how St-Louis was frustrated at Karlsson last game.
Go SENS Go
Nothing yet this morning which is a good sign.
What a weekend, not the best in memory as a Sens fan. While we are still sitting in a good position and playoff bound, the boys need to tighten the skates a little and get back to playing fun hockey. It's amazing how the team does a complete 360 like that, you could easily put a different jersey on them and never know who they were. But, that aside... it's only a matter of time before they right the ship.
One thing I brought up last week, when our top guys are firing, we're a hard team to beat. But in saying that, it's also our weakness. We NEED our top guys firing. Florida had 1 system in place, keep Spezza and Karlsson from taking shots or making plays. Everytime they had the puck, they were swarmed and even without it, they had someone on them like glue which resulted in many turn overs and eventual goals. EK had maybe 1 or 2 opportunities inside the blue line but even then, didn't have enough time to unload or do anything creative. Neither of them got an official shot on goal Sunday. Right now, that's the one plan a team needs against us, and they were spot on. Another note, Alfie wasn't noticable and only registered 1 shot. That's also a problem.
We will need to have a counter system for this, cause you can be damn sure teams have picked up on it and come playoffs, it's a major red flag.
I'm not for Lehner being sent down. BUT... I would like to see Bishop get a shot. It wouldn't be a bad thing to bring him up and give him the game tomorrow. Sometimes a change likt that can rally a team and bring them together. There is something to be said for a Goalie getting his 1st game with his new club. I think a move like that for tomorrows game would be a great way to change the mindset.
Time to get back in the 'W' Column. Go Sens Go!!!
What a weekend, not the best in memory as a Sens fan. While we are still sitting in a good position and playoff bound, the boys need to tighten the skates a little and get back to playing fun hockey.
One thing I brought up last week, when our top guys are firing, we're a hard team to beat. But in saying that, it's also our weakness. We NEED our top guys firing. Florida had 1 system in place, keep Spezza and Karlsson from taking shots or making plays. Everytime they had the puck, they were swarmed and even without it, they had someone on them like glue which resulted in many turn overs and eventual goals. EK had maybe 1 or 2 opportunities inside the blue line but even then, didn't have enough time to unload or do anything creative. Neither of them got an official shot on goal Sunday. Right now, that's the one plan a team needs against us, and they were spot on. Another note, Alfie wasn't noticable and only registered 1 shot. That's also a problem.
We will need to have a counter system for this, cause you can be damn sure teams have picked up on it and come playoffs, it's a major red flag.
I'm not for Lehner being sent down. BUT... I would like to see Bishop get a shot. It wouldn't be a bad thing to bring him up and give him the game tomorrow.
@ madpyjama,
Do not think that Bishop will be called up for Tampa game on Tuesday night.
Lehner will get this game with Auld as the backup.
Should the Sens lose this game, it will be 3 losses in a row. This might force MacLean to use Bishop in the Thursday night game vs the Rangers in Ottawa.
Let's see what develops vs the Lightning !!
After that, it’s mosh pit! With Buffalo and Tampa flying lately, both of them are only 2 points back of 8th place with 68 points each. Throw in the Caps with 69, and even Toronto with 67, and it’s going to be a dog fight with those teams looking at those bottom playoff spots.
No point in dwelling on the past, but those Chicago and Florida losses this weekend were 4 points that would have given us an awesome (potential 10 point) cushion against 8th place, and all the wolves close behind it! (Tampa, Caps, Lafs, and Sabres).
Sens need to shake off those last 2 losses, and put together a couple of Wins right now! Especially with a game each against the high-flying Tampa and Buffalo squads this week.
We could find ourselves in a very different position by weeks-end if we keep loosing and the teams below us keep flying.
Time is now Sens fans!
I have a theory that he was not comfortable with the shitty ice conditions last night, moreso than any other player... and he got frustrated with his game. Plus he just seemed to be trying too much.
I for one will give him a mulligan and move on. Im sure the coaching staff will talk to him and say "cool the fuck out..its only 1 game...lets get back to basics". Hopefully we see a turn-around in his game for tomorrow.
Go back to what was working
Greening spezza michalek
Foligno turris alfredson
Then
Klinkhammer smith neil
Daugavins obrien konopka
Sit out butler, condra for a few games again.
Line 3 is nails
Defence
Kuba karlsson
Gonchar philips
Cowen gilroy
Shut down Spezza, Alfie, Karlsson you will beat Ottawa.
Yes I love Turris, but at some point the potential, must turn into numbers, after all he is playing with Alfie.
Foligno, needs better players to play with,
Condra, Butler, Smith, Greening have to to get off the shnide and start to deliver, perhaps put them all on one line and tell them to buck up, or they will be the next ones to sit,
And someone please wake up Gonchar, he is the next one to sit in my opinion, he really brings nothing
I liked Klinkhammer last night. I wouldn't mind seeing Speez-9MM-Alfie on one line, Klink-Turris-Gr eening on the other.
I understand why Smith is out of the lineup, he looks uninterested.. but don't see why he would pull Daug out of the lineup, he was playing fine.
I'm sure other teams are going to make note of how the Panthers shut down the Sens by controlling those 2 players and it worked. EK & Spezz have to be in control with both their game play and their tempers.
The next 3 games are against Tampa, Rangers & Buffalo.. that's 3 very tough games. Tampa & Buffalo are now playing like everyone thought they would at the beginning of the season.. and the Rangers are 1st overall in the NHL I believe... So if it's 3 more losses... the Sens are in trouble.
Winn/Buff play tonight against each other.. that is a key game.
Read in the Ottawa Sun that the Sens are pondering what to do with Mika. His season ends tomorrow. Do they burn the first yr of his ELC or do they sign him to an amateur tryout in Binghamton? I actually like the 2nd option. Gets him in about 15 games playing on most likely the top line and important minutes... would probably do a lot for his adjustment to the small ice.
Any other thoughts?
Turris and Alfie were doing well with Foligno/Condra, and then have had all sorts of different wingers on that line.
Greening just does not seem to fit that line at all, and I did not see much of Klinker in lasts nights game.
Really suprised by the flat 2nd and 3rd periods though
Option 2 for sure, gets him back on the ice ASAP and helps Bingo out, as they are limited in the lineup. That group is rallying about some big Wins thanks to Bishop, it would be a great test for Mika.
If that's a option get Mika in Ottawa ASAP !!
Experience would be huge for Mika
What about Fredrik Clausson?? Stay at home dmen Left shot position player
First goal, a pop deflection no less.
Third goal, a power play, Alfie has a 50/50 shot to deflect it away, normally Alf is gold in that situation.
Good goal tenders get jumpy on really bad ice...it brings too much luck into the game. The way I see it the "Rock Star" gets one more game!
http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?type=PLA
I was ambivalent about the original decision to send Zbad back to Sweden. If he had proved he was worth keeping after those 9 games and they burned a contract year I would have understood keeping him here, he didn't and I understood why they sent him back.
To bring him back to play in Ottawa and burn a year now seems pretty pointless. He's not going to get big minutes and he isn't going to significantly add anything or get a vast amount of experience.
Bringing him back to Bingo, however seems to make a lot of sense. Different ice size, arguably more physical game, he can play on the first two lines and log decent minutes and PP time.
http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/PDFs/Prospect_Update-030512.pdf
Probably just easier to send Lehner back, and then call-him up again after the Bishop audition, if nessessary.
Maybe Im just overthinking it.
already excited for next year as well!!!
Forgot about him. He is on the same team as Mika correct? Has he signed an ELC with the Sens.. or do they consider an amateur try-out for him as well? He had a pretty good world junior.... and from what I understand Bingo needs D help.
He would have to sign a amateur try out but he should come and play there's nothing left for him in Sweden give Ottawa a solid look at him