Brodeur is Back

Well, for a goalie it doesn't get much better than a shutout win, unless you throw in scoring a goal. Brodeur didn't score, but he shutout the Avs for his 99th career shutout. Wow. The Avs aren't the greatest team this year, but without watching the game, I'd say that sounds like little to no rust on his game. Like Tiger, I dont' think Brodeur would come back without his "A" game.

Sens had a breakdown. Brian Lee, who's a promising rookie defenseman, took a pretty marginal holding call with the Sens up 1-0. He obviously mouthed off to the ref on his way to the box and got an unsportsmanlike call too. That put the #2 powerplay in the league on display for 4 minutes. They scored on both minors. 1-2. Sens couldn't get the equalizer. If they had dressed 7 defensemen, I don't think Lee would have seen the ice again. He re-appeared in the third. I expect the press and probably the coach to eat him alive today. Too bad. The Sharks were looking slow after playing the Wings last night. It was their chance for taking down a top team. I've only got the trade deadline to look forward to.

Kings are sliding. They got shutout by Philly the other night. They have to keep winning to stay in the playoff hunt. Tonight is the Red Wings. C'mon Kings, I need at least one team in the playoffs.

Deadline

Well, the NHL trade deadline is less than a week away. I've read an awful lot about the Sens and Bryan Murray. He's obviously going to ship several players. Kuba, Neil, Schubert, as there hasn't been much talk about re-signing them. The Sens currently have too many defensemen, so Bell is probably going to go too. The bigger deal would be if Spezza goes. 100-point scoring forwards don't exchange hands too often. I don't think he's necessarily a trade deadline move, but after this summer his no-trade clause kicks-in. If you want to move him, the window is closing. Otherwise you live with the $7-million x 5 years.

The tanking of the economy will be brutal on the Salary cap. As team revenue is tied directly to the Cap. So, as the revenues go down, so does the cap. Next year, those big money players will eat up an even bigger percentage of your team's money. Any new signings will have to be proportionally smaller. So, those long term, big money deals are probably a thing of the past.

The Sens are already committed to paying Alfredsson, Heatley, Fisher, and Phillips long term, big money, no trade deals. It wouldn't surprse me to see Spezza moved, purely on a competitive basis. If you keep him, the team will be locked into 6-8 guys with little money for anyone else, which means rookies, 2-3 year players or has-beens taking up the remainder of your roster.

We'll see...

Brody is back

Martin Brodeur returns from elbow surgery and 4-month rehab, tonight to face the Avalanche. I'm pulling for him, as he only needs 9 or so wins to pass Patrick Roy on the all-time list. It's a bit of a bummer for back-up Scott Clemmenson. He proved to be NHL ready, and now goes back to the AHL. I thought he would at least be a backup, but this way he at least gets to play. The Devils now know that they have a capable goalie for the future. As Brodeur won't play forever, or will he?  This injury is a bit of a question mark as Brodeur has never had a major injury, much less not play practically every game, of every season. The rehab might actually bring him back stronger, and rested going into the playoffs, for once. Look out for the Devils if Brodeur returns to form.

4-2

Sens beat a hot Carolina team that had won their last 3. No slow start this time, instead of giving up 3 goals in the first, they scored three. Auld gave up a softie, but was solid otherwise. The 'Canes ended up pumping more than 40 shots at him. Auld made some crucial stops early in the game, that kept the Sens going. I expect to see him start next game too. Sens can be competitive if they get goaltending, plenty of scoring chances being generated now.

Campoli didn't stand out much this game, but Comrie showed some offensive flair. He scored a goal and his line with Fisher and Shannon were effective. Shannon looked pretty good manning the point on the powerplay. Not only that, but putting Foligno with Kelly and Vermette, has made three strong lines.

The bad news? Spezza was giving the puck away an awful lot. The Big Line scored, (while Fisher was playing for Spezza), but otherwise looked a bit off their game. Alfie is playing with a broken jaw, so I give him a pass. But the next game is against a powerful Sharks team; these guys better bring their A game. If nothing else, it will be a good measuring stick for where the team is now.

Honeymoon Over...

Well, the Sens are on a 3 game losing streak. Has the Clouston Effect worn off?  I don't think so. But the Sens had all the reason to come out hard against Montreal. Two new players on the roster, a chance to make-up points in the playoff race and prove themselves against a top team that is currently struggling. Well, Kovalev's return did more for the Habs, than Comrie and Campoli for the Sens.

I am going to take the easy way out and blame the goaltending. (Yeah, pretty weak) But, Elliot hasn't been very good. Granted the Sens are more like their former selves in many ways; hard forecheck, solid PK with shorthanded chances, but also notorious for slow starts. The last few games have seen 0-2 and more often 0-3 first period deficits. They put in Auld against the Wild and came back from a 0-3 deficit, but that is a bit much to expect everytime.

Elliott has to be better. It's not fair, but that's the bottom line.