Streaky

Well, the Sens have not won in 5 of the last 6 games.  Time for panic?  I'm not terribly concerned myself. There are several factors at work.

 

First of all, their incredible start was fueled by fantastic goaltending and fortunate bounces when they weren't playing their best. You don't win 15 of 17 games by pure luck, but they did use up a lot of Jobu's rum in the process. Within the last 6 games they dropped 2 in a shootout. If they pulled those out, it doesn't appear nearly as bad. They are a strong team, but not one that will realistically win 88% of their games this season. I honestly didn't see a couple of the games they lost. But you can't allow 4 or 5 goals and expect to win. The fact is, they need to tighten up the defense.

 

Goaltending will ALWAYS be an issue. Much like Philly or LA, the Sens have a history of second guessing their netminders. One issue was Gerber getting pulled after a goal in a 3-3 game. (Granted, he had given up 8 goals over the last 4 periods) Emery hasn't been very good in his return. He had his best game last night, but I think he's finding out how tough it is to be a back-up. These things will pass. Both guys are fundamentally good goaltenders.

 

Injuries. Alfredsson missed a few games with a groin pull and probably isn't 100%. Eaves is out 4-6 weeks. Funny, that everyone below Heatley/Spezza/Alfredsson is underrated. But Eaves is underrated. He has a nice physical side to his game, and was really starting to click with Kelly. They can live without Eaves, but expect a lot of losses if Alfie is out long term. He pretty much IS the team. El Capitan is what makes them go.

 

I am concerned that the powerplay hasn't been very good all season. For as much skill as this team has, it should be much better.  The media has overlooked this so far.

 

It sucks to see the team lose. But last year was a lot worse. There's a difference between struggling and drowning. A least their hot start allows some room for error. Besides, the season is long and the time to get hot is months from now. Simply, stay in the playoff race, keep injuries down, and don't read the newspaper during slumps.

Big Weekend

Was a great hockey weekend.

 

The Sens/Habs game was pretty good. Montreal got the early lead and Huet was stellar. Pretty exciting hockey for 1-0 score. The Sens broke the game open late in the third (5-minutes left) and Ottawa's second losing streak of the season ends at one game.  Sens 3-1.

 

Roenick scores 500! I read about it, since the in-laws were at the house and I was taping the Kings game, but needed the other channel open. I guess it was a pretty fluky goal. I didn't imagine JR would be playing this year, much less get to 500. And at least #499 and #500 were game winners. And he got it against Phoenix no less. Modano also became the highest scoring American player.

 

So, I'm watching another 0-4 Kings blowout loss yesterday. We were about to leave for the mall and I skipped to the end of the game to see the damage. 4-4? What the? Unfortunately, I forgot that the non-Center Ice games on Fox don't record for 8+ hours. I missed the last 2 minutes of the game and OT. Well, the Kings came back with 7 minutes left in the 3rd. I saw them tie it 4-4. I read that they took the lead with 5 straight goals, then Dallas tied it to force OT. Kings win 6-5 in OT.

 

Good stuff. 

Losers

Sens lost their second game this season. I kinda saw a letdown coming, since the Caps are bottom feeders so far this year. The chances were there, but Kolzig was there too. Redden showed little effort and got beat too often. Sens took a few too many penalties (especially Schubert filling-in for Volchenkov). I think Kolzig was better and the Sens gave up too many shots.

 

Emery didn't help his cause, if he plans to overthrow Gerber. Paddock was obviously giving Emery something of a softball with Washington (5-9-1). Emery was better than last game, but that's not saying much. I see Gerber's starting job as safe for the time being.

 

The best news is that Volchenkov is slated to play Saturday. He went out after blocking an Ovenchicken shot, with his inner thigh. I've played goalie enough times to know that non-goaltender pants offer little 5-hole protection. The bottom line is that Volchenkov blocks a TON of shots and one will find a tender spot eventually.

 

I saw an article about whether the Sens were lucky or good. I would say both. There were at least 3 games, mostly back-to-back nights, that the Sens were not at their best and got more than a few good bounces. There is an OT win and SO win thrown into that 13-2 record. Lose those games, and you're looking at 8-7.  That's still top 5 in the East. Lucky + good = dominant.

 

What hasn't been talked about too much is Heatley's scoring drought. I think it's been 4 games or so since his last goal.!? Which goes unnoticed when the team is winning. Also, the lack of Spezza.

Redden Stays?

Well, I had all but written off Wade Redden after his horrible, injury plagued season last year. He didn't live up to the $6.5MM salary. And he won't get it again from Ottawa. All of that extra money went to Heatley/Spezza/Fisher/Alfredsson/Phillips.  Murray tried to trade Redden over the summer to off-load his salary. He has a no-trade clause, so I expected the Sens to get nothing for him this year and lose him to unrestricted free agency next summer.  Any team seeking a puck moving, powerplay quarterback defenseman would give Redden millions of reasons to leave Ottawa.  That is most teams in the New NHL.

 

But apparently, Redden let it be known to the media that he will take a discount to stay. He's apparently not an idiot and can do the math. Let it be known NOW that you want to stay, and are willing to bargain. Otherwise, the remaining cap money may go to other players. Also, it sets-up some goodwill/sympathy for him. I'm still not sure if Murray wants Redden back, but it's crazy to not at least try.  Redden was underachieveing and expensive, not a cancer to the team. His play has turned around this year. I think $3.5MM is a good place to start....

Lucky 13

Well, the Sens finally got a solid game together last night. And with Toronto not bothering to show-up the first period, it wasn't much of a game. 5-1 Ottawa. The score doesn't reflect how bad the Leafs got smoked.

 

It was interesting that enough Maple Leaf fans got tickets into Scotiabank Place, to be heard on TV. Typically the Leafs Fans will boo Alfredsson. But getting boo'd by your cross-town rival in your own building?! At least the Ottawa fans made noise of their own; so it was a weird mixture for cheering and boos, whenever Alfredsson touched the puck. And he handles the puck a lot and for long stretches of time, so it was noticable. Luckily the Sens badly outworked the Leafs and had a 2-0 lead in the first 5 minutes, the Toronto faithful shut-up.  Then Ottawa fans boo'd Sundin the rest of the game.

 

The game started at a pretty high pace, the crowd noise might have helped. But high tempo hockey for a regular season game. Maybe they take this "Battle of Ontario" a little seriously. At least the TSN network does. It's good to see regular season drama, even if it is artificial.  And look for Neil to lay a beat down on Mark Bell next time they play, in 10 days. Some stupidity by Bell with a minute left and his team down 4 goals, won't go unpunished.

 

Gerber was solid again. He's as confident as I've ever seen him. It really shows in his puck handling. Emery should continue to sit, at least in my book.

 

So the Sens set a NHL record for 26 points in 14 games, to start a season. Very artificial, since there's OT and shootout, which makes comparison to anything pre-lockout/New NHL meaningless. But a good start helps carry you through the season. And winning without Spezza or McAmmond or Emery shows the team is deep.

499

Saw JR score career goal #499 at Staples Center. Kings should/could have stopped him. Puck went high off LaBarbera and JR gloved it in the slot, dropped it to himself, and fired it far corner. Two Kings standing there watching him and not leveling him. Chorous of boos rained down. LA is tough on any former players. I was hoping for #500 in LA, but it didn't happen.  JR was out there late with the empty net. Sharks started to get control and Roenick starting sprinting out of the zone with eyes the size of dinner plates. It didn't happen. The pass never came.

 

For only limited ice time (5-6 shifts) on the 4th line, it was amazing that he produced.

12-1

Bruins lost two to the Sens this weekend. Last night was a pretty tight shootout victory. I thought Timmy "Sportmask" Thomas was pretty good in both games. The Bruins could easily have stolen both games from the Sens, but they were in the box far too often. Corvo got a ton of ice time last night and he looked good. It seemed as if he was paired with both Redden and Richardson, because of all the powerplay time. So, double his normal minutes. Richardson has been surprisingly effective. He's old and relatively slow, but cagey vets on defense can be sneaky effective. (And he's still got fighting skills; nothing like getting beat up by grandpa.)  Foligno is now on the 4th line, with McAmmond back. I think they send him down to Binghamton when Spezza gets healthy. Fisher had a very solid weekend and lots of minutes. I think he had 3 goals?

 

The shootout was not good to Thomas. Alfie beat him low blocker, and after getting beat, Timmy missed twice swinging at puck to bat it out of the net, not a good sign. Vermette put a pretty good 5-hole move on him, that banked off his leg and in. Gerber stopped two. Game over. Not the greatest game by Ottawa, but they have been good enough to beat teams and that's what it's all about. Winning when your A game isn't there.

 

 

Long term Spazz

Sens signed Spezza for 7 years.  He got 7MM/year. That's a mighty long time. I have my reservations about Spezza's health and all around game. I will give him credit for the early part of this season, though. He's had much improved backchecking. And he actually hit a few people, and stuck up for his teammates. I have been shocked. The fact that he's out with injury again, is a bad sign. But the fact is, he's still learning and can get better.

 

Heatley and Spezza will be 25-30% of the payroll for the next 6 years.  Well, at least they make-up more than 25-30% of the scoring....

Thrashed

Sens came out on top over Atlanta, but not without a little drama.  It was a 5-0 domination for most of the game. Emery saw 6 shots through two periods. Robitaille had two goals in place of the injured Spezza. McAmmond was back in the line-up. Foligno scored his second career goal. Neil had a nice brawl with Boulton. I was wondering how high the score would get, since Hedberg was lifted and there was the 3rd period left. Then the wheels came off.

 

Robitaille took a heavy check while scrambling in the crease for his hattrick goal, and was leveled by Exelby. Did not return. Neil took a bad penalty, double minor for roughing. Then the Thrashers started getting shots on Emery. Granted Emery was probably asleep, but he got beat bad and often. Long shots, 5-hole, high glove, he couldn't stop anything. Well, before you know it, it's 5-4 and the Thrash have a powerplay with 1:30 left in the game. Sens get an empty netter, and walk away with a scare. Gerber's job is pretty safe for know in my eyes.