Well, this morning I reluctantly shaved my beard.

What a journey! After watching all 82 regular season games and then 6 very exciting playoff games I am proud of the SENS determined effort and commitment, but of course still disappointed that they couldn't go further.

The fact that the Senators managed to secure 5th place in the Eastern conference and make it to playoffs AND put up a good fight against the Stanely Cup champions, shows that they are continuing to grow and gain momentum as a franchise. They have shown themselves to be a tough team and a good team on all levels of play. However, there are a couple of changes I think need to happen or at least need to be considered over the summer to see the SENS going even further next season.

Firstly, they should consider trading Spezza as his lack of confidence and concentration in big moments have cost us dearly.

Secondly, I think they need to seriuosly consider boulstering their defensive play. As history shows, and in fact last nights game, Ottawa has the tendency of gaining leads and then not being able to defend them. I think defence needs to be a focus of managment when trading in the new year.

A highlight of this season for me was Alfie's 1000th game. He's commitment to the team epitomises the spirit in which Ottawa plays the game!! Let's keeping going SENS!!!

To the 2010-2011 season!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LNwSu0jvtU&feature=related

Versus Coverage of the Playoffs

Hey everyone,

A quick note that my beard is still in full force for game 6 tonight! I'm proud of the performance by the SENS and particularly suprised at how well Le claire has pulled things together, and couldn't be happier with his goaltending in game 5. Keep going SENS! (more on that soon)

For now I'd like to make a complaint about the coverage of the playoffs by Versus. I don't see why they feel the need to leave out all the pre-game events such as: the players entering the rink and the national anthems. In my books these are important parts of the build up to the game and helps viewers feel more like they are actually there!!

In particular for me, every Ottawa v Pitsburgh playoff match so far has been covered by Versus and the pre-game build up has been consistently underwhelming/non-existant. The Versus coverage switches to comercials every few minutes and then picks up on the game basically as the puck drops! This isn't exactly giving the veiwers a feeling of whats happening at the arena. In other words... boring.

Because I am as you know watching the games from Europe the NBC coverage which still includes all the pre-game goodies is often effected by bad reception, so I'm forced to watch the Versus coverage. I wish they would realise the value of showing all the action on the rink, as it is ALL the things that happen on the ice that best show the spirit of hockey.

I'll be posting about the Sens v Pens game 6 soon. Fingers crossed!

Nick

Countdown to the Stanley Cup... Go Sens Go!

My playoff beard is growing thick and fast. Why? Because the Sens are in the quarter finals for the Stanley Cup playoffs 2010.
There's tough competition in their division - the Bruins, the Sabres and last year's Stanley Cup winners the Penguins. It would seem their hardest competition will be their first as the Ottawa team is across the ice from those little penguins! With Canada's Golden Boy Sidney Crosby on their side, the Pittsburgh team is a formidable foe.
But have faith. Two games in and the trusty Sens have put up a good fight. They won 5:4 in their first game on Pittsburgh's home ice. In yesterday's second game, the Sens lost 2:1 BUT it was only in the third period and they showed their stuff, even with the absence of Kovalev (Here's to your speedy recovery, Kovi! - see you next season!)
Cory Clouston has done a great job as coach since he came to the Sens in 2009. He's certainly an improvement on Craig Hartsberg - we didn't even make it to playoffs last year. Over the course of the season he's really shown that he can motivate the players. Keep it up coach!
I'll be tuning in over the internet on NHL Centre Ice for the third and fourth games on Sunday and Tuesday... I'll be fulfilling my ambassadorial duties and sharing hockey games with as many people as possible here in England. And if they ask about the beard, well I'll just say:
"Go Sens Go!"
Really believe the Sens are going all the way this year.
And no matter what happens... we Sens fans will be happy to know that the Leafs never even made the playoffs.
Go Sens Go!