Game Day: Canes Vs. Sens Jan 13, 08

TO THE CUP!!!!

shabbs wrote:TO THE CALDER CUP!!!!

fixed

Tukker wrote:

shabbs wrote:TO THE CALDER CUP!!!!

fixed

Not unless we give them Elliott back.

cash wrote:

asq2 wrote:

hemlock wrote:

Snuh wrote:Wow! What a difference a goalie who makes timely saves and gives up virtually no rebounds can make. Great game!

At the risk of sounding negative after a win, this isn't what we need. A faint glimpse of hope. It's nice to see Elliott getting his shot and playing well, but goaltending isn't the biggest problem on this team. We still don't have that elusive d-man we've been after.

Personally, I will be much less impressed if Elliott continues to shine and it costs us a seeding or two. It could be the difference between getting a blue chipper and not. This season is a write off. I want to see them treat it that way.

Agreed. The thought of going on a run right now is terrifying. Hopefully it was a one-game abberation.

I agree and its obvious that against a better team, many of the individual plays that looked so great wouldn't have worked out as they did tonight.
But I disagree that goaltending hasn't been the absolute biggest issue with this team. It feeds confidence throughout the D-corps and the forwards and promotes a more free-flowing transition game.

Perhaps, but your defencemen need to have a certain level of skill and confidence to help the transition game. We just don't have anywhere close to the level we had during the cup run after losing 4 of our 6 D-men. Losing Mez, Redden, Preissing and Corvo has really hurt this team badly.

I'd say our goaltending is fine right now. We are going through a transitional period anyway, so I don't expect lights out every night. I agree that Elliot should get his look now, but I am secretly hoping it's 1-0 against the Sens every night lol.

Too many times this season, we've all had moments where we've said "Hmm, could this be where they turn it around?" Time and time again that we've seen then this team's inability to move the puck up ice, and their perceived lack of desire or effort rear it's ugly head.

A few good games from Elliot is encouraging....for next year lol.

Ive been saying it for a year, Elliott will, and basicaly is already the starter here by years end. The kid has all the tools! Its great watching that kid play and play well.

People are going to say. "well, he really wasnt tested and wasnt forced to make any 2nd or 3rd saves." Sorry he doesnt put every rebound in the slot and sucks up the shots from the outside. This is Ottawa's goaltender for the next 5 years minimum.

wprager wrote:I'm also not watching but checking the box scores and such (will watch it later). Vermette has more than twice as many face offs as Fisher (they are both smokin' by the way). Is Vermette playing centre finally? If I recall, Fisher was on a line with Neil and Foligno, at least that's what Ice Chips said about probably lines. So is Vermette centering the 2nd line?

This has probably been answered by someone, but it was Foligno - Fisher - Neil, then Winchester - Vermette - Kelly on line 3.

Neely4Life wrote:Ive been saying it for a year, Elliott will, and basicaly is already the starter here by years end. The kid has all the tools! Its great watching that kid play and play well.

People are going to say. "well, he really wasnt tested and wasnt forced to make any 2nd or 3rd saves." Sorry he doesnt put every rebound in the slot and sucks up the shots from the outside. This is Ottawa's goaltender for the next 5 years minimum.

I can't tell you how much I hope you're right.

I love Elliott.

But the last thing I want him to do is turn our season around.

We need to get a Victor Hedman or Jared Cowen in front of him.

hemlock wrote:

Snuh wrote:Wow! What a difference a goalie who makes timely saves and gives up virtually no rebounds can make. Great game!

At the risk of sounding negative after a win, this isn't what we need. A faint glimpse of hope. It's nice to see Elliott getting his shot and playing well, but goaltending isn't the biggest problem on this team. We still don't have that elusive d-man we've been after.

Personally, I will be much less impressed if Elliott continues to shine and it costs us a seeding or two. It could be the difference between getting a blue chipper and not. This season is a write off. I want to see them treat it that way.

I was wondering if and how I was going to say the same thing.

It wouldn't surprise me if Murray ends up trading for a 'tender, then, having sent Elliott back down before he's played his ten games, he plays out the season with Auld and the new guy. This way, we still stink out the joint, and get a good pick (but because we traded for a goalie, we have to play him, right?) Throw in a few more "desperation" trades [which we know will be calculated moves by Murray], and we are set for next year or the year after.

Yes, I have blind, unending faith in Murray. I really hope it's well founded.

504Heater wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Ive been saying it for a year, Elliott will, and basicaly is already the starter here by years end. The kid has all the tools! Its great watching that kid play and play well.

People are going to say. "well, he really wasnt tested and wasnt forced to make any 2nd or 3rd saves." Sorry he doesnt put every rebound in the slot and sucks up the shots from the outside. This is Ottawa's goaltender for the next 5 years minimum.

I can't tell you how much I hope you're right.

Elliott right now has no visable weekness as a goaltender. There is still tons for him to prove and we will see what the kid is made of from here on out. He is as solid as they come and he wont be the first underdog come from the NCAA and be a star between the pipes.

Elliott is the real deal.

His five-hole could stand some improvement.

asq2 wrote:I love Elliott.

But the last thing I want him to do is turn our season around.

We need to get a Victor Hedman or Jared Cowen in front of him.

You gotta see what the kid has, now is the time, its as simple as that. I want Hedman too, but you build from the back end forward, that starts in goal.

Having our goaltending solved for the the next 5-10 years is better than having Hedman or Tavrares IMO. Its starts from between the pipes.

asq2 wrote:His five-hole could stand some improvement.

haha, if he didnt shut it down so quick I would agree. So many similarities to Belfore its not even funny.

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:I love Elliott.

But the last thing I want him to do is turn our season around.

We need to get a Victor Hedman or Jared Cowen in front of him.

You gotta see what the kid has, now is the time, its as simple as that. I want Hedman too, but you build from the back end forward, that starts in goal.

Having our goaltending solved for the the next 5-10 years is better than having Hedman or Tavrares IMO. Its starts from between the pipes.

We've been fairly certain for the past 3 or so years that Elliott was our answer to the goaltending question.

It's not an either/or. If you let him stay in the AHL, dominate and hopefully lead the B-Sens on a long playoff run while we lose and grab Hedman, then he can come up again at the start of next season to be our guy AND we'll have a franchiser to put in front of him.

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:I love Elliott.

But the last thing I want him to do is turn our season around.

We need to get a Victor Hedman or Jared Cowen in front of him.

You gotta see what the kid has, now is the time, its as simple as that. I want Hedman too, but you build from the back end forward, that starts in goal.

Having our goaltending solved for the the next 5-10 years is better than having Hedman or Tavrares IMO. Its starts from between the pipes.

But we've already got Elliott. So our goaltending is solved regardless if he plays the year out in Ottawa or not. Let him lead Bingo to a long playoff run, and we continue to ride Gerber and Auld. That sounds like a win-win to me.

Neely4Life wrote:

504Heater wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Ive been saying it for a year, Elliott will, and basicaly is already the starter here by years end. The kid has all the tools! Its great watching that kid play and play well.

People are going to say. "well, he really wasnt tested and wasnt forced to make any 2nd or 3rd saves." Sorry he doesnt put every rebound in the slot and sucks up the shots from the outside. This is Ottawa's goaltender for the next 5 years minimum.

I can't tell you how much I hope you're right.

Elliott right now has no visable weekness as a goaltender. There is still tons for him to prove and we will see what the kid is made of from here on out. He is as solid as they come and he wont be the first underdog come from the NCAA and be a star between the pipes.

Elliott is the real deal.

Agreed. I wrote a post/blog on this back in Aug/Sept I think.
The kid moves incredibly precisely; when I saw him and Price face each other (pre-season), you could see what the "modern" goalie was being taught. My son had just finished a camp with Eli Wilson, and it was like watching a film of what Wilson was teaching. It's wild.

The only thing is that he needs to be brought along properly, so we don't screw up his development.

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:I love Elliott.

But the last thing I want him to do is turn our season around.

We need to get a Victor Hedman or Jared Cowen in front of him.

You gotta see what the kid has, now is the time, its as simple as that. I want Hedman too, but you build from the back end forward, that starts in goal.

Having our goaltending solved for the the next 5-10 years is better than having Hedman or Tavrares IMO. Its starts from between the pipes.

We've been fairly certain for the past 3 or so years that Elliott was our answer to the goaltending question.

It's not an either/or. If you let him stay in the AHL, dominate and hopefully lead the B-Sens on a long playoff run while we lose and grab Hedman, then he can come up again at the start of next season to be our guy AND we'll have a franchiser to put in front of him.

Fact of the matter is Elliott is ready for the NHL, he has worked for it, and it was promised to him that if he worked hard and did well, he would get his shot.

A turn around or not, Elliott should be up here and get his shot. There is nothing left for him to learn in the AHL, he is the best goalie down there, and by a large margin.

hemlock wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:I love Elliott.

But the last thing I want him to do is turn our season around.

We need to get a Victor Hedman or Jared Cowen in front of him.

You gotta see what the kid has, now is the time, its as simple as that. I want Hedman too, but you build from the back end forward, that starts in goal.

Having our goaltending solved for the the next 5-10 years is better than having Hedman or Tavrares IMO. Its starts from between the pipes.

But we've already got Elliott. So our goaltending is solved regardless if he plays the year out in Ottawa or not. Let him lead Bingo to a long playoff run, and we continue to ride Gerber and Auld. That sounds like a win-win to me.

He will be playing in Bingo come the playoffs anyways. After the Sens are done they will send him back down.