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

N4L wrote:I wonder what is going to happen to Campoli? There is no shot he can stay in the lineup at this point with Kuba set to come back (I think) this week. That's prob the only trade I think Murray kind of dropped the ball on but I still get why he did it.

Have to agree. I see why he did it - and Campoli still obviously will have chances with injuries, but...yeah...

Oh well, what Murray has done in awful circumstances is nothing short of amazing to me. Consider what he had to work with when Muckler left. Not one guy resembling anything close to a number 1 goaltender, not one stud prospect, no depth in the organization anywhere, and maybe the worst individual attitudes in the league.

Hopefully Murray can turn Campoli into a 2nd rounder to a team struggling to find some offense or needs to shake things up in a hurry. Unless he wants to deal Picard who looks like a top 4 right now and sort things out like that but right now I wouldnt touch that pairing with Carkner.

Shannon is looking like someone who just got a 1 way deal and cant get sent down. Get him out and Regin in and this Sens team will be really tough to stop.

Were we really playing so-so hockey? Consider how much pressure the Habs were under to win at home. plus some questionable refereeing -- that's what led to the bad first period. Price made some really nice saves in the second and third. Although I still think that Kovalev shot should have been stopped, there was nothing he could have done on Neil's or Alfie's goals.

Remember that we are missing Kuba (our best-overall defenseman) and Regin (our 2nd line center). What would happen to the Penguins if Gonchar and Crosby were both out?

We have Karlsson (a raw rookie, never played in North America before this year) playing with Campoli, Carkner (an old rookie) with Picard (pretty much a sophomore), and overall we have more than half the team playing here for less than a full season.

Of course having said all that, I still want to point out that we lost to the Rangers and Penguins -- the only two playoff-bound teams we've faced so far.

DOn't forget MArkov.

wprager wrote:Were we really playing so-so hockey? Consider how much pressure the Habs were under to win at home. plus some questionable refereeing -- that's what led to the bad first period. Price made some really nice saves in the second and third. Although I still think that Kovalev shot should have been stopped, there was nothing he could have done on Neil's or Alfie's goals.

Remember that we are missing Kuba (our best-overall defenseman) and Regin (our 2nd line center). What would happen to the Penguins if Gonchar and Crosby were both out?

We have Karlsson (a raw rookie, never played in North America before this year) playing with Campoli, Carkner (an old rookie) with Picard (pretty much a sophomore), and overall we have more than half the team playing here for less than a full season.

Of course having said all that, I still want to point out that we lost to the Rangers and Penguins -- the only two playoff-bound teams we've faced so far.

Yeah, I thought we played so-so hockey, for the most part.

I walked away disgusted with the game, but pleased with the win. I think the officiating in the first 25 minutes of the game slowed the whole game down and made any flow impossible. That might have been a big reason why the game was so disappointing -- for a win.

Put Markov on that 5-on-3 and the Habs may have got the momentum and won the game...
our PK won the game, as simple as that.

wprager wrote:Were we really playing so-so hockey? Consider how much pressure the Habs were under to win at home. plus some questionable refereeing -- that's what led to the bad first period. Price made some really nice saves in the second and third. Although I still think that Kovalev shot should have been stopped, there was nothing he could have done on Neil's or Alfie's goals.

Remember that we are missing Kuba (our best-overall defenseman) and Regin (our 2nd line center). What would happen to the Penguins if Gonchar and Crosby were both out?

We have Karlsson (a raw rookie, never played in North America before this year) playing with Campoli, Carkner (an old rookie) with Picard (pretty much a sophomore), and overall we have more than half the team playing here for less than a full season.

Of course having said all that, I still want to point out that we lost to the Rangers and Penguins -- the only two playoff-bound teams we've faced so far.

A side note:

I'm not at all convinced by the Rangers. We'll see how they do when Gaborik is on the sidelines for 5-10 games, which will happen faster than you can say "groin injury!" And, really, how long can Lundqvist go like this? There's a guy in danger of being overworked or running into injury problems. Plus, while Del Zotto has been a nice surprise, I still think their D is soft and porous.

rooneypoo wrote:

wprager wrote:Were we really playing so-so hockey? Consider how much pressure the Habs were under to win at home. plus some questionable refereeing -- that's what led to the bad first period. Price made some really nice saves in the second and third. Although I still think that Kovalev shot should have been stopped, there was nothing he could have done on Neil's or Alfie's goals.

Remember that we are missing Kuba (our best-overall defenseman) and Regin (our 2nd line center). What would happen to the Penguins if Gonchar and Crosby were both out?

We have Karlsson (a raw rookie, never played in North America before this year) playing with Campoli, Carkner (an old rookie) with Picard (pretty much a sophomore), and overall we have more than half the team playing here for less than a full season.

Of course having said all that, I still want to point out that we lost to the Rangers and Penguins -- the only two playoff-bound teams we've faced so far.

A side note:

I'm not at all convinced by the Rangers. We'll see how they do when Gaborik is on the sidelines for 5-10 games, which will happen faster than you can say "groin injury!" And, really, how long can Lundqvist go like this? There's a guy in danger of being overworked or running into injury problems. Plus, while Del Zotto has been a nice surprise, I still think their D is soft and porous.

I would like to add to that in our game against the Rangers the sens did not look like a team ready to start the season and if we played the rangers it would be a lot better of a game

Well, we have to strike while the iron's hot -- kick 'em when they're down. Let's pile it on Boston since they are struggling. They won't be struggling all year -- same as our PP will improve and the top line will start clicking. In the meantime, if we can somehow grab home ice advantage, let's do it.

(Yeah, I'm getting way ahead of myself this early in the season, but we definitely have a great chance to get back into the playoffs this year, and if we take every opportunity to pile on the points when we are playing the lower teams andthe top teams are struggling, we won't just make it into the post-season but could actually grab a top-3 seed.)

rooneypoo wrote:

wprager wrote:Were we really playing so-so hockey? Consider how much pressure the Habs were under to win at home. plus some questionable refereeing -- that's what led to the bad first period. Price made some really nice saves in the second and third. Although I still think that Kovalev shot should have been stopped, there was nothing he could have done on Neil's or Alfie's goals.

Remember that we are missing Kuba (our best-overall defenseman) and Regin (our 2nd line center). What would happen to the Penguins if Gonchar and Crosby were both out?

We have Karlsson (a raw rookie, never played in North America before this year) playing with Campoli, Carkner (an old rookie) with Picard (pretty much a sophomore), and overall we have more than half the team playing here for less than a full season.

Of course having said all that, I still want to point out that we lost to the Rangers and Penguins -- the only two playoff-bound teams we've faced so far.

A side note:

I'm not at all convinced by the Rangers. We'll see how they do when Gaborik is on the sidelines for 5-10 games, which will happen faster than you can say "groin injury!" And, really, how long can Lundqvist go like this? There's a guy in danger of being overworked or running into injury problems. Plus, while Del Zotto has been a nice surprise, I still think their D is soft and porous.

Well if the Rangers are all that, it makes my point even better. That was a game I really, really would have liked to win. The Pens game, at least, we had 2 bad bounces resulting in goals against. I can't point to anything in the Rangers game other than we were not really good.

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

wprager wrote:Were we really playing so-so hockey? Consider how much pressure the Habs were under to win at home. plus some questionable refereeing -- that's what led to the bad first period. Price made some really nice saves in the second and third. Although I still think that Kovalev shot should have been stopped, there was nothing he could have done on Neil's or Alfie's goals.

Remember that we are missing Kuba (our best-overall defenseman) and Regin (our 2nd line center). What would happen to the Penguins if Gonchar and Crosby were both out?

We have Karlsson (a raw rookie, never played in North America before this year) playing with Campoli, Carkner (an old rookie) with Picard (pretty much a sophomore), and overall we have more than half the team playing here for less than a full season.

Of course having said all that, I still want to point out that we lost to the Rangers and Penguins -- the only two playoff-bound teams we've faced so far.

A side note:

I'm not at all convinced by the Rangers. We'll see how they do when Gaborik is on the sidelines for 5-10 games, which will happen faster than you can say "groin injury!" And, really, how long can Lundqvist go like this? There's a guy in danger of being overworked or running into injury problems. Plus, while Del Zotto has been a nice surprise, I still think their D is soft and porous.

I would like to add to that in our game against the Rangers the sens did not look like a team ready to start the season and if we played the rangers it would be a lot better of a game

They're now playing better than back then too, you know

Redden has 4 points and is a plus 6. Apparently he's in better shape this year than last -- I guess the honeymoon is over, you know how Mick (from Rocky) said "women weaken legs".

We started the season with a loss, followed by three wins. Then another loss, followed (so far) by two wins. The way Nashville is playing that should be another 3 game winning streak before facing the Bruins. Would be nice to break that LWWW pattern, but if not, then the next three games could very well be wins (Florida, Tampa, Atlanta). We could very well finish October with a 9-3 or better record. I'd like "better".

spader wrote:I don't know. I thought the opening period and parts of the second were downright embarassing for the Sens tonight. They squeaked one out and had a solid 3rd period, but they need to be able to do something about the amount of pressure the Habs were able to maintain for the first 20 minutes.

The blocked shots were unbelievable (26) and Leclaire had a solid game. Once the Sens get the power play going, this will be a rock solid team. I just don't think tonight's was a great game.

For sure... we were totally under siege in that opening frame. The multiple PPs to the Habs didn't help either, but they were desperate after losing 4 in a row and wanted to get on the board early. They either ran out of gas or lost their momentum later and the Sens took over.

Not quite sure I understand this "dominated for the first two periods" story I keep hearing. I'm watching the game right now and a little into the 2nd, I see no such domination. They had a few chances (mainly on PP's) and we had a few chances. Neither team looks good, per se, but neither looks wholly awful. They look like what they are: two teams still trying to get accustomed to all their new players and styles.

I really don't expect much better from MTL as the season wears on, but I certainly think the Sens are capable of doing well for themselves.

Gohan wrote:Not quite sure I understand this "dominated for the first two periods" story I keep hearing. I'm watching the game right now and a little into the 2nd, I see no such domination. They had a few chances (mainly on PP's) and we had a few chances. Neither team looks good, per se, but neither looks wholly awful. They look like what they are: two teams still trying to get accustomed to all their new players and styles.

I really don't expect much better from MTL as the season wears on, but I certainly think the Sens are capable of doing well for themselves.

Investigate the shot clock, for one.

rooneypoo wrote:

Gohan wrote:Not quite sure I understand this "dominated for the first two periods" story I keep hearing. I'm watching the game right now and a little into the 2nd, I see no such domination. They had a few chances (mainly on PP's) and we had a few chances. Neither team looks good, per se, but neither looks wholly awful. They look like what they are: two teams still trying to get accustomed to all their new players and styles.

I really don't expect much better from MTL as the season wears on, but I certainly think the Sens are capable of doing well for themselves.

Investigate the shot clock, for one.

And add on the blocked shots...

Thats too heavily influenced by circumstance. The PPs for MTL and their shots from everywhere definitely embellished their "domination". They definitely had more solid chances in the early going and they were buzzing a little more than Ottawa was, but what are we to expect from a team with their record, playing at home, in front of a brutal crowd?

I just heard Guy Lafleur say (end of 2nd) that this is the worst he's seen Ottawa play in Montreal...and I'm dumbfounded. I really don't know what I'm missing here. They really aren't as bad as some want them to seem. If thats what an off-night looks like for the Sens, then I'm stoked.

Maybe its just that I have the advantage of knowing the outcome, so scrambles and disorder aren't nearly as nerve wracking, but I can't get behind the idea that they played "so" poorly.