GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs - 7:00pm ET - Tue. Oct. 6th, 2009

hemlock wrote:

asq2 wrote:Also, I know Shannon is out but why are we punishing Regin like that?

Let's hope the lines will change by game time. Although, from all accounts (I only saw some of the game) Neil and Cheechoo played well.

Their performance was alright. I don't think Neil is particularly suited to playing with Regin and neither, frankly, is Cheechoo. It's largely a waste of Regin's speed and skill IMO. Fisher would be better suited in that slot.

Of course, when all are healthy I'm still a proponent of:

Cheechoo - Spezza - Alfredsson
Michalek - Regin - Kovalev
FFS

I also don't like Volchenkov - Phillips as a pairing because it ruins the whole speedy transition game generated by Karlsson, Campoli and Kuba (not that they played particularly well).

So, it's evident that Clouston and I don't agree on line combinations. He's had success thus far, though, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I'm looking for, if not necessarily a win, at least more evidence of a system next game though.

Awesome post shabbs. I am scared to watch how bad you will beat my 2nd favorite team...the leafs. I say ottawa 4 toronto 1. I won't be able to watch due to my own game, so not to upset.

Ottawa hasn't exactly been a powerhouse either thus far. I'm definitely not writing off the Leafs here.

I need to ask - why don't we break up A-Train and Phillips? Not sure it would hurt to have Volchenkov and Karlsson, Phillips, Kuba, Campoli/Carkner/Picard.

Or some semblance of that.

cloverleaf wrote:Awesome post shabbs. I am scared to watch how bad you will beat my 2nd favorite team...the leafs. I say ottawa 4 toronto 1. I won't be able to watch due to my own game, so not to upset.

Who's your favourite team?

Calgary I think.

About the game, how about they stop falling on the ice like autumn leaves for a start?

marakh wrote:Calgary I think.

About the game, how about they stop falling on the ice like autumn leaves for a start?

Diddle, what a save by Raycroft. And yeah, what's with all the diving from Kesler and Burrows. Stay on your feet.

EDIT: Sorry, I thought I was in a different thread.

Calgary it is. But I want bouwmeester off this team for any other defenseman that is considered a stud as well.

cloverleaf wrote:Calgary it is. But I want bouwmeester off this team for any other defenseman that is considered a stud as well.

Kuba?

Nope. Try again. Lol

Yeah, we got nothing.

Tomorrow should be interesting. Toronto will be desperate for a win and will come out on fire on home ice, especially against Ottawa. The Sens better be ready for this one.

Saturday was the first game of the season and the team gets a mulligan, but losing this one is pretty close to unacceptable looking down both teams lineup. A losing steak this early is something The Sens can't afford.

I said this in Aug when the schedual came out, anything but 18-20 points in the first 15 games, you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. I know it's early but these first 15 games are the most important of the season for The Sens.

Bouwmeester is the most overrated d man there is. You don't want him anyway. Be thankful you don't have that stud d man to give calgary

N4L wrote:Tomorrow should be interesting. Toronto will be desperate for a win and will come out on fire on home ice, especially against Ottawa. The Sens better be ready for this one.

Saturday was the first game of the season and the team gets a mulligan, but losing this one is pretty close to unacceptable looking down both teams lineup. A losing steak this early is something The Sens can't afford.

I said this in Aug when the schedual came out, anything but 18-20 points in the first 15 games, you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. I know it's early but these first 15 games are the most important of the season for The Sens.

Absolutely, no excuses whatsoever tomorrow.

cloverleaf wrote:Bouwmeester is the most overrated d man there is. You don't want him anyway. Be thankful you don't have that stud d man to give calgary

I literally think that's all the Sens are missing. Him exactly would do the trick.

SpezDispenser wrote:

cloverleaf wrote:Bouwmeester is the most overrated d man there is. You don't want him anyway. Be thankful you don't have that stud d man to give calgary

I literally think that's all the Sens are missing. Him exactly would do the trick.

His offensive skill yes. He's way too soft for a guy his size. His skating is absurd though. I'd take Karlsson over him Bouw.

cloverleaf wrote:Nope. Try again. Lol

how about a lee, kelly, and a third?

SpezDispenser wrote:I need to ask - why don't we break up A-Train and Phillips? Not sure it would hurt to have Volchenkov and Karlsson, Phillips, Kuba, Campoli/Carkner/Picard.

Or some semblance of that.

I would not be surprised if I was the first one to bring that up as an option. It may well have been back on HB a couple of years ago. I said "This may be blasphemy, but ..." or something like that.

I was actually surprised I didn't get raked over the coals by more people, but there was general disagreement, with only a few echoing my sentiment.

There are three main reasons I'd like to see that done now:

1. They haven't been very good together since the Cup run year. Our PK has slipped, and that was even before Vermette left.

2. A shut-down pair can be really great against a one-line team. Trouble is, with the cap in place, the one-line teams are usually the weak sisters of the NHL. Most teams are now trying to get two or even three lines going. That shut down pair is still important on the PK, but probably not as much 5-5.

3. I've always said I want a great puck mover and a stay-at-home defensemen paired up. A Pronger-type who can clear out the crease, make a pin-point outlet pass and has a great shot from the point are rare, so put out two guys who can do all of that as a combination.

Actually, thinking of #3, I wonder what would happen if a team with such a player would play 1D and 4 forwards? I guess like the Torpedo System:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo_system