GAME DAY: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm ET - Feb. 28th, 2009

Hey, Bingo won. :KKK:

The Sens were totally outplayed in the 1st, it wasnt even close, Elliott kept them in that game, and it would have been 1-0 if Spezza didnt put it in his own net.

Spezza was awful in the 1st with the rest of the team. I really dont know what game you were watching, but Spezza's line was totally outplayed, not even close. Thats why Shannon was put on that line.

He wasnt the only player that was awful tonight, I think Heatley was the worst, but the whole thread is basically a period by period evaluation of Spezza. He was awful most of that game.

Neely4Life wrote:The Sens were totally outplayed in the 1st, it wasnt even close, Elliott kept them in that game, and it would have been 1-0 if Spezza didnt put it in his own net.

Spezza was awful in the 1st with the rest of the team. I really dont know what game you were watching, but Spezza's line was totally outplayed, not even close. Thats why Shannon was put on that line.

He wasnt the only player that was awful tonight, I think Heatley was the worst, but the whole thread is basically a period by period evaluation of Spezza. He was awful most of that game.

Offensively, nothing was created, obviously.

But own-goal nonetheless, I thought he was much more involved physically and defensively.

Normally Spezza sort of floats around in the middle of the zone providing "support" for the players actually going after the opposition when they have the puck, but tonight he was skating hard around the ice following guys and battling hard in the corners.

The fact that he wasn't rewarded for that (by fate) probably is part of the reason the intensity diminished as the game wore on.

Dude, Spezza was up against Jason Blake, Antripov, and Ponikorovsky, if he cant be the best player in a game like this, then he is useless at 7 million dollars.

Again, he is paid to be the best guy out there, I cant remember a game where he was even the best player on his team, let alone in the game.

He makes 7 million man, if he was making 4.5 like the last 2 years, then yeah, you can shrug some things off, he isnt though.

Say it's by fate, bad luck, lack of an effort, w/e, I dont really care and its looking like less and less people actually do. Spezza is paid like one of the best players in the game and he is no where near it.

Heatley's the highest paid player in hockey.

All I'm saying is: the effort was there on the defensive side of things in the first period.

For that, I'm happy. And it better continue.

It was there a few shifts, thats it. Fact of the matter is what Spezza is doing still isnt even close to good enough.

The time for little efforts, at selected times are over, not just for Spezza, but for everyone on that team. Spezza and Heatley make 7.5 million a year though, and if you cant get anything out of them when things are down, what are they going to do if things are not going there way when there is pressure and something on the line.

Spezza's time is slowly ticking down in Ottawa... time to move on, everyone.

I can't believe we're still arguing about Spezza.

How 'bout Carrie "Fisher", eh? She didn't duck this time.

The only good performances tonight were Shannon, Alfie and Volchenkov.

Everyone else is going at half speed. WTF?

My focus shifts every second of watching the Sens, now I think it should be a 2nd line that actually can put the puck in the net.

Or maybe a whole new D.

Or maybe a goalie that can make all his hard work count in the end.

Who the **** knows.

504Heater wrote:The only good performances tonight were Shannon, Alfie and Volchenkov.

Everyone else is going at half speed. WTF?

My focus shifts every second of watching the Sens, now I think it should be a 2nd line that actually can put the puck in the net.

Or maybe a whole new D.

Or maybe a goalie that can make all his hard work count in the end.

Who the **** knows.

That's the thing. There are several things that need fixing in Sens Land. Some consistent secondary scoring, some improved offense skill from the backend. Campoli and Comrie are a start, but I think there are going to be some heavy changes between now and July 1. I don't see how we can patch other holes without unloading one of the big contracts. I'm not going to throw out names, but I think one, if not more, of these contracts will be gone by probably the draft.

On one hand, I'd like to see a few guys from Bingo up here next season to replace guys that have moved on for future assets (picks or prospects). The problem there lies in that we've already plundered Bingo pretty heavily taking their starting goalie, defenseman, and at any given time, a key offensive contributor. Poaching guys like Regin, Zubov and M. Karlsson will seriously put a damper on that teams ability to compete next season. Personally, I don't see either Wiercioch or Karlsson in Bingo next year. O'Brien could very well be though. There is also the fact that we'll have a goaltending tandem there of Mitch O'Keefe, who was decent but not great (by the numbers anyway) in the ECHL this year, and Jeff Glass, who flat out sucks, and should be in a men's semi pro league within a year or two. An upgrade there is definitely needed.

I'm going to say it right now. Clouston should return to Bingo next season. Sure we had a 5 game winning streak when he first got here, but now we are once again spinning our wheels. There are already some disturbing signs. The fact that some players are already reverting back to some bad, lazy habits is disturbing. As is the team's seeming inability to have a good start to a hockey game. Someone ought to mention to these players that it's easier to win games when you don't have to come back from 2-0 or 3-0 every time out. I really have to question why Clouston cannot seem to get this team to come out of the gate hungry. I like Clouston though, don't get me wrong. I think he's shown some real positive signs, such as a willingness to shorten a guy's playing time for bad play, or indifferent play. I want a new, experienced NHL coach in here for next year. Now that Torts is gone, I'd be setting my eye on Quinn if I were writing the cheques. In a perfect world, Curtis stays in Bingo, and Clouston stays in Ottawa as an assistant under the tutelage of a guy like Quinn. He could gain some really valuable experience. I figure, what the hell, Melnyk is already ready paying two coaches and two goalies to not be here, so what's one more salary. It's not like he's relying on food stamps.

What is even worse, Elliott has seemed to have lost the swager he had about himself when he got here. He was playing big in the nets, challenging, and making the teams earn their goals. Now, because of total uncertainty and no defense what so ever, he has losthis confidence.

They should seriously be considering, if Gerber isnt picked up, sending him back down to Bingo to try and pickup where he left off there. So much cancer in that Sens locker room in one form or another its not funny.

Let him come back next year and try and win the Calder and help the Sens move forward. Without Spezza and Heatley, and least they have a chance to build from the back out with a serious commitment to defense and not worry about getting 2 guys on the team their PP time and points. Personally, I think thats where the problem is.

hemlock wrote:

504Heater wrote:The only good performances tonight were Shannon, Alfie and Volchenkov.

Everyone else is going at half speed. WTF?

My focus shifts every second of watching the Sens, now I think it should be a 2nd line that actually can put the puck in the net.

Or maybe a whole new D.

Or maybe a goalie that can make all his hard work count in the end.

Who the **** knows.

That's the thing. There are several things that need fixing in Sens Land. Some consistent secondary scoring, some improved offense skill from the backend. Campoli and Comrie are a start, but I think there are going to be some heavy changes between now and July 1. I don't see how we can patch other holes without unloading one of the big contracts. I'm not going to throw out names, but I think one, if not more, of these contracts will be gone by probably the draft.

On one hand, I'd like to see a few guys from Bingo up here next season to replace guys that have moved on for future assets (picks or prospects). The problem there lies in that we've already plundered Bingo pretty heavily taking their starting goalie, defenseman, and at any given time, a key offensive contributor. Poaching guys like Regin, Zubov and M. Karlsson will seriously put a damper on that teams ability to compete next season. Personally, I don't see either Wiercioch or Karlsson in Bingo next year. O'Brien could very well be though. There is also the fact that we'll have a goaltending tandem there of Mitch O'Keefe, who was decent but not great (by the numbers anyway) in the ECHL this year, and Jeff Glass, who flat out sucks, and should be in a men's semi pro league within a year or two. An upgrade there is definitely needed.

I'm going to say it right now. Clouston should return to Bingo next season. Sure we had a 5 game winning streak when he first got here, but now we are once again spinning our wheels. There are already some disturbing signs. The fact that some players are already reverting back to some bad, lazy habits is disturbing. As is the team's seeming inability to have a good start to a hockey game. Someone ought to mention to these players that it's easier to win games when you don't have to come back from 2-0 or 3-0 every time out. I really have to question why Clouston cannot seem to get this team to come out of the gate hungry. I like Clouston though, don't get me wrong. I think he's shown some real positive signs, such as a willingness to shorten a guy's playing time for bad play, or indifferent play. I want a new, experienced NHL coach in here for next year. Now that Torts is gone, I'd be setting my eye on Quinn if I were writing the cheques. In a perfect world, Curtis stays in Bingo, and Clouston stays in Ottawa as an assistant under the tutelage of a guy like Quinn. He could gain some really valuable experience. I figure, what the hell, Melnyk is already ready paying two coaches and two goalies to not be here, so what's one more salary. It's not like he's relying on food stamps.

I really like what Clouston has done with this team since coming in but the honeymoon period is over and now we will really see what this team is made of. Right or wrong I liked the timing of Murray making the move in coaching as it gave him an opportunity to see what kind of team he would have leading up to the deadline. His comments about untouchables recently has assured me that he is very open to moving anyone because they did not respond adequately to a coaching change.

I am not sure if Quinn is the answer but I do like the idea of keeping Clouston as an assistant and bringing in an experieced coach. It worked with the Flames when they brought in Keenan and kept Playfair as an Assistant and who knows maybe it can work hear. If Murray puts together a right balanced f youth and experience while addressing the needs of the team for next season maybe Quinn is a good option with Clouston as an Assistant.

I still think the team is playing better under Clouston, but they are still not playing a full 60 minutes. And everyone, including Alfie, was going at half-speed in the first. I agree about sending Elliott down to help Bingo in the playoffs. The team isn't winning and won't until more changes are made. They have collectively realized that they are not making the playoffs and are finding it hard to get motivated. Their role now is one of spoiler, and there was nothing to spoil for the Leafs except for their draft position.

It's not Clouston, it's the fact that we keep getting pinned in our own zone for extended periods with no number one D-man to make the right play. Always a cluster**** or two during a game - always in situations where a smart play would defuse it, rarely Volchenkov, but everyone else is monkeying around. Smith is probably second best at getting the puck to safety, but that pretty much sums up or D right there.

From there you have two guys in Fisher and Vermette that while excellent players, will not scare opponents. Same with Foligno, Kelly and to even a small degree Comrie. I love these guys (not you Kelly), but there has to be a decision made about the make up of the forwards as well. Can we do something to significantly balance lines one and two? That should be something Murray's trying to figure out as well.

A lot of work in Sensland, what can you do but wait and see what Murray has in store? The more I read about MSP, the more I hope we can back into him. He all about the offence and we could use another player with that mentality right now.

Well CLouston doesnt seem to be able to get this group of players ready to play either. They were flat AGAIN last night, so... change the players, or the coach... again...

504Heater wrote:It's not Clouston, it's the fact that we keep getting pinned in our own zone for extended periods with no number one D-man to make the right play. Always a cluster**** or two during a game - always in situations where a smart play would defuse it, rarely Volchenkov, but everyone else is monkeying around. Smith is probably second best at getting the puck to safety, but that pretty much sums up or D right there.

From there you have two guys in Fisher and Vermette that while excellent players, will not scare opponents. Same with Foligno, Kelly and to even a small degree Comrie. I love these guys (not you Kelly), but there has to be a decision made about the make up of the forwards as well. Can we do something to significantly balance lines one and two? That should be something Murray's trying to figure out as well.

A lot of work in Sensland, what can you do but wait and see what Murray has in store? The more I read about MSP, the more I hope we can back into him. He all about the offence and we could use another player with that mentality right now.

With Phillips, Volchenkov and Smith, getting the puck out of our zone to a safe place should be the least of our worries. I'm not anti-Clouston, I'm just not pro-Clouston at this point. Yes, our game has turned around offensively, but there are still troubling signs of things that Clouston hasn't been able to make a dent in.

None, what so ever! The "role" players have been our best players since he Clouston has been here, thats why this team is competitive. Imagine if Spezza and Heatley actually gave a damn.

Neely4Life wrote:Well CLouston doesnt seem to be able to get this group of players ready to play either. They were flat AGAIN last night, so... change the players, or the coach... again...

Clouston will stick around for this year 100%. I think his fate lies partially in the job he does the rest of the way, and the personnel changes that are made in the off-season. Spezza is on his 5th coach, and not one of them has coaxed the game we need from him for any amount of time. Heatley just doesn't give a Dung it seems, way too often.