GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Dallas Stars – 2:00PM EST, Saturday, March 20, 2010

Tuk Tuk wrote:I was at work and missed the game...looks like I didn't miss much

SpezDispenser wrote:Also, without Spezza and Alfredsson, this team is nothing. They're the ones that can change our fate from one moment to another - and they need to. I no longer can wait for Fisher or Kovalev to get 'un' cold, although Fisher looked a lot better today (when he's on the Diddling wing!!!).

wprager wrote:I'd say he had at least 2, probably 3 opportunities to make a great save. I *really* don't like harping on a goalie for a loss, but between him and Karlsson that was brutal. Karlsson is a 19-year-old rookie making one third the salary (plus he was playing with a new partner for the first time).

SpezDispenser wrote:No one should ever suggest that Alfie should just retire again.

Big Ev wrote:Well, it can only get worse!

I'm hoping for a first round matchup wit the Caps so that Neil can knock Ovie the Diddle out!

In all seriousness, I hope we keep our 6th spot to face the Sabres.

Although, it's not impossible that we could catch the Sabres for the top spot in the division, we still play 2 games against them.

N4L wrote:There are 3 vets I keep around though I go full out rebuild. That's Spezza, Alfi, Michalek, and Phillips

Reasoning? Spezza can explode on any given night and probably win some games by himself, the youth actually might help him mature and become a leader. 7 million dollar cap hit during a rebuild is nothing so cap is a non issue.

Alfi, well, he can choose to play here or ask for a trade, either way Im ok with it. Through a rebuild you have your leader showing the way and what it means to play in Ottawa.

Michalek? Too much upside, too complete, great cap hit, and a solid player. Plus he's young.

Phillips, well with the young D core and a guy that bleeds red and black, this is the guy you want brining along Karlsson, but especially western guys in Cowen and Wiercoich.

Other guys I think should be around, Kelly, Neil, and Carkner. Those are the guys you want and need with a lot of youth around. Toughness and expierence. Someone needs to really step up for them when the time comes.

Next year if things are somewhat blown up... you go with that group leading the way IMO.

I think the guys that will be dealt are defently Fisher, Kovalev, and MAYBE Leclaire if they get a somewhat decent return, otherwise there is no point.

I hope for The Sens sake they can really get things going here because there is still a ton of potential, but I still think they overacheived a bit this year already and it should have been a rebuild last year, but I changed my mind based on the situation who might or should be going.

hemlock wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Also, without Spezza and Alfredsson, this team is nothing. They're the ones that can change our fate from one moment to another - and they need to. I no longer can wait for Fisher or Kovalev to get 'un' cold, although Fisher looked a lot better today (when he's on the Diddling wing!!!).

Fisher on the wing? That's a novel idea. Only like uhh....all of us having been saying this for what? 3 years?

marakh wrote:I must have watched a different game or just was too.tired from last night but from what I remember not a lot of goals I would blame on leclaire...
there was a 5 on 3
a perfect redirect by ribeiro frm a pass from behind the net
a 2 on 2 where karlsson was laying down instead of blocking benn, neil was late
a perfect shot where fisher was screening
last one I don't remember, was it when karlsson was afrad of ott forecheckng?

while I think leclaire can be way better, don't think elliott makes a save in any of those. Its easy to say 19 shots but there were a lot of quality chances . Most of them turnovers. Just because karlsson is a rookie doesn't mean the goalies have to or can stop every single turnover out there.
Fix the miscommunication on the ice before the goaltending because we don't have luongo out there and should not expect it.

marakh wrote:I must have watched a different game or just was too.tired from last night but from what I remember not a lot of goals I would blame on leclaire...
there was a 5 on 3
a perfect redirect by ribeiro frm a pass from behind the net
a 2 on 2 where karlsson was laying down instead of blocking benn, neil was late
a perfect shot where fisher was screening
last one I don't remember, was it when karlsson was afrad of ott forecheckng?

while I think leclaire can be way better, don't think elliott makes a save in any of those. Its easy to say 19 shots but there were a lot of quality chances . Most of them turnovers. Just because karlsson is a rookie doesn't mean the goalies have to or can stop every single turnover out there.
Fix the miscommunication on the ice before the goaltending because we don't have luongo out there and should not expect it.

Urkie wrote:

marakh wrote:I must have watched a different game or just was too.tired from last night but from what I remember not a lot of goals I would blame on leclaire...
there was a 5 on 3
a perfect redirect by ribeiro frm a pass from behind the net
a 2 on 2 where karlsson was laying down instead of blocking benn, neil was late
a perfect shot where fisher was screening
last one I don't remember, was it when karlsson was afrad of ott forecheckng?

while I think leclaire can be way better, don't think elliott makes a save in any of those. Its easy to say 19 shots but there were a lot of quality chances . Most of them turnovers. Just because karlsson is a rookie doesn't mean the goalies have to or can stop every single turnover out there.
Fix the miscommunication on the ice before the goaltending because we don't have luongo out there and should not expect it.

You're right, the first one wasn't really his fault. He was pretty deep in his net though.

The second one could have been prevented by Leclaire imo. He could have either blocked the pass but instead he overcommited and didn't block the pass.

The third one where Richards scored from his knees was a tough one. The whole team messed that one up.

The fourth one was a bad pinch by Campoli and a bad play by Karlsson and Neil. Leclaire absolutely had no chance on that one.

The fifth one shouldn't have happened since Ruutu took a nasty slash but the guy took the shot from pretty far out with no traffic. That was the backbreaker he definitely should have stopped. Was it a good shot? Sure, but he saw it the whole way and got beat from the top of the circle by a wrist shot. He had to have that one, had to have it.

And I don't really care about how times he gets scored on either. But when you've got a close game and you're playing behind a struggling team then you need to bail them out every once in awhile. Being just average isn't going to cut it for Leclaire or Elliott right now. One of them has to have a big game or this slide will continue.

N4L wrote:What a waste of a great game from The Sens for the most part. This one was goaltending. Leclaire, well, 11 goals against his last 2 games... Elliott or bust the rest of the way.

Urkie wrote:

wprager wrote:I'd say he had at least 2, probably 3 opportunities to make a great save. I *really* don't like harping on a goalie for a loss, but between him and Karlsson that was brutal. Karlsson is a 19-year-old rookie making one third the salary (plus he was playing with a new partner for the first time).

Exactly, Karlsson had a bad game but he's a rookie that's still learning. I don't blame Karlsson at all for the loss.

But when you're a team struggling to score goals and win games then you need your goalie to get you out of the funk. Leclaire needed to make just one big save and he didn't do that when the team needed it most. Leclaire can blame the team all he wants but goalies are supposed to bail out the team every once in awhile. For him to suggest that he didn't play that bad is not what I want to hear. To me, that's him deflecting blame and being content with his game. He should be saying he feels like he let the team down and he needs to work harder.

I hope Murray can get Leclaire off the roster in the summer and hand over the reigns to Elliott once and for all. He's the only guy that's shown and kind of consistency in net this year.

SpezDispenser wrote:Z.Smith has been called up by the Sens. He'll never again play AHL hockey IMO.

rooneypoo wrote:I called this one, oh, 3 months ago or so.

I agree, he's here to stay. Guys like Winchester, Shannon, and Regin need to pick it up or they're going to find themselves watching Z. Smith play their minutes.

Gotta feel a little bad for Donovan, tho'.

N4L wrote:People think Im going to go on some Spezza bashing spree, but when people make claims that he is elite, well, thats when people need a big Donkey old slap in the face. SPEZZA IS NOT ELITE. If you want to say he is elite, better strat putting a lot of other players in that catogory. Here's one and Im only using stats because the people who say Spezza is actually elite, well thats what they use to prove it.

Jason Spezza

GP 76 82 50
G 34 32 18
A 58 41 24
P 92 73 43

Mystery Player

GP 76 82 56
G 27 22 18
A 56 56 30
P 83 78 48

Who is the mystery player? Any guesses?

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Z.Smith has been called up by the Sens. He'll never again play AHL hockey IMO.

I called this one, oh, 3 months ago or so.

I agree, he's here to stay. Guys like Winchester, Shannon, and Regin need to pick it up or they're going to find themselves watching Z. Smith play their minutes.

Gotta feel a little bad for Donovan, tho'.

N4L wrote:People think Im going to go on some Spezza bashing spree, but when people make claims that he is elite, well, thats when people need a big Donkey old slap in the face. SPEZZA IS NOT ELITE. If you want to say he is elite, better strat putting a lot of other players in that catogory. Here's one and Im only using stats because the people who say Spezza is actually elite, well thats what they use to prove it.

Jason Spezza

GP 76 82 50
G 34 32 18
A 58 41 24
P 92 73 43

Mystery Player

GP 76 82 56
G 27 22 18
A 56 56 30
P 83 78 48

Who is the mystery player? Any guesses?

rooneypoo wrote:
I'll say Ribeiro.

N4L wrote:
Good move but I kind of feel bad for Cheechoo... there is no shot that he is happy about The Sens struggles, but has he EVER played on a losing team? I dont think he has. He contributes in different ways but you have the most finkle fanbase on the planet Wing Dang Doodle about his salary and saying he isnt an NHL player. If he isnt an NHL player wtf is Jesse WInchester or Ryan Shannon. Cheechoo scored more goals ina year then those guys might have in their careers combined.

Love Smith though and it will be good to see him get another shot. He wont be going back down to Bingo, I agree with that.

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:
I'll say Ribeiro.

Weird, that was my guess too.

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:
I'll say Ribeiro.

Weird, that was my guess too.

I just looked it up now, too, it's Ribeiro for sure.

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
Good move but I kind of feel bad for Cheechoo... there is no shot that he is happy about The Sens struggles, but has he EVER played on a losing team? I dont think he has. He contributes in different ways but you have the most finkle fanbase on the planet Wing Dang Doodle about his salary and saying he isnt an NHL player. If he isnt an NHL player wtf is Jesse WInchester or Ryan Shannon. Cheechoo scored more goals ina year then those guys might have in their careers combined.

Love Smith though and it will be good to see him get another shot. He wont be going back down to Bingo, I agree with that.

Cheechoo is coming up the moment the rosters expand. He knows it too and is apparently working quite hard to prepare down there. Scored a nice SH goal in another Sens win last night.

rooneypoo wrote:

N4L wrote:People think Im going to go on some Spezza bashing spree, but when people make claims that he is elite, well, thats when people need a big Donkey old slap in the face. SPEZZA IS NOT ELITE. If you want to say he is elite, better strat putting a lot of other players in that catogory. Here's one and Im only using stats because the people who say Spezza is actually elite, well thats what they use to prove it.

Jason Spezza

GP 76 82 50
G 34 32 18
A 58 41 24
P 92 73 43

Mystery Player

GP 76 82 56
G 27 22 18
A 56 56 30
P 83 78 48

Who is the mystery player? Any guesses?

I'll say Ribeiro.

rooneypoo wrote:

The roster limit is removed after the trade deadline, I believe. Presumably, we're more concerned about re-entry waivers -- I don't think anyone claimed on waivers can play in the post-season now, but still.

N4L wrote:
Right on! Mike Ribeiro is elite!

That's Spezza's comparable, both in terms of what they bring to the game, points, and overall leadership on their current teams. There isnt a more similar player to Spezza then Ribeiro. Some might argue Savard which I can see but not a lot of people put him in that "elite" catogory either.

Spezza has turned a lot of things around and Im not trashing him, but Spezza is not elite, he will more then likely NEVER hit 100 points once in his career, and Alfi is getting on, wont be there beside Spezza forever.

SpezDispenser wrote:No one should ever suggest that Alfie should just retire again.

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:
I'll say Ribeiro.

Weird, that was my guess too.

I just looked it up now, too, it's Ribeiro for sure.

I feel like I cheated by putting Andy McDonald's name in there, I should have stuck to my gut. I also though Ribeiro because we just played Dallas to be honest, but I thought it made sense.

Number Twenty Nine wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I love #11. When he's on, the team is on. He's tires easily these days and that just sucks the cadence of the team.

Maybe a retirement ala Scotty Do and Selanne then?

I think Spezza has shown some flashes of leadership lately and could be a "C" contender in the future. He's definitely matured over the past 2 years.

N4L wrote:Brad Boyes and he is actually available.