GAME DAY: Atlanta Thrashers @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm ET - Sat. Oct. 10th, 2009

Fresh off a victory against the New York Islanders for their home opener, the Sens welcome Ilya Kovalchuk and the Atlanta Thrashers to town. The Thrashers are 2-0 to start the season and the Sens have managed to string together two wins in a row after losing their season opener to the Rangers. The Sens' two wins have not come easy and have both been tight grinders. The big forwards like Kovalev, Spezza, Michalek, Cheechoo all need to step up and get pucks in the net. Regin, Fisher, Neil, Donovan, Carkner have all been stepping up and doing their part. Pascal Leclaire has been playing very solidly and giving the Sens a chance to win every night. Kovalchuk has been a notorious Sens-killer so our "D" will need to shut him down and eliminate his chances. Look for Elliott to get the start tonight. His first NHL victory came against the Thrashers on Oct. 10th, 2007... oddly enough, tonight's game is also on Oct. 10th... perhaps it's a sign? This will also mark Schubert's first visit back to the Ottawa Senators after being put on waivers and picked up by the Thrashers. He'll no doubt be fired up for this game... hopefully he'll give the Sens a few PP's to work with.

NOTE: Clouston: Elliott starts in goal. Kuba, Shannon and Winchester not playing. CONFIRMED.

Game Coverage:
- TV: none
- Radio: Team 1200 and CJRC 104.7 FM
- Web: possibly NHL Gamecenter Live

TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11009

Ottawa Senators:

Jason Spezza and Chris Neil had an exchange in practice today. While it is unclear what happened, Neil gave Spezza a two-hander to the back of the legs and Spezza returned the favour. Neil dropped the gloves but teammates jumped in. This isn't the first time Neil has gotten into skirmishes at practice. In the past, he's had similar run ins with Magnus Arvedson and Martin Havlat. According to head coach Cory Clouston, things are fine. "That's all right. That's just intensity...they'll shake hands and make up." - TSN

Also on practice Friday, Cory Clouston switched up the first and second lines, by swapping Nick Foligno and Daniel Alfredsson, because there was "not enough production from our top two lines." Filip Kuba (upper body) did not skate with the team. Jesse Winchester and Ryan Shannon were both back on the ice, but neither is will play tomorrow. - TSN

Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Foligno
Kovalev - Fisher - Alfredsson
Cheechoo - Shannon/Regin - Neil
Ruutu - Kelly/Winchester - Donovan

Defencemen:
Phillips - Volchenkov
Campoli - Karlsson
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Leclaire
Elliott

NOTE: Winchester and Shannon are doubtful for the game. Kuba remains injured and will not play.

Atlanta Thrashers:

Defenceman Boris Valabik could miss up to six weeks following ankle surgery. - News Release

Projected Lines against the Sens:

Forwards:
Kovalchuk - Antropov - Little
Kozlov - White - Afinogenov
Kane - Peverly - Armstrong
Boulton - Reasoner - Thorburn
Slater

Defencemen:
Enstrom - Bogosian
Kubina - Hainsey
Salmela - Shubert

Goaltenders:
Pavelic
Hedberg


Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020051

Ottawa Citizen Game Day Preview:

Source: http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/hockeycapital/archive/2009/10/10/gameday-preview-thrashers-at-senators-on-oct-10-2009.aspx

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020051

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091010/Atl@Ott/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291010014

ESPN Stats Comparison:




Other notable Senator articles:

Ottawa Sun
Sens Shuffle Lines: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/09/11359831.html

Ottawa Citizen
Spezza and Neil scuffle: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Spezza+Neil+scuffle+Senators+practice/2086783/story.html

Canoe.SLAM Sports
Foligno honours his Mother's memory: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Ottawa/2009/10/09/11360291-cp.html

Ottawa Citizen
Sens try to shuffle up some goals: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Sens+shuffle+some+goals/2089689/story.html

Ottawa Sun
Leclaire's a keeper: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/10/11362866-sun.html

Ottawa Sun
Sens flip flop Foligno, Alfie: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/10/10/11362856-sun.html

Ottawa Citizen
Senators Prediction Panel for Game 4: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Senators+prediction+panel+Game/2090506/story.html

OttawaSenators.com
Sens aiming to spark top guns: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=501672


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GO SENS GO!!!

Do we know who is starting for sure. at one point we expected elliot to start against the isles

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:Do we know who is starting for sure. at one point we expected elliot to start against the isles

We won't know who's starting for sure in net until tomorrow. Clouston is not naming the starter until tomorrow. I added a note to reflect this.

Radio????

shabbs wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:Do we know who is starting for sure. at one point we expected elliot to start against the isles

We won't know who's starting for sure in net until tomorrow. Clouston is not naming the starter until tomorrow. I added a note to reflect this.

Thanks Shabbs great work as always

marakh wrote:Radio????

Anyone watching Modern Family? If so, "Why the face!!!"

I've sent my standard email to cbc - can't wait for them to lose Saturday nights.

Hey does anyone know what the Folingo patch looks like and where to get one.

Oh, I thought it was done that Elliott was starting.

Wow, it's possible that I'll be the only one (that I know of) on here to see the game, since I got Gamecenter. Anyone going to see it live?

spader wrote:Wow, it's possible that I'll be the only one (that I know of) on here to see the game, since I got Gamecenter. Anyone going to see it live?

I got Gamecenter - signed up for the free trial.

shabbs wrote:

spader wrote:Wow, it's possible that I'll be the only one (that I know of) on here to see the game, since I got Gamecenter. Anyone going to see it live?

I got Gamecenter - signed up for the free trial.

Can you repost the link here? I can't remember where it was first posted.

Here is the link I used... you can sign up without the credit card info...

https://gamecenter.nhl.com/nhlgc/secure/registerform?free=true&intcmpid=nhl.com:gcl:strip

Not sure what happens at the end of the trial.

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:

spader wrote:Wow, it's possible that I'll be the only one (that I know of) on here to see the game, since I got Gamecenter. Anyone going to see it live?

I got Gamecenter - signed up for the free trial.

Can you repost the link here? I can't remember where it was first posted.

Never mind, found it:

https://gamecenter.nhl.com/nhlgc/secure/registerform?free=true&intcmpid=nhl.com:gcl:strip

Was watching the Calgary/Dallas game last night via Gamecenter... very impressive quality of the stream.