GAME DAY: New York Islanders @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm ET - Thu. Oct. 8th, 2009

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

Gohan wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:HUGE game by Neil as well

That line was great. Probably won the game for us.

which is surprising didnt expect Neil Regin and Cheechoo to be such a great line

I just finished watching on the pvr... what a game! I was hating on that line the other day but they were excellent tonight. I also like the fact that Clouston mixes up his lines a bit later on in games.

shabbs wrote:Volchie in the house!



Wicked.

That is a pasting. WOW

PKC wrote:

shabbs wrote:Good thing we have some depth eh?

2-1-0-0 record and Spezza, Michalek, Kovalev and Cheechoo have yet to score. Although I really like what I'm seeing from Cheechoo who seems to be finding a rhythm again and will only be a matter of time before he starts filling the net on a regular basis.

It should help having Kuba back in the line up. In my eyes, it only gets better from here.

asq2 wrote:

Tuk Tuk wrote:Hopefully one day we have Cowen as our captain, and Karlsson and Carkner as As.

How many teams have 3 D as captains?

Carkner is a full 10 years older than Cowen. Unless Cowen walks in and gets the C in his first few seasons, that probably won't happen.

Also, I'd hope a guy like Wiercioch, Spezza, Regin, Z. Smith, Foligno etc. would have a letter.

I didn't see anything other than the third, so I can't comment too much, but as reliable and effective as Carkner is, I certainly don't see him as a key ingredient to this team's future after three games.

He was solid almost the entire game, but had a second monster lapse in the dying minutes of the third. I'm sure it's just a coincidence, but a brutal one haha. He more than made up for it though. I have to agree with your future statement, I mean, this is the future for him right? But I have no doubt he can play the full season and from there who knows.

garblar wrote:heatley with a trick

Diddle that Wang muncher

beerandsens wrote:

garblar wrote:heatley with a trick

Diddle that Wang muncher

Well, you know, it just goes to prove that top-end talent will, eventually, break out. And look what we have here: Spezza, Alfredsson, Kovalev, Michalek -- all those are top-end talent who are yet to break out. Same with Karlsson on the back-end -- I really think he needs Kuba back there for a steadying veteran influence and a long wing-span to force forecheckers to take the long way around. I've said this before, I'm not sold on Campoli, although he probably needs a "Big-Brother" just like Karlsson does.

Regin and Carkner continue to impress. Cheechoo had a couple of chances and was in Biron's face on Regin's goal. Weird, but it looks like they've found some chemistry.

Fisher scored that goal coming down what, exactly? Down the wing, of course. Granted, that's not a shot a goalie wants to miss in OT. The pass was taken away so he should have been playing the shot and coming way out. Still, this is where Fisher can excel, IMO. Convert Foligno back to center and leave Fish on the wing (flying Fish?)

I only saw the 1st and the last 7 or so minutes of the 3rd (and I could only PVR the first 2 hours because of recording conflicts -- and that's with moving some shows to the west-coast SD feeds). What I saw of the third period made me seriously wonder if Fraser was trying to make up for the blown call on Donovan's high-stick goal. Volchenkov drilled into the boards from behind by Weight should have been a penalty. Several times I saw Kelly being hooked and held. Others come to mind as well although I don't remember specifics.

That was an exiting game. Up 2-0, big come back by the Isles, OT winner for Fisher (too bad I didn't get to see it except in replays). Games like these will get people excited about coming out to SBP.

But let's be realistic here. We played one good period against the Rangers and got trounced. We eeked out a referee-abetted win against the Leafs. We gave up a loser point to the lowly Isles, once again with a somewhat controversial goal helping us along. We have scored 6 goals in three hours of regulation time, including one on a clear high stick, a penalty shot, and a goal where the play should have been whistled down.

I know it's only three games in, but this is the easy part of the schedule. We will not win playing like this against the Flyers, Caps, Pens and Bruins. And then there's the list of teams in the second tier but still better than the Leafs or Islanders: Rangers, Canes, Habs, Bolts, Devils. Even perennial bottom-dwellers like the Thrashers are making a splash, scoring an average of 5 goals per game.

The only teams in the East who have scored fewer goals than the Senators are the Sabres, Panthers, Hurricanes and Islanders. Three of those teams have only played 2 games. Our top line has to find its scoring and do it very soon. If they don't, then maybe Regin should be promoted to the top line and Spezza moved down to the 2nd. If we are going to have a 1st line center who won't hit anything or anyone, then we might as well give the job to the one that can skate a little faster.

Having said that, on the Okposo goal, Spezza was checking a guy in the far corner when the puck came around to the far point. He came out of the corner with Okposo then slowed down to position himself between the puck and Tavares. Okposo had A-Train in front of him and had no shot. Spezza was in the passing lane to Tavares. As far as I understand it, he was in the correct place (see evidence below). Volchenkov blew that play IMO.

garblar wrote:heatley with a trick

Not to worry... he's going to be so tired from actually putting in an effort... he'll go back to his coasting ways for the rest of the season.

As long as Ottawa wins, I dont really care what Heatley does and that SJ team still doesnt look like an elite team. Once Anahiem gets their legs and gets going they will be tough to beat.

As for The Sens, not their best game but that 3rd line of Cheechoo/Regin/Neil looked gooooooood. Cheechoo has looked good thus far and I can def see him starting to put some in the net. He's getting his chances which is step one and he's giving his all, not much more you can ask.

Neil, haha, WOW, he's playing like a 3 million dollar player, dont care what people think about his contract and I said this from day one, to Ottawa, he is worth 2 million a year and it's showing. He was the reason we won last night with the other two guys on that line.

Once this team starts clicking they could be VERY dangerous but hey, 1st in the division after a week isnt a bad start. Hopefully they can grind out some more wins while the PP gets going along with Spezza, Michalek, and Kovalev.

Leclaire has been great. He stays healthy Ottawa is in the playoffs and maybe home ice advantage, simple as that.

Yeah... if the rest of the forwards can get going and we can fix our PP... we'll be in a much better position. I like the way this is happening though... seems to be controlled and in phases... ramping up slowly... which is fine by me as long as the improvements continue and the team is buying in the whole way.

The team will improve obviously but they REALLLLY need to get that PP going because that will cost them if it doesnt. Phillips and A Train have been unreal the last 2 games and Fisher looks like he wants to earn his money and shut up his critics (SSF, haha)

Spezza is going to have to start putting things together but you see the commitment to playing both ends right now which is a fairly big deal, but is he a good enough player to become a good player in both ends? I have my doubts right now.

wprager wrote:Having said that, on the Okposo goal, Spezza was checking a guy in the far corner when the puck came around to the far point. He came out of the corner with Okposo then slowed down to position himself between the puck and Tavares. Okposo had A-Train in front of him and had no shot. Spezza was in the passing lane to Tavares. As far as I understand it, he was in the correct place (see evidence below). Volchenkov blew that play IMO.

No kidding about Volch. I love the guy, but look at him there. He looks like he's about to drop down in the butterfly. People go on and on about how he blocks shots, but dammit, he's not a goalie. Play like a D. Stand up and take the man in this situation.

A Train got beat by a great move and bit, it happens. Okposo is a good player and made a great play, simple as that. Oksposo made everyone on the ice look bad, not just Spezza, not just A Train, but everyone.

wprager wrote:

Well, you know, it just goes to prove that top-end talent will, eventually, break out. And look what we have here: Spezza, Alfredsson, Kovalev, Michalek -- all those are top-end talent who are yet to break out. Same with Karlsson on the back-end -- I really think he needs Kuba back there for a steadying veteran influence and a long wing-span to force forecheckers to take the long way around. I've said this before, I'm not sold on Campoli, although he probably needs a "Big-Brother" just like Karlsson does.

Regin and Carkner continue to impress. Cheechoo had a couple of chances and was in Biron's face on Regin's goal. Weird, but it looks like they've found some chemistry.

Fisher scored that goal coming down what, exactly? Down the wing, of course. Granted, that's not a shot a goalie wants to miss in OT. The pass was taken away so he should have been playing the shot and coming way out. Still, this is where Fisher can excel, IMO. Convert Foligno back to center and leave Fish on the wing (flying Fish?)

I only saw the 1st and the last 7 or so minutes of the 3rd (and I could only PVR the first 2 hours because of recording conflicts -- and that's with moving some shows to the west-coast SD feeds). What I saw of the third period made me seriously wonder if Fraser was trying to make up for the blown call on Donovan's high-stick goal. Volchenkov drilled into the boards from behind by Weight should have been a penalty. Several times I saw Kelly being hooked and held. Others come to mind as well although I don't remember specifics.

That was an exiting game. Up 2-0, big come back by the Isles, OT winner for Fisher (too bad I didn't get to see it except in replays). Games like these will get people excited about coming out to SBP.

But let's be realistic here. We played one good period against the Rangers and got trounced. We eeked out a referee-abetted win against the Leafs. We gave up a loser point to the lowly Isles, once again with a somewhat controversial goal helping us along. We have scored 6 goals in three hours of regulation time, including one on a clear high stick, a penalty shot, and a goal where the play should have been whistled down.

I know it's only three games in, but this is the easy part of the schedule. We will not win playing like this against the Flyers, Caps, Pens and Bruins. And then there's the list of teams in the second tier but still better than the Leafs or Islanders: Rangers, Canes, Habs, Bolts, Devils. Even perennial bottom-dwellers like the Thrashers are making a splash, scoring an average of 5 goals per game.

The only teams in the East who have scored fewer goals than the Senators are the Sabres, Panthers, Hurricanes and Islanders. Three of those teams have only played 2 games. Our top line has to find its scoring and do it very soon. If they don't, then maybe Regin should be promoted to the top line and Spezza moved down to the 2nd. If we are going to have a 1st line center who won't hit anything or anyone, then we might as well give the job to the one that can skate a little faster.

Having said that, on the Okposo goal, Spezza was checking a guy in the far corner when the puck came around to the far point. He came out of the corner with Okposo then slowed down to position himself between the puck and Tavares. Okposo had A-Train in front of him and had no shot. Spezza was in the passing lane to Tavares. As far as I understand it, he was in the correct place (see evidence below). Volchenkov blew that play IMO.

Just to kind of respond to our performance against the last two teams -- lowly teams, as they were -- the only goals that have been scored against us in those two games have been perfect goals. The setups and the finishes were perfect, not much any defensive unit could do about those goals, which is kind of reassuring in a way because it kind of says that we aren't surrendering many opportunities at all even strength.

Okposo had to basically pull an absolute monster move on Volchenkov and then on Leclaire to score. As for the second goal, Ruutu broke his stick about 55 seconds into that power play and had to go to the bench to get someone on the ice who could actually be useful and they only scored with about 8 seconds left.

Those are just two tough breaks is what they are. Those aren't the statistical norm in chances against, just two unlucky plays from the defensive side of things.

So it's kind of reassuring to see that the defensive play is in place, has been working extremely hard, and that everyone is contributing to it even though the offense hasn't shown its self yet.

I think if you can get the time to be strong defensively and then let your top end players figure out how to create offense without sacrificing positioning or scoring chances.

Wow, Neely, you're right, I didn't notice it. We *are* at the top of the Division. Mind you, we are tied in points and wins with the Habs. We've got them on losses (they have played one more game -- a loss). We are also tied for 6th in the league. Toronto is alone in 30th. If the playoffs started today .... yeah, I'd better stop. I've already gone too far, but if I continue I'll embarrass myself *and* my children and grandchildren.

N4L wrote:A Train got beat by a great move and bit, it happens. Okposo is a good player and made a great play, simple as that. Oksposo made everyone on the ice look bad, not just Spezza, not just A Train, but everyone.

Agreed- I'm not sure how you could have played that differently- he just got turned inside out by a great deke. You say that Volchenkov is way out of position, but he isn't. Where's he supposed to be in that situation. Draw me a picture on that photo of where you think he should be in that case, and keep in mind that they're breaking in on the net, so the momentum is moving forwards toward him. He did exactly what he should do- try to defend him as he's moving forward, except Okposo deked the pants off of him.... not much you can do.

That aside- Spezza and Kovalev looked like Dung tonight. Both of those guys need to be better. You can even throw Michalek and Alfie into that pile too... They made some good plays tonight, but let's be honest- this is the Islanders, not the Wings or Penguins. We may have won this game, but we have a LOT of work to do in their zone to bring us up to a playoff team.

A good start in Ottawa will go a long, long ways. They need 18-10 points in their first 15 games, end of story. If things come together, they will.

Jordo wrote:

N4L wrote:A Train got beat by a great move and bit, it happens. Okposo is a good player and made a great play, simple as that. Oksposo made everyone on the ice look bad, not just Spezza, not just A Train, but everyone.

Agreed- I'm not sure how you could have played that differently- he just got turned inside out by a great deke. You say that Volchenkov is way out of position, but he isn't. Where's he supposed to be in that situation. Draw me a picture on that photo of where you think he should be in that case, and keep in mind that they're breaking in on the net, so the momentum is moving forwards toward him. He did exactly what he should do- try to defend him as he's moving forward, except Okposo deked the pants off of him.... not much you can do.

That aside- Spezza and Kovalev looked like Dung tonight. Both of those guys need to be better. You can even throw Michalek and Alfie into that pile too... They made some good plays tonight, but let's be honest- this is the Islanders, not the Wings or Penguins. We may have won this game, but we have a LOT of work to do in their zone to bring us up to a playoff team.

It's not his positioning that's the problem, it's his body position. Look at that crouch he's going into (he actually goes down lower). He's thinking blocked shot all the way, and from that crouch he cannot skate to keep body position on Okposo. It's not so much this one play, it's that he always does it. The blocked shot should be a last ditch effort, not the first thing a D-man thinks about.

Jordo wrote:

N4L wrote:A Train got beat by a great move and bit, it happens. Okposo is a good player and made a great play, simple as that. Oksposo made everyone on the ice look bad, not just Spezza, not just A Train, but everyone.

Agreed- I'm not sure how you could have played that differently- he just got turned inside out by a great deke. You say that Volchenkov is way out of position, but he isn't. Where's he supposed to be in that situation. Draw me a picture on that photo of where you think he should be in that case, and keep in mind that they're breaking in on the net, so the momentum is moving forwards toward him. He did exactly what he should do- try to defend him as he's moving forward, except Okposo deked the pants off of him.... not much you can do.

That aside- Spezza and Kovalev looked like Dung tonight. Both of those guys need to be better. You can even throw Michalek and Alfie into that pile too... They made some good plays tonight, but let's be honest- this is the Islanders, not the Wings or Penguins. We may have won this game, but we have a LOT of work to do in their zone to bring us up to a playoff team.

If Leclaire stays healthy then he can get Ottawa to the playoffs on his own honestly, he looks that good.

Things will come together I think, slowly but surely, just gonna have to grind out some ugly wins with the guys like Fisher, Neil, and Regin. Regin has looked awesome.

I can't believe how good Carkner is looking now! Where are the people that were screaming for Lee now?