GAME DAY: Tampa Bay Lightning @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm EST - Thu. Nov. 5th, 2009

The Ottawa Senators (6-4-2, 14 points, 2nd in the North East) welcome back the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-4, 14 points, 2nd in the South East) in what seems like the zillionth time we've played them this season. What is up with playing Tampa three times in the first thirteen games this season? Who made this schedule? The Bolts spoiled Kessel's return to the NHL with an OT win over the Leafs on Tuesday night at the ACC. The Sens are sporting some walking wounded with Spezza and Volchenkov still out of the line up and the flu continues to run rampant. Rumours swirl that Spezza may be out longer than anticipated while reports suggest he may be in the line up on Thursday. The good news was that Volchenkov won't be out as long as originally thought. Two losses in a row by the Sens have fans wondering what happened to all the promise early in the season. The Sens need to come up with a convincing win and get back on track. Their PP continues to struggle mightily but is slowly improving. It would be nice to see the Se

Note: Thursday night at Scotiabank Place is Canadian Forces Appreciation Night.

Game Coverage:
- TV: TSN2 (HD), SUN (HD)
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: http://www.atdhe.net/

Game Day Updates:
Clouston: Donovan and Winchester not playing. Leclaire starts in goal. Lines at Sens' skate on Game Day: Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson; Kovalev-Fisher-Shannon; Foligno-Regin-Neil; Ruutu-Kelly-Cheechoo; Donovan-Winchester.
Niittymaki gets the start in net for the Bolts.

Projected Lines:
Sens: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/ottawa-senators-team-lineup
Bolts: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/tampa-bay-lightning-team-lineup
Starting goalies: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/6862/starting-goalies-thursday-november-5-2009


TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11009

Ottawa Senators:

Jason Spezza returned to practice on Wednesday after missing the last week with a sore back. He will test it again on Thursday and determine whether he can play or not. - TSN

Mike Fisher sat out practice with bumps and bruises and is questionable for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay. D Anton Volchenkov (elbow) is still out for about two weeks. - TSN

Wednesday's Practice Lines

Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Alfredsson
Kovalev - Regin - Shannon
Cheechoo - Foligno - Neil
Ruutu - Kelly - Donovan

Defencemen:
Phillips - Lee
Campoli - Kuba
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Leclaire
Elliott

Injuries:
Winchester (knee, questionable for Thursday's game); Volchenkov (dislocated right elbow, on injured reserve); Jason Spezza (upper body, expected to miss Thursday's game)

Tampa Bay Lightning:

The team put forward Ryan Craig on re-entry waivers. - TSN

Vincent Lecavalier played a season low 16:06 last night in a 6-2 loss to the Flyers. He spent a good chunk of the game relegated to the 4th line. He was -3 and is -8 on the season. Head coach Rick Tocchet has been on him of late and insists Vinny has to play a two-way game. "It's not two guys and the Tbay Lightning," Tocchet told the Tampa Bay Tribune. - TSN

Projected Lines vs. Ottawa Senators

Forwards:
Malone - Stamkos - St Louis
Wright - Halpern - Tanguay
Veilleux - Lecavalier - Miller
Fedoruk - Konopka - Downie

Defencemen:
Ohlund - Hedman
Foster - Walker
Hale - Meszaros

Goaltenders:
Nittymaki
Smith

Injuries:
Paul Ranger (personal, out indefinitely)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020211

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020211

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091105/TB@Ott/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291105014

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- Clouston post practice presser from Wed. Nov. 4th: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091104_Clouston.mp3
- Clouston post practice presser from Tue. Nov. 3rd: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091103_Clouston.mp3
- Sens Prospects Updats (PDF): http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Prospects_updates/Prospect_Update-091102.pdf
- SensTV On-line: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

Ottawa's Last Game: vs Atlanta Thrashers
- Date: Sat. Oct. 31st, 2009
- Score: Thrashers 3 - Senators 1
- Recap: http://senators.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009020182
- Boxscore: http://senators.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2009020182
- Game Summary: http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/GS020182.HTM
- Video: http://senators.nhl.com/club/gamevideo.htm?id=2009020182

Noteable Senators articles

Ottawa Sun:
Waste of time for Melnyk?: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/11/03/11625761.html

Ottawa Sun:
Fisher deserves look for Olympics: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/columnists/bruce_garrioch/2009/11/03/11626151.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Melnyk wants his money back: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Melnyk+wants+money+back/2180934/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Ruutu's a metal fan: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Metal+Ruutu+leads+fellow+Senators+Metallica+concert/2180943/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Volchenkov could be back soon: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Volchenkov+could+back+Senators+lineup+soon/2172911/story.html

OttawaSenators.com:
Spezza hopeful for return: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=504768

OttawaSenators.com:
A first for me: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=504654

OttawaSenators.com:
A November to remember?: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=504513

Noteable Lightning articles:

TampaBayLightning.com
Niittymaki making most of his opportunities: http://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=504674

TampaBayLightning.com
Start of important road trip: http://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=504494

Spread the word!

Follow GMHockey on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gmhockey

GO SENS GO!!!

Swell GDT. I'm getting antsy with so little Sens hockey, but I guess it's for the best with our best forward and defenceman (IMO) out, respectively.

What's wrong with Fisher?

Good work as usual!

We had better start scoring again...now.

Anyone else sick of Tampa Bay by now ?

I wonder if this one will be a blowout like the past 2 games.

asq2 wrote:Swell GDT. I'm getting antsy with so little Sens hockey, but I guess it's for the best with our best forward and defenceman (IMO) out, respectively.

What's wrong with Fisher?

Not sure what's up with Fisher. I don't recall Clouston mentioning it in his presser... probably just bumps and bruises.

Lecavalier is on the third line?

asq2 wrote:Lecavalier is on the third line?

Yep.

shabbs wrote:

asq2 wrote:Swell GDT. I'm getting antsy with so little Sens hockey, but I guess it's for the best with our best forward and defenceman (IMO) out, respectively.

What's wrong with Fisher?

Not sure what's up with Fisher. I don't recall Clouston mentioning it in his presser... probably just bumps and bruises.

Clouston said yesterday in the presser that it was bumps and bruises but was non-committel about whether he'd be in the lineup or not on Thursday.

Game Day!!!

GO SENS GO!!!

shabbs wrote:Game Day!!!

GO SENS GO!!!

Sounds like Spezza will be a game-time decision. Clouston's presser after practice today should be interesting.

Yeah, Clouston's last presser said it could come right down to game time depending on how he feels. Re-evaluating all the way through.

I can't believe the wait is almost over.

Oh man, it feels like we've just waited through another off-season. Go Sens! Score 8 tonight (that's right, 8).

More speculation that Spezza could be back tonight...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/11/05/senators_spezza/

I'll wait to hear what Clouston says after the skate this morning.

I Spezza. I miss him so much when he doesn't play, it makes the entire Sens team look completely different in my eyes.

Lines at practice today:

Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson
Kovalev-Fisher-Shannon
Foligno-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Cheechoo
Donovan-Winchester

shabbs wrote:Lines at practice today:

Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson
Kovalev-Fisher-Shannon
Foligno-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Cheechoo
Donovan-Winchester

That's a spicy meatball?

shabbs wrote:Lines at practice today:

Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson
Kovalev-Fisher-Shannon
Foligno-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Cheechoo
Donovan-Winchester

Not 100% sure about Shannon way up on lne 2, but all in all those are lines you can salivate about.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:Lines at practice today:

Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson
Kovalev-Fisher-Shannon
Foligno-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Cheechoo
Donovan-Winchester

That's a spicy meatball?

I guess Alfie will try to get Spezza going? Not sure about the Kovie, Fisher, Shannon line. I know Fisher has had some chemistry with both of them but I would have figured the duos were Alfie-Fish and Michalek Spezza not Kovi-Fish and Michalek-Spezza. Here's hoping it works.

shabbs wrote:More speculation that Spezza could be back tonight...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/11/05/senators_spezza/

I'll wait to hear what Clouston says after the skate this morning.

and Garrioch

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/11/05/11645881.html

Clouston: Donovan and Winchester not playing. Leclaire starts in goal.

shabbs wrote:Clouston: Donovan and Winchester not playing. Leclaire starts in goal.

Is shabbs greek for Twitter? lol~!

jamvan wrote:

shabbs wrote:Clouston: Donovan and Winchester not playing. Leclaire starts in goal.

Is shabbs greek for Twitter? lol~!

Yessir!

shabbs wrote:Clouston: Donovan and Winchester not playing. Leclaire starts in goal.

Oh oh. Neely will be pissed.

Some posts aren't showing up for me. It's bizarre. Anyone else seeing that there's a new post in a thread but when you go there the post isn't there?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I guess Alfie will try to get Spezza going? Not sure about the Kovie, Fisher, Shannon line. I know Fisher has had some chemistry with both of them but I would have figured the duos were Alfie-Fish and Michalek Spezza not Kovi-Fish and Michalek-Spezza. Here's hoping it works.

Alfie to get Spezza going though? Spezza's going like gangbusters, playing the best hockey of his life IMO. Maybe Clouston feels that because Spezza's playing so well, he deserves a linemate not named Cheechoo or Shannon right now (both at zero goals is all I mean).

Gorgeous first line, then we do the traditional amazing fall off after that.

Put the FFS line back together if you're gonna do these kind of moves - and move Kovalev down with Regin and Cheechoo. Play Kovalev on all PPs though obviously.

Dunno, very interesting to say the least.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I guess Alfie will try to get Spezza going? Not sure about the Kovie, Fisher, Shannon line. I know Fisher has had some chemistry with both of them but I would have figured the duos were Alfie-Fish and Michalek Spezza not Kovi-Fish and Michalek-Spezza. Here's hoping it works.

Alfie to get Spezza going though? Spezza's going like gangbusters, playing the best hockey of his life IMO. Maybe Clouston feels that because Spezza's playing so well, he deserves a linemate not named Cheechoo or Shannon right now (both at zero goals is all I mean).

Gorgeous first line, then we do the traditional amazing fall off after that.

Put the FFS line back together if you're gonna do these kind of moves - and move Kovalev down with Regin and Cheechoo. Play Kovalev on all PPs though obviously.

Dunno, very interesting to say the least.

By getting Spezza going I mean in terms of goal scoring. As far as putting Alfie on one line and Fisher on the other I think it's probably due to the fact that they are the teams two top scorers and Clouston probably wants them on two lines so as to make the opposition choose a line to shut down.

Clouston post practice presser:

http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091105_Clouston.mp3

Cap'n Clutch wrote:By getting Spezza going I mean in terms of goal scoring. As far as putting Alfie on one line and Fisher on the other I think it's probably due to the fact that they are the teams two top scorers and Clouston probably wants them on two lines so as to make the opposition choose a line to shut down.

What's the nicest way of saying this...I think Alfredsson strongly contributes to Fisher's numbers by being on the wing with him.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:By getting Spezza going I mean in terms of goal scoring. As far as putting Alfie on one line and Fisher on the other I think it's probably due to the fact that they are the teams two top scorers and Clouston probably wants them on two lines so as to make the opposition choose a line to shut down.

What's the nicest way of saying this...I think Alfredsson strongly contributes to Fisher's numbers by being on the wing with him.

I think that's probably the same for most centres in the league though, not just Fisher. It's an Alfie thing.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:By getting Spezza going I mean in terms of goal scoring. As far as putting Alfie on one line and Fisher on the other I think it's probably due to the fact that they are the teams two top scorers and Clouston probably wants them on two lines so as to make the opposition choose a line to shut down.

What's the nicest way of saying this...I think Alfredsson strongly contributes to Fisher's numbers by being on the wing with him.

I tend to agree. I'm just trying to get in Clouston's head. Why else would he split Fisher and Alfie? If he believed as we do then is he trying to see if he's right or is he trying to prove himself wrong here?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:By getting Spezza going I mean in terms of goal scoring. As far as putting Alfie on one line and Fisher on the other I think it's probably due to the fact that they are the teams two top scorers and Clouston probably wants them on two lines so as to make the opposition choose a line to shut down.

What's the nicest way of saying this...I think Alfredsson strongly contributes to Fisher's numbers by being on the wing with him.

I tend to agree. I'm just trying to get in Clouston's head. Why else would he split Fisher and Alfie? If he believed as we do then is he trying to see if he's right or is he trying to prove himself wrong here?

If there's one thing I won't do is question Clouston. He has been pretty good so far in making decisions and we know now, he's not afraid of mixing up lines mid game.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I tend to agree. I'm just trying to get in Clouston's head. Why else would he split Fisher and Alfie? If he believed as we do then is he trying to see if he's right or is he trying to prove himself wrong here?

He wants to score some goals, that would be my assessment of that situation. It's scary though because as deep as we are, that's still putting a lot of the eggs in one basket. Killer line though, I just want to see that line for a shift or 10.

jamvan wrote:If there's one thing I won't do is question Clouston. He has been pretty good so far in making decisions and we know now, he's not afraid of mixing up lines mid game.

Never. He thinks about these things more than we do (if that's possible). He knows what he's doing 100%. Never question, just watch and see how it all unfolds.

Cheechoo on line 4? Why not just scratch him and put in Winchester. I want to see what he can bring to the table after such a long layoff.

Can I get a GO SENS GO?

GO SENS GO!!!!

Projected lines:

SpezDispenser wrote:Cheechoo on line 4? Why not just scratch him and put in Winchester. I want to see what he can bring to the table after such a long layoff.

That's where he deserves to be. Clouston did say he'd get some PP time and that our 4th line cannot be called a 4th line.