Snoozer of a Game

The Ottawa Senators game versus the Winnipeg Jets was the worst game the Senators have played so far this year. There was no flow to the play of the game and the puck could not seem to stay on anyones stick. Karlsson, who is having an unbelievable year, looked like Joe Schmo playing beer league hockey. I am not judging the effort level of the players, but that jump they had against Carolina on Thursday was not there yesterday afternoon.

The game as terrible as it was should not be setting off any alarms, as Ottawa has a young team that is bound to hit many highs and lows in this shortened NHL season. The one plus I could find out of yesterdays snoozer, was the play of goalie, Ben Bishop. Though I do find "Big Ben" sometimes looks awkward in the net, I do think he can be a serviceable NHL goalie, just not with the Senators; the game showcased him in a positive light. Hopefully, Ottawa can at least get there second round pick back when they decide to trade him later on this year.

So Sens fans, try and forget yesterdays game. I am sure it won't be too hard. McLean will have the team ready to play against the Sabres on Tuesday; Karlsson will bounce back; Andy will be in goal and the universe will be set right. GO SENS GO!

Success Without Spezza

     So, I am finally back to blogging after a long hiatus. Three weeks into the schedule, every game is as important as the next, especially in a shortened season. The Ottawa Senators continue to exceed expectations, currently seated fifth in the eastern conference (6-3-2). Even without top centerman, Jason Spezza, and young defenseman, Jared Cowen, the season looks bright.

Craig Anderson

      I had some doubts about starting Andy, especially while not playing during the lockout. Robin Lehner was my first choice as he had been playing extremely well down in Binghamton. Obviously, Coach Paul McLean made the right choice in playing Anderson, who has been lights out. When he is on his game he just might be the best goalie in the NHL. He is playing with such confidence and swagger, and likely to continue his play throughout the shortened NHL season. His numbers are phenomenal, second in goals against average with a 1.49, second in save % with a .950, and tied for first in wins with 6. I have a feeling the fans at Scotiabank place will be chanting Vezina soon enough.

 Erik Karlsson 

      After a Norris trophy season, who would have thought that he could be any better this year. Karlsson may be the best player in the game at this moment. I cannot think of one other player that controls a game like he does from the defensive zone out. His defensive game is so much more complete then in the past. He has the best stick/ poke check in hockey right now and is leading the league in take-aways. When Karlsson decides to get the puck out of his own zone he skates out himself. He knows the game so well and does things out on the ice that leave other players and coaches wondering what happened. I always thought that it was Spezza who would be the engine that made this team run, but after watching Karlsson playing these first 11 games, I am certain his effort will run this team for years to come. 

The Young Guns

     The Senators young players have been given a chance to play, and they have not disappointed. Young blueliner's Patrick Wiercioch and Mark Borowiecki have both proven that they can and will be NHL players. Wiercioch who has a nice blend of skill and size has started to show the elevated offensive skill that Ottawa was looking for when they drafted him in 2010. Borowiecki is a bruising blueliner who has shown that he can make a nice first pass. Though he might not play the whole year with the big club, I believe that he provides some much needed grit to the back end. Forward Mika Zibanejad is giving Senators fans a reason to be optimistic. After a slow start down in Bingo, Zibanejad has made an impact up with the big club. He has provided the team with some youth full energy, playing a fast north/south style of game. I cannot leave out the play of both Jim O'Brien and Eric Condra. They have both been playing outstanding hockey and are the type of role models that Ottawa will need going forward. O'Brien has 3 goals already, Condra has 1 but has been doing everything else right.

 The Veterans

      Senators management and fans can not ask for anything more then the heart and sole play that Chris Neil has provided. He is leading by example whether it be by dropping the gloves, making a big hit, or scoring one of his 3 goals. Neil is a big impact player for his team on and off the ice. Daniel Alfredsson's game has really started to pickup since Spezza's injury. Alfie is looking younger with every game, and is showing that age is just a number. He continuously proves that he can still be a productive player at the age of 40. Having Alfie playing with young Swedish players like Karlsson, Silverburg and Zibanejad, will only help groom the team for when he retires. With these players already in place and with the player's that are developing down in Bingo, and let's not forget the 3 first round picks that are still in junior, Ottawa's future looks bright. They are proving that they are a good team and that last year was not a fluke.

Letter to Bettman and Fehr

Dear Mr. Bettman and Mr Fehr, Coming from a lifelong fan of NHL hockey, I am writing this letter to express my disappointment that for the second time in 8 years, hockey fans are facing a lockout. I can only hope that both sides don’t follow the same path as the 2004-05 season when there was no season, no playoffs and no Stanley cup winners! This is a fight of millionaires verses billionaires, but where are the fans in all this? What about all the five figure salary earners; all the arena workers that rely on the NHL season to make ends meet? Why do they have to suffer the consequences. Myself, I just enjoy watching the game being played, the game that I love. It’s the beautiful game of NHL hockey that matters and I just want the season to start on time. You need to stop playing a game of public relations. I know each side wants to make the other side look like the bad guy, but the truth is that both sides look like villains now. It’s hard to understand and feel sympathetic for either side when they’re fighting over the fans money.

Game 7 Preview

Tonight at 7:00pm the puck drops for game 7 between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers, at Madison Square Gardens. Though the Senators blew a chance to close out the series on home ice in game six on Monday; I do believe that if you asked any of the players or fans at the beginning of the series that they would have gladly taken a game 7 against the 1st place Rangers. So now it's down to one game, win or go home. One of the biggest questions for the Senators going into game 7 is who will be inserted into the line, and play with Spezza and Michalek. In my opinion the only option they have is to put Silverburg back into the lineup. Management and the coaches made there decision last game, when they took Mark Stone out of the lineup and replaced him with Silverburg. This makes a statement saying that they think Silverburg is the better player and is prepared for the NHL. Silverburg's performance at game six can be understood considering a long flight and the lack of practice with the team. Silverburg, Butler, or Stone; the choice of the three rookies not only get a chance to play in game 7 but also have the opportunity to play on the first line, while the other two cheer from the stands. It is definitely positive news for the Senators down the line, with great young up and coming talent. The Senators as an organisation have never won a game 7 and are 0-4. Saying that the last time the Senators played in a game 7 was in 2004, when they lost to the Maple Leafs. Yet our team now has different expectations than in the past. Old Senators teams were expected to succeed and move on, where as this season our team was looking at just re-building. In the past the Senators may have crumbled under the pressure but not this year, we have a team that is resilient. Even when the chips are down our Senators rally back with a herculean like performance. So just like the Philly, Washington, LA, and Phoenix has done so far, I am predicting Ottawa will come out and win game 7. The city of Ottawa will erupt, and the Senators will go on to round 2. BELIEVE!

LEAFS SUCK

So the NHL has reached the home stretch of the season, and everyday in the league standings teams are being mathematically eliminated. It was a joyous occasion on Tuesday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs were officially eliminated from making the playoffs. This would be 7 years in a row that the Maple Leafs have missed the playoffs, so i have decided to dedicate a blog to the top 10 reasons the Toronto Maple Leafs suck so bad.

10. They can't spell properly. It's LEAVES NOT LEAFS!

9. BOB COLE - No explanation needed.

8. Brian Burke - He wanted to make Toronto a tough team, but i have never seen a bigger bunch of little girls in my life.

7. Phil Kessel - Has to be one of the worst trades ever.

6. Goal-tending- Tuka Rask for Andrew Raycroft- ouch that one has to hurt.

5. Since When is a Maple Leaf blue?

4. No depth up the middle. They spent years looking for wingers to be able to play with Mats Sundin, and now that they have solid wingers they wish they had a big skilled center man like Sundin. OH WELL, THAT SUCKS.

3.Poor Scouting- They have not had a pick from the draft turn into a star player in quite some time.

2. They have no idea how to rebuild- Too many draft picks traded away , not enough patience.

1. And the number 1 reason the Leafs suck. 1967 - the last time when the Leaf's won the Stanley cup, or even made it to the finals.

GO SENS GO

PRAISE ALFIE!

LEHN-SANITY

Ottawa Senators 20 year old goaltender Robin Lehner Made his second straight start, and got his second straight win. This time doing it with a spectacular shut-out victory over the Boston Bruins who have seemed to have the Senators number over the past few seasons.

Lehner was backed up but good defensive play especially in the first two periods with fellow teammates blocking 10 shots, with most of the Bruins other shots being kept to the outside.
It was in the third period in which Young Lehner strived. The Bruins stormed the Ottawa net bumbarding Young Lehner with shots. Lehner stood strong, played well positionally and looked like a star veteran goaltender making 32 saves, 17 of them faced in the 3rd period.

In a game that turned out to be a goaltending battle between 20 year old Lehner and all star goalie Tim Thomas Lehner came out on top. Thomas did keep the Bruins in the game for the first 2 periods making unbelievable save after unbealivable save. Only Eric "the Great" Karlsson beat Thomas with a slapper from the point on the powerplay in the first. In the last 5 games Karlsson has opened up the scoring with the first goal in 4 of the games.

A Tribute to Ottawa Senators Goalie Craig Anderson-Bryan Adams - Cuts Like A Knife