GAME DAY: Washington Capitals @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm EST - Mon. Nov. 23rd, 2009 PLUS post game thoughts

The Ottawa Senators (11-6-3, 25 points, 2nd in the Northeast) host Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (13-5-5, 31 points, 1st in the Southeast) on Monday night at Scotiabank Place in Kanata. The Sens are coming off a satisfying but costly win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night that saw Leclaire get injured and not be able to finish the game. Brian Elliott came in and preserved the win and will most likely start in net on Monday night, not sure who has been called up to fill in for backup but it could be Brodeur. The Caps are coming off a shootout loss to the Leafs and have put up two losses in a row. They will be hungry for a win. The Sens will need to continue their pressure play and ride the momentum they've been building off their recent wins. 3 wins in a row and going for 4. GO SENS GO!!!

Game Coverage:
- TV: RDS (HD), CSN-DC, SNET-E (HD); NHL Center Ice
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: Check: http://www.atdhe.net/ and http://www.justin.tv/

Latest Updates:
- Elliott starts in net for the Sens tonight.
- Kovalev is still in Russia. Will not be in the line-up tonight.
- Leclaire will back Elliott up tonight. Day to day with lower body injury (not ankle)

Team Lineups:
Ottawa Senators: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/ottawa-senators-team-lineup
Washington Capitals: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/washington-capitals-team-lineup

TSN's Ice Chips:

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

Ottawa Senators:

Pascal Leclaire, who suffered a lower body injury in the second period on Saturday will back-up Brian Elliott tonight against the Washington Capitals. Anton Volchenkov skated on Monday for the first time since suffering an injury on Oct. 28. Forward Shean Donovan is expected to miss at least 6-8 weeks with an injury to his ACL and MCL. Surgery does not appear to be required. He suffered the injury during Thursday's victory over the Penguins. - TSN

Video: Capitals at Senators Ice Chips

Projected Lines vs. Capitals

Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Alfredsson
Foligno - Fisher - Neil
Winchester - Regein - Shannon
Ruutu - Kelly - Cheechoo

Defencemen:
Phillips - Kuba
Campoli - Lee
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Elliott
Leclaire

Injuries:
- Volchenkov (dislocated right elbow, on injured reserve)
- Donovan (knee, out 6-8 weeks)
- Leclaire (lower body, will miss Monday's game)
- Kovalev (personal reasons, questionable for Monday's game)

Washington Capitals:

Projected Lines vs. Senators

Forwards:
Ovechkin - Bachstrom - Clark
Laich - Morrison - Fehr
Fleischmann - Perreault - Bradley
Beagle - Steckle - Gordon/S.Morrisonn

Defencemen:
Schult - Green
Sloan - Carlson
Erskine - Pothier

Goaltenders:
Varlamov
Theodore

Injuries:
- Milan Jurcina (lower body, in IR)
- Mike Knuble (broken finger, on IR, out 2-3 weeks)
- Boyd Gordon (back, on IR)
- Alexander Semin (right wrist, on IR)
- Quintin Laing (broken jaw, on IR, out 4-6 weeks)
- Shaone Morrison (head, questionable for Monday's game)
- Tom Poti (upper body, questionable for Monday's game)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020331

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020331

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091123/Was@Ott/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291123014

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- SensTV On-line: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

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GO SENS GO!!!

Monday game? Go Sens!

Washington and Alex Ovechkin is probably the best case scenario for a Monday night game. He is a big draw right now. Here's hoping it's enough of a draw that our attendance isn't an embarassement.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Washington and Alex Ovechkin is probably the best case scenario for a Monday night game. He is a big draw right now. Here's hoping it's enough of a draw that our attendance isn't an embarassement.

I may have ttwo free tickets in the 200 available as I can't go, fo unforseen circumstances, I will post it on here this afternoon if they do in fact come available. I'd rather give them to some real fans.

GAME DAY!!!

GO SENS GO!!!

I'll be keeping my eyes open jamvan

So what's the deal with Leclaire? I haven't been able to find anything about a goalie being recalled to cover for him yet. Is that a good sign?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So what's the deal with Leclaire? I haven't been able to find anything about a goalie being recalled to cover for him yet. Is that a good sign?

I think he's just off as a precaution to ensure that he can carry the load for the tough schedule ahead.

This is from Sens Twitter:

Leclaire will go for tests to determine extent of injury - update on Monday. Clouston said he'll be fine.

Hopefully he's all good. I've not seen any transactions for recalling either of Brodeur or Chiodo.

shabbs wrote:Hopefully he's all good. I've not seen any transactions for recalling either of Brodeur or Chiodo.

Me either. I've been looking all morning.

Latest from NHL_Sens:

Volchenkov is skating with the Sens at today's morning skate. It is his first time skating with the team since his injury.

A good sign.

Kovalev is not on the ice.

Leclaire is out on the ice.

Lines at practice today:

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

shabbs wrote:Leclaire is out on the ice.

Is he in with the team as part of the full practice?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:Leclaire is out on the ice.

Is he in with the team as part of the full practice?

No idea. I'll see if I can find out.

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:Leclaire is out on the ice.

Is he in with the team as part of the full practice?

No idea. I'll see if I can find out.

You're an 84 rating, you better do a little more than just try!!! Drive to Ottawa and find out damnit!

Bass Destruction wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:Leclaire is out on the ice.

Is he in with the team as part of the full practice?

No idea. I'll see if I can find out.

You're an 84 rating, you better do a little more than just try!!! Drive to Ottawa and find out damnit!

HA HA! If only that rep rating was worth something outside of this board...

Kovalev is still in Russia... so he won't be in the line-up tonight.

Personally I'm more worried about Leclaire's status then Kovalev.

shabbs wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:Leclaire is out on the ice.

Is he in with the team as part of the full practice?

No idea. I'll see if I can find out.

You're an 84 rating, you better do a little more than just try!!! Drive to Ottawa and find out damnit!

HA HA! If only that rep rating was worth something outside of this board...

It works with the ladies! Much like my 3 doesn't impress anyone here, it doesn't impress any girls in the 'real' world either. There must be a correlation!!

According to James Gordon, Ottawa $hitizen, Leclaire is a game time decision.

SeawaySensFan wrote:According to James Gordon, Ottawa $hitizen, Leclaire is a game time decision.

If that's the case then they would be calling someone up just in case right? I mean if he's a game time decision they need to have their butts covered in case he's not healthy enough to go.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:According to James Gordon, Ottawa $hitizen, Leclaire is a game time decision.

If that's the case then they would be calling someone up just in case right? I mean if he's a game time decision they need to have their butts covered in case he's not healthy enough to go.

No. I think it's just a question of whether he starts or not.

If he's good enough to backup he should be good enough to start. I've never understood that when goalies say they aren't good to go to start the game but they're OK to sit as backup.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:If he's good enough to backup he should be good enough to start. I've never understood that when goalies say they aren't good to go to start the game but they're OK to sit as backup.

Yeah, but it does happen. I really don't have a problem with Elliott starting anyway.

Elliott starts tonight.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:If he's good enough to backup he should be good enough to start. I've never understood that when goalies say they aren't good to go to start the game but they're OK to sit as backup.

Yeah, but it does happen. I really don't have a problem with Elliott starting anyway.

I don't have a problem with Elliott starting either and if Leclaire is backing up then hopefully that means he's good to go vs. New Jersey and beyond.

It does sound like they're leaning towards Leclaire backing up. Elliott starts for sure though.

Citizen preview:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/honours+Fisher+while+linemate+Kovalev+remains/2256336/story.html

Fisher was NHL 3rd star of the week and will be honoured tonight.

News about Volchie from Ian Mendes:

Anton Volchenkov skated with team today for the first time. He told us that weekend game vs Boston might be realistic return date.

Yes, Leclaire will backup Elliott tonight:

http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens/status/5980832727

GO SENS GO!!!

Crisis averted. Good excuse to get Elliott a game against an elite team. Should be a good test for all concerned.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:If he's good enough to backup he should be good enough to start. I've never understood that when goalies say they aren't good to go to start the game but they're OK to sit as backup.

Would you want to start against a pissed off Ovie who lost to the worst team in the NHL. Oh and I need to send a huge thank you to Ovie for losing to the leafs...as much as I hate them (and I do) having them win once in a while simply validates the moves the Blowhard made. It will keep him from making any more thinking, "ahh here we go, it's about to all turn around". Only to realize that it isn't and they still suck.

Some audio from today:

Clouston post-practice presser from today:
http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091123_Clouston.mp3

Leclaire talking to the media after practice today:
http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091123_Leclaire-ENG.mp3

Game Notes for tonight (PDF):
http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/PDFs/091123_Ott-vs-Was.pdf

Bass Destruction wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:Leclaire is out on the ice.

Is he in with the team as part of the full practice?

No idea. I'll see if I can find out.

You're an 84 rating, you better do a little more than just try!!! Drive to Ottawa and find out damnit!

HA HA! If only that rep rating was worth something outside of this board...

It works with the ladies! Much like my 3 doesn't impress anyone here, it doesn't impress any girls in the 'real' world either. There must be a correlation!!

Is the higher number better or worse?

Leclaire plays the waiting game...

http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=507158

Lots of tickets still left...

http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=507159