Game Day: Ottawa @ Boston March 12th, 2009 7:00pm EST

OTTAWA @ BOSTON

Ottawa headed straight for Boston after Fisher's belated B-day OT winner for Carrie underwood to face the Bruins tonight. Fresh off their second 4 game win streak of the year the Sens are hoping to make it 5 straight against the Beasts of the East Bruins. The Sens can be happy with the win but they certainly can't be happy with much else about that game last night vs. the Bolts. The Penalty Kill was terrible again, the Power play wasn't great either and just the overall play looked like neither team were interested in winning that game. The normally high flying Bruins have lost two in a row recently with a 3-6-1 record and will be hungry for a win. This could get ugly with the Bruins not wanting to lose to a basement dweller like the Sens on home ice.

Starting Goalies as per goaliepost.com

Ottawa: Alex Auld - Probable

Boston: Tim Thomas - Probable

Going with Auld, eh?
Could be interesting.

I think it's a smart move. Auld will want to show Boston that they made a mistake in letting him walk. Also if Ottawa gets shelled wouldn't you rather it be Auld that takes the beat down and not Elliott?

Oh totally.
With Boston hungry for the win, it's up to our Sens to get on them EARLY, although Boston will have the edge has our boys played last night, and if history has proven anything, they usually take forever to find their legs when playing back-to-back games.

I'm predicting a shell-shocking Boston win. 5-1 or perhaps even 6-2 Boston.

I am expecting a great game actually. Neiler will be back and will be trying to show the team they need him against a physical Boston lineup. The Sens have been excellent recently and the Bears will be grumpy after losing a few. This makes for good hockey me thinks....

Does anyone know if Kuba's back? That will also help. I think having to rely on Lee and missing Smith is still going to hurt though.

As far as I know, Kuba is probable, but nothing confirmed as of yet. Neil isn't confirmed yet either.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Does anyone know if Kuba's back? That will also help. I think having to rely on Lee and missing Smith is still going to hurt though.

They are both still way better options than Schubert on D. Schubert is downright bad on D. Bell took a tripping penalty last night as a direct result of a terrible pass by Schubert. The pass missed Bell, and he had to trip up the Tampa player.

If Schubert never plays another game on D for this team, I'll be happy.

Cronie wrote:Going with Auld, eh?
Could be interesting.

This was designed a while ago I would imagine. Can't play Elliott back to back nights with traveling....or I guess you could, but it's not a great idea.

They've played Elliott on back to back nights before. I personally think it's a little of the get back at your old team thing or possibly an admission that we'll be killed in this game so may as well rest Elliott and spare him the shell shock.

On another Elliott note: Do we all realise Elliott's record is now 11-4-1. For all the criticism I've given him for allowing a soft or suspect goal on a fairly regular basis you can't really argue with a record like that on this current incarnation of the Sens can you?

504Heater wrote:

Cronie wrote:Going with Auld, eh?
Could be interesting.

This was designed a while ago I would imagine. Can't play Elliott back to back nights with traveling....or I guess you could, but it's not a great idea.

I like the fact that they are giving Auld the opportunity to stick it to the B's, especially with the Sens playing a better all around game. I hope Baldie stops 75 shots.....and the Sens lose 2-1. :^^^:

Hey Hemmer,

You should add Proud member of Tank Nation in your signature dude J/k. I know losses are what's best for this team this season purely in terms of draft position but I just find it too hard to root for losses.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Hey Hemmer,

You should add Proud member of Tank Nation in your signature dude J/k. I know losses are what's best for this team this season purely in terms of draft position but I just find it too hard to root for losses.

Ideally, I don't want them to lose. I don't like not wanting them to win either. It is however, better long term for the guys to lose games now. I see the argument that wins will help this team going forward, and will help to build a winning attitude again, but hard fought losses are just as good imo.

I don't want to see them get blown out. I want to see the boys compete hard, but still lose. I also think we ought to be giving guys like Shannon and Regin more time on special teams as a sort of audition to see what they can bring. Now is the best time to try all the things the team normally wouldn't while in the middle of a playoff drive.

I am enjoying each game in isolation right now. They have been fun to watch and the team giving a consistent effort is all I really need. Would I like to get Hedman? sure. I would rather enjoy the games that I am watching right now though. Who knows what would happen in the future? A high draft pick could easily turn out to be a bust same as we could find another Alfie in the late rounds. Draft is too much of a crap shoot for me to wish away my enjoyment of watching my team. I think the offseason is great for discussing hockey and playing GM but my true passion is watching the game not the backroom stuff.

MurderOnIce wrote:I am enjoying each game in isolation right now. They have been fun to watch and the team giving a consistent effort is all I really need. Would I like to get Hedman? sure. I would rather enjoy the games that I am watching right now though. Who knows what would happen in the future? A high draft pick could easily turn out to be a bust same as we could find another Alfie in the late rounds. Draft is too much of a crap shoot for me to wish away my enjoyment of watching my team. I think the offseason is great for discussing hockey and playing GM but my true passion is watching the game not the backroom stuff.

That's my point. They can still do that and lose. Barring a trade, I'd say our chances at Hedman are roughly the same as some Duff-Underwood lesbian action being shown on the scoreboad during the games. We may be getting to the point now where winning games costs us the opportunity to draft a potential game breaker as opposed to a good player.