GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Atlanta Thrashers - 7:30pm Jan. 14th, 2009

I didn't see the game, but the stats are showing that the lightning rods for criticism (Spezza, Vermette, Fisher) are starting to show some life.

dennycrane wrote:I didn't see the game, but the stats are showing that the lightning rods for criticism (Spezza, Vermette, Fisher) are starting to show some life.

Oh good. Now that it's too late. Diddle them.

hemlock wrote:

dennycrane wrote:I didn't see the game, but the stats are showing that the lightning rods for criticism (Spezza, Vermette, Fisher) are starting to show some life.

Oh good. Now that it's too late. Diddle them.

Trade them.
(Vermette and Fisher, I mean).

Playing well is not acceptable! :x

Why the heck does Fisher keep moaning about playing on the wing? He looked great on the powerplay on the wing.

Why doesn't Hartsburg try those lines in an actual game?

I have no idea why he doesn't try those lines. Probably because you'd have 3 right handed shots on one forward line - otherwise, look out.

I don't kid for a second when I say I could envision Mike Fisher potting 35 goals playing wing with Alfie and Spezza. The East should shudder if one of our coaches ever gets his head out of his arse and tries that.

Even if they tried that line combination, Hartsburg would change it in the second period.

504Heater wrote:I have no idea why he doesn't try those lines. Probably because you'd have 3 right handed shots on one forward line - otherwise, look out.

I don't kid for a second when I say I could envision Mike Fisher potting 35 goals playing wing with Alfie and Spezza. The East should shudder if one of our coaches ever gets his head out of his arse and tries that.

I agree...the PP lines have looked great...

Even the 2nd unit has had great possession...and IMO Heatley has looked good out there...sure not many shots...but he is being far more creative...

SeawaySensFan wrote:I prefer to focus on the saves Elliott is making and there have been some dandies and other difficult saves that he made look easy.

Rebound control? I don't think so. That was a scrambly situation and he might have been a little soft on smothering the puck.

In the NYR and CAR games, Elliott was largely in control of his rebounds, and was widely praised by the broadcasters for it. In last night's game against ATL, however, he was fighting the puck all night long, and giving out bad rebounds, including the one on that Thorburn goal, and the good scoring chance in the final minute. McGuire was all over this, in fact, harping on each and every time Elliott mishandled a rebound... and I remember thinking, "must be an off-night for Elliott, 'cause his rebound control before tonight was great, too bad Pierre is seeing him on an off night."

Here's the consolation, tho': that was a pretty bad game from Elliott last night, by his standards, and he still won!

DashRiprock wrote:

It really doesn't matter, if you think this team can win against Montreal, Boston, Detroit, San Jose... you're naive. This team has a playoff problem.

Come on... *If* OTT somehow manages to make the playoffs, they'll have to win about 75% of their final 41 games... which would make them *the* hottest team in the league, playing the same kind of hockey as SJ, BOS, DET, etc. did in the first half.

I'm not holding out for this to happen, I'm just putting it in perspective. If OTT sneaks into the playoffs -- which I again find improbable -- but *if*, then they're going to be one freakin' hot team.

rooneypoo wrote:I'm not holding out for this to happen, I'm just putting it in perspective. If OTT sneaks into the playoffs -- which I again find improbable -- but *if*, then they're going to be one freakin' hot team.

This was exactly my point - if they were able to do that, they'd be the hottest team heading into the playoffs.

And it's all about timing and heating up at the right moment.

COLLAR UP wrote:
I agree...the PP lines have looked great...

Even the 2nd unit has had great possession...and IMO Heatley has looked good out there...sure not many shots...but he is being far more creative...

Yeah, Heater may have saved the game a couple of times with blocks and deft plays.