GAME DAY: New Jersey Devils @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm - Jan. 27th, 2009

I don't if you guys saw the update but Smith and Schubert are confirmed to be sitting in the press box tonight.

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Senators/2009/01/27/8162306.html

Makes sense to me.

Wow. I can't believe Smith is scratched.

Someone want to make a topic out of Smith being scratched? It seems topic worthy (I knew this morning and forgot to say anything).

Good, if they were to sit Bell again I would have def questions about Hartsberg. Bell has been playing well for the last little bit and has quietly put up 4 goals for the Sens.

He is the ideal 6th, 7th D man on a team.

Neely4Life wrote:Good, if they were to sit Bell again I would have def questions about Hartsberg. Bell has been playing well for the last little bit and has quietly put up 4 goals for the Sens.

He is the ideal 6th, 7th D man on a team.

Not to mention that it's a tough sell to sit a guy that scores the game winner in the last game IMO.

504Heater wrote:Someone want to make a topic out of Smith being scratched? It seems topic worthy (I knew this morning and forgot to say anything).

I don't think it's cause of his play....he's missed a few practises lately, he must be hurtin...

He's not the type to say he can't play due to injury, I'm guessing he got chosen to sit as he's more banged up than the other guys.

Showcasing Schubert or he is about to be traded to a contender.

I thought they were sitting schubert in the press box. How is that showcasing?

TheAvatar wrote:I thought they were sitting schubert in the press box. How is that showcasing?

His press-box skills have no equal.

BigRig77 wrote:

504Heater wrote:Someone want to make a topic out of Smith being scratched? It seems topic worthy (I knew this morning and forgot to say anything).

I don't think it's cause of his play....he's missed a few practises lately, he must be hurtin...

He's not the type to say he can't play due to injury, I'm guessing he got chosen to sit as he's more banged up than the other guys.

The article says "healthy scratch" and quotes Smith as being upset about it.

I'm quite surprised.

Maybe there's a trade? Smith hasn't been playing badly. He's not quick and he's not an offensive contributor, but they didn't pay him $2.7M to score. Is he not performing in the toughness and leadership department? Perhaps. But then they should have at least given him the A.

I was thinking that maybe he got traded as well, but we would have heard something.

"as well"? Did I miss a trade?

Smith's contract isn't looking so good now.

TheAvatar wrote:I thought they were sitting schubert in the press box. How is that showcasing?

My mistake, I read the posts here as Smith was sitting for Schubert to play. I guess scoring the game winner last time gave Bell another start, but I have to say I'm really questioning these moves.

jamvan wrote:

TheAvatar wrote:I thought they were sitting schubert in the press box. How is that showcasing?

My mistake, I read the posts here as Smith was sitting for Schubert to play. I guess scoring the game winner last time gave Bell another start, but I have to say I'm really questioning these moves.

I think it's due mainly to wanting to keep Regin in the lineup, get a better look at him and not wanting to bench Bell after his game winner.

I'm fine with it. Actually I think it would have had more of an impact had they benched Phillips instead.

Sitting Smith isnt a bad idea. He doesnt bring much on the ice and my guess is they will try and deal him before or at the deadline. The type of game he plays is not needed in Ottawa and he clearly wasnt a solution in terms of getting the guys in the locker room to play consistant hockey with some sort of effort.

Bell has been better than Smith and Shubert all season, he deserves to play. The right moves have been made by Hartsberg.