GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Nashville Predators - 8:00pm ET - Mon. Feb. 16th, 2009

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:spezza out in a important time surprising

Rewarding him?

Another win. Does Cory go back with Auld against COL?

I thought spezza played well tonight, just didnt produce. Thats the kind of game I think a lot of people are wanting from him when he doesnt really put up the points.

Who else was flashing back to game 2 in Sweden when the puck was bobbling around all over our end in the last minute?

They owed Auld that shutout. Good win by the boys tonight.

Yeah, that was a pretty crazy scramble near the end there.

No, Cassie, I don't think Auld makes the start tomorrow. Mainly because its a back-to-back situation with a time zone shift, but also because Auld leaves a LOT of openings. He's a good backup, but he isn't a game-in, game-out starter.

Neely4Life wrote:I thought spezza played well tonight, just didnt produce. Thats the kind of game I think a lot of people are wanting from him when he doesnt really put up the points.

I thought he had an awful game. He was lazy and not moving his feet; trying to think the game.
...definitely not good enough. Nowhere near good enough...

Neely4Life wrote:I thought spezza played well tonight, just didnt produce. Thats the kind of game I think a lot of people are wanting from him when he doesnt really put up the points.

I thought he looked pretty listless, actually.

Heatley was much, much better.

So, last game of this road trip tomorrow in Colorado... can they sweep the road trip and get their 6th win in a row?

Heatley was great. He wasn't perfect, but that was the type of game you expect out of a 7.5M $ man.

cash wrote:Heatley was great. He wasn't perfect, but that was the type of game you expect out of a 7.5M $ man.

That goal was unbelievable. Thread the needle.

Unfortunately, to merit being the highest-paid player in the league this season he should be playing like that every game.

I'll take it, though.

But I can't shake the feeling we're really shooting ourselves in the foot by starting to win now.

Jason Smith was a killer tonight. That is a game where he can really shine, tight-checking, crease-clearing situations - and his ability to body the Preds skaters off the puck was amazing. They were all quite good tonight, but I thought Smith shone a little brighter.

When a team plays that tight, everyone looks great, but you have to tip your hat to Vermette for his constant battling and PKing.

Excellent game by the Senators, right?

BTW I stayed off the board during the game tonight 'cuz last time I caught some heat for mentioning a potential goose egg.

BUT the difference was the Sens didn't get lazy when Auldie was pitching a shutout.

I was monitoring the Jackets game against the Stars and noticing there's a lot of Ken Hitchc0ck in Cory Clouston's game.

Skate your opponent into the ice, in your face forecheck, and team defense via constant pressure that results in turnovers leading to goals.

But then, Coach Cory is a great admirer of The Hitch. (Who IMHO is one of the very best coaches in the NHL)

Clouston is one smart dude.

Nick Foligno is getting dangerous.

5-1-1...not too shabby, eh.
:D

Why would you stay away from the board LOL? No one's gonna berate you unless you mention the shutout.

davetherave wrote:Excellent game by the Senators, right?

BTW I stayed off the board during the game tonight 'cuz last time I caught some heat for mentioning a potential goose egg.

BUT the difference was the Sens didn't get lazy when Auldie was pitching a shutout.

I was monitoring the Jackets game against the Stars and noticing there's a lot of Ken Hitchc0ck in Cory Clouston's game.

Skate your opponent into the ice, in your face forecheck, and team defense via constant pressure that results in turnovers leading to goals.

But then, Coach Cory is a great admirer of The Hitch. (Who IMHO is one of the very best coaches in the NHL)

Clouston is one smart dude.

Nick Foligno is getting dangerous.

5-1-1...not too shabby, eh.
:D

Very interesting. Is he actually an admirer of Hitch? I hadn't heard that, but it makes some sense.

504H, Cory mentioned Hitch in one of his very first interviews, as being a coach after whom he models himself.

There are interesting similarities. An inscrutable demeanor. Giving the players credit, but being very measured. Always looking for improvements. And very strategic.

Hitch once said he could transform Spezza into a complete player. Perhaps Clouston has set that as one of his personal challenges.
:pirat:

504Heater wrote:Why would you stay away from the board LOL? No one's gonna berate you unless you mention the shutout.

LOL...no worries...

Lee, for all the heat he's taken recently from some of our posters, had a strong game tonight as well.