Otter Pop

Sens took down the Stars last Friday. Finally, a solid/dominant game by the Sens. Stars had trouble with the Sens forecheck, and the defense looked a lot better. Emery made all the necessary stops. The team looked good again. Gerber will probably get a start in the back-to-back games coming up. If he falter again, Emery gets pole position for the time being.

 

Steve Ott was interesting. I know that he's one of the agitators of the league. On his openeing shift, he bumps into Emery way after the whistle. Later he tries to put Heatley into the Stars bench after the whistle. I know that these guys try to rile the other team, but his play was pretty marginal. I don't like stuff after the whistle. Talking trash is also kinda lame in my book. I like guys that agitate by hitting often, but during play. Ott proved to be either smart or a coward, as he didn't fight Neil after the Sens took a one goal lead and gave the Stars a 4 minute double minor roughing powerplay. Later in the game, Neil had a breakaway with Norstrom trailing. Sens had a two goal lead. He could have taken out Smith, which would have been the Steve Ott thing to do. But he didn't and in fact, dove out of the way and nailed the crossbar, as Norstrom took out his own goalie. Ott is cheap, but effective.

 

Rex went to Atlanta off waivers. They need a veteran guy.!? That's pretty much saying that Holik and Rucchin aren't filling the bill. It's an interesting experiment. After Hossa, there isn't much right wing to speak of. I think Recchi can still do some damage with a skilled center and ice time.  We will definitely see...

 

I read that Carolina and Edmonton are interested in Corvo. I say, hell no. He's finally showing flashes of the play he had early last season. The guy is a premier puck skating defenseman. He's been awesome of late and really helped spark play during the "slump". I liked him with the Kings and his game has matured. He's picking his spots to attack and shoot, very well. One of the bright spots on a struggling Sens defense.