GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens - 7:00pm ET - Sat. Oct. 17th, 2009

By the way, who the Diddle made this Diddling ridiculous Diddling schedule? We don't play until Thursday again? FIVE DAYS OFF AT THE START OF THE SEASON?!?!?!?!

PKC wrote:That's the beauty of how things are going right now. Our third and fourth lines aren't just a formality anymore, these guys are pinning other teams' lines deep in their own zones and just outworking them and outhustling guys.

It's amazing, I love it. I love seeing the 4th line pinning guys in. Ruutu has been incredible this year as well - Kelly and Donovan too - but I like Ruutu's game a lot thus far.

PKC wrote:By the way, who the Diddle made this Diddling ridiculous Diddling schedule? We don't play until Thursday again? FIVE DAYS OFF AT THE START OF THE SEASON?!?!?!?!

I'll tell you...there's gonna be a heck of a fight for roster spots....

Kovalev with a goal and an assist and not really much else. Oh, well, that's still two points and a nifty pass for the winner.

By the way, that was an awesome pass from Fisher on Kovalev's goal. And have you seen his face off percentage lately? Wow! 10 for 14 tonight (71%) and he was something like 75% the previous game.

wprager wrote:Kovalev with a goal and an assist and not really much else. Oh, well, that's still two points and a nifty pass for the winner.

By the way, that was an awesome pass from Fisher on Kovalev's goal. And have you seen his face off percentage lately? Wow! 10 for 14 tonight (71%) and he was something like 75% the previous game.

Something has changed in Ottawa. The players can feel it. The coaches can feel it. And the fans are starting to feel it. Mike Fisher is starting to turn into the player we hoped he'd be. And I can honestly say, we couldn't be happier to watch it happen right in front of our eyes.

PKC wrote:By the way, who the Diddle made this Diddling ridiculous Diddling schedule? We don't play until Thursday again? FIVE DAYS OFF AT THE START OF THE SEASON?!?!?!?!

what about the TV schedule. This should have been the national game. 2 Canadian teams playing with storylines but instead CBC maintains pro-leafs instead of being a diverse canadian broadcaster.

Phoenix30 wrote:

PKC wrote:By the way, who the Diddle made this Diddling ridiculous Diddling schedule? We don't play until Thursday again? FIVE DAYS OFF AT THE START OF THE SEASON?!?!?!?!

what about the TV schedule. This should have been the national game. 2 Canadian teams playing with storylines but instead CBC maintains pro-leafs instead of being a diverse canadian broadcaster.

In an ironic twist, the Leafs lost 4-1 which means that people probably started tuning out of the game which means that with a lower household rating the CBC executives who make these decisions might decide to air fewer Leafs games in favor of other times that might draw higher viewership.

PKC wrote:

Phoenix30 wrote:

PKC wrote:By the way, who the Diddle made this Diddling ridiculous Diddling schedule? We don't play until Thursday again? FIVE DAYS OFF AT THE START OF THE SEASON?!?!?!?!

what about the TV schedule. This should have been the national game. 2 Canadian teams playing with storylines but instead CBC maintains pro-leafs instead of being a diverse canadian broadcaster.

In an ironic twist, the Leafs lost 4-1 which means that people probably started tuning out of the game which means that with a lower household rating the CBC executives who make these decisions might decide to air fewer Leafs games in favor of other times that might draw higher viewership.

Something has to give. They need to follow their model for the 2nd game where there is no favorites. You get either vancover, Calgary or Edmonton. Being out west I am not force fed to watch a favorite team unlike the early game and the leafs.

PKC wrote:

Phoenix30 wrote:

PKC wrote:By the way, who the Diddle made this Diddling ridiculous Diddling schedule? We don't play until Thursday again? FIVE DAYS OFF AT THE START OF THE SEASON?!?!?!?!

what about the TV schedule. This should have been the national game. 2 Canadian teams playing with storylines but instead CBC maintains pro-leafs instead of being a diverse canadian broadcaster.

In an ironic twist, the Leafs lost 4-1 which means that people probably started tuning out of the game which means that with a lower household rating the CBC executives who make these decisions might decide to air fewer Leafs games in favor of other times that might draw higher viewership.

As great as that would be, it's, unfortunately, wishful thinking. The Leafs have sucked for 4 years now, and they are still consistently the national game.

Bass Destruction wrote:

PKC wrote:

Phoenix30 wrote:

PKC wrote:By the way, who the Diddle made this Diddling ridiculous Diddling schedule? We don't play until Thursday again? FIVE DAYS OFF AT THE START OF THE SEASON?!?!?!?!

what about the TV schedule. This should have been the national game. 2 Canadian teams playing with storylines but instead CBC maintains pro-leafs instead of being a diverse canadian broadcaster.

In an ironic twist, the Leafs lost 4-1 which means that people probably started tuning out of the game which means that with a lower household rating the CBC executives who make these decisions might decide to air fewer Leafs games in favor of other times that might draw higher viewership.

As great as that would be, it's, unfortunately, wishful thinking. The Leafs have sucked for 4 years now, and they are still consistently the national game.

Yeah, I suppose market share is more important than we'd like it to be. In a way though, it's kind of funny to see them fail on a national stage. So befitting of them.

Anyone wanna take bets on how long it is before Toronto fans start bringing the fire Burke/Wilson signs and talk to the forefront?

I'll try and dig up HNIC ratings info to compare Leaf games against other teams. I think if the Leafs continue to be this awful, you'll see more Ottawa or Montreal games as the national games. It was an original six matchup in Toronto though.

On a side note, Huet just gave up a goal which was shot in by Stephane Robidas at center ice. The goal went off the glass, by Huet. If you think the Gerber contract was bad (and it was), it's got nothing on Huet's 3 remaining years at 5.625 million per.

Oh, Picard with another solid game, did Campoli play?

Campoli had a couple of bad giveaways, but was otherwise OK.

Didnt lead the team in ice time though. Almost 2 mins more than anyone else on the team. Campoli is coming out of that lineup for sure, Picard is not only playing better, he's making it about the easiest choice of anyone about to come back into the lineup. What's this team going to look like when Kuba gets back and Regin comes in for Shannon (who is doing absolutely nothing)

I couldn't believe that 3-4 minute stretch of hockey in the 3rd where the Sens had total control of the puck in the Habs' end and the Habs were just running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Couldn't even touch the puck, Sens were beating them to it anytime there was a scramble.

GO SENS GO!!!

Whole lotta this after last night... 5 losses in a row...



BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

wprager wrote:Kovalev with a goal and an assist and not really much else. Oh, well, that's still two points and a nifty pass for the winner.

By the way, that was an awesome pass from Fisher on Kovalev's goal. And have you seen his face off percentage lately? Wow! 10 for 14 tonight (71%) and he was something like 75% the previous game.

Something has changed in Ottawa. The players can feel it. The coaches can feel it. And the fans are starting to feel it. Mike Fisher is starting to turn into the player we hoped he'd be. And I can honestly say, we couldn't be happier to watch it happen right in front of our eyes.

If I had to narrow it down to three things I would say:

Clouston
Leclaire
Heatley trade

This is a great team to watch.

Didnt lead the team in ice time though. Almost 2 mins more than anyone else on the team. Campoli is coming out of that lineup for sure, Picard is not only playing better, he's making it about the easiest choice of anyone about to come back into the lineup. What's this team going to look like when Kuba gets back and Regin comes in for Shannon (who is doing absolutely nothing)

Picard outclasses Campoli big time and Regin is easily contributing more than Shannon, who has been a shadow of himself since his most recent concussion. When you can say that there isn't room for these guys in the lineup you have a decent team.