GAME DAY: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm EST - Tue. Nov. 17th, 2009--plus postgame discussion

The Ottawa Senators (8-6-3, 19 points, 3rd in the Northeast) host the Toronto Maple Leafs (3-10-5, 11 points, last in the Northeast) on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Place. The Battle of Ontario has simmered down some what over the years, but the fire always burns when these two get together. There's a definite hate on for the Leafs in the Nation's Capital and that will never change. With the flamboyant and outspoken Burke at the helm in Toronto, it's easy not to like them. The Leafs have gotten off to a horrible start, much worse than expected given the hype that their own GM was bringing before the season started. Toskala has taken a back seat to Gustavsson and they now have Kessel in their line-up. Their play has improved of late, but they are still struggling to put pucks in the net, and keep them out of their own net. The Sens are having their own struggles and have lost two in a row with some very inconsistent effort. It's going to take a team effort and again, some more discipline, to get back on track. Elliott put up a great performance in the Sens' last game and certainly earned another start... we'll see who Clouston names as the starter tomorrow. I expect Gustavsson to go for the Leafs even though he got yanked in the last game vs Calgary.


Game Coverage:
- TV: SNET-O (HD), SNET-E (HD)
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: http://www.atdhe.net/ and http://www.justin.tv/

Game Dahy Updates:
- Winchester in for Regin, Donovan stays in so Shannon is out. Leclaire to start!
- Vesa Toskala gets the start in net for the Leafs ( http://twitter.com/jonas640/status/5770882908 )
- Clouston: Encouraged with Volchenkov's progress. Didn't skate with team today, but hoping he'll play on the weekend.
- Sens had Sunday off and are back at practice on Monday.

Team Lineups:
Ottawa Senators: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/ottawa-senators-team-lineup
Toronto Maple Leafs: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/toronto-maple-leafs-team-lineup

TSN's Ice Chips:

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

Ottawa Senators:

D Anton Volchenkov (elbow) did not skate on Monday, and has missed the last 7 games. Head coach Cory Clouston expects him to start skating with the team on Wednesday and is hopeful for his return to game action on the weekend. - TSN

Projected Lines vs. Maple Leafs

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

Defencemen:
Phillips - Kuba
Campoli - Lee
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Leclaire
Elliott

Injuries:
Volchenkov (dislocated right elbow, on injured reserve)

Toronto Maple Leafs:

Goaltender Vesa Toskala will start between the pipes for the Leafs tonight. - TSN

Projected lines vs. Senators

Forwards:
Ponikarovsky - Stajan - Kessel
Hagman - Grabovski - Blake
Stempniak - Mitchell - Kulemin
Orr - Wallin - Mayers

Defencemen:
Kaberle - Finger
Beauchemin - White
Gunnarsson - Schenn

Goaltenders:
Toskala
Gustavsson

Injuries:
Mike Van Ryn (left knee surgesy, on IR, out rest of season); Mike Komisarek (torn quadricep, on IR, out three weeks)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020291

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020291

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091117/Tor@Ott/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291117014

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- Clouston on the Leafs, goaltending and Fisher with Kovalev: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091116_Clouston-03.mp3
- Clouston on powerplay and shootouts: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091116_Clouston-02.mp3
- Clouston talking about Volchie, lines and Regin: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091116_Clouston-01.mp3
- SensTV Player Profile - Shean Donovan: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?id=51613
- SensTV On-line: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

Ottawa's Last Game: vs New York Rangers
- Date: Sat. Nov. 14th, 2009
- Score: Rangers 2 - Senators 1 (SO)
- Recap: http://senators.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009020269
- Boxscore: http://senators.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2009020269
- Game Summary: http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/GS020269.HTM
- Video: http://senators.nhl.com/club/gamevideo.htm?id=2009020269

Notable Senators articles

Ottawa Sun:
Sens missing the point: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/11/15/11756151.html

Ottawa Sun:
Even with Kessel, Leafs' prosptects gloomy: http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/11/15/11757146-sun.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Schedule about to get hairy for the Sens:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Schedule+about+hairy+Senators/2227861/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Shut down in the shootout: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Shut+down+shootout/2225160/story.html

Ottawa Citizen:
Getting to know... Chris Kelly: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/ottawa-senators/Getting+know+Chris+Kelly/2225172/story.html

OttawaSenators.com:
Homestand huge test for Sens: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=506004

Notable Maple Leafs articles:

TorontoMapleLeafs.com:
Monster mortal after all: http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=506269

TorontoMapleLeafs.com:
Flames light up Leafs: http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=506138

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GO SENS GO!!!

Beautiful as usual - everything's fixed...like nothing ever happened.

SpezDispenser wrote:Beautiful as usual - everything's fixed...like nothing ever happened.

EDIT: Now that's fluffing. Yikes.

Great job Shabbs!

GO SENS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm looking forward to this one, I feel like we have a chance to win this time. Where did the thumbs up go??

Ok, I'll use this guy again and a little of this one

So, how many of our defencemen will KEssel burn on a breakaway from Kaberle

Arnold likes Shabbs' GDTs.

Dave, that's pretty funny.

marakh wrote:So, how many of our defencemen will KEssel burn on a breakaway from Kaberle

About as many as Michalek will burn on a breakaway from Kuba.

Awesome!

marakh wrote:So, how many of our defencemen will KEssel burn on a breakaway from Kaberle

Oh man, I forgot about that. He'll burn Picard and Carkner numerous times if they're on the ice at the same time.

He could burn Kuba and Phillips. Might have a harder time with Campoli and Lee, but when he gets to them, he can just deke them.

Diddle...wait, am I...jealous that the Leafs have him? I might be to be honest.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

marakh wrote:So, how many of our defencemen will KEssel burn on a breakaway from Kaberle

About as many as Michalek will burn on a breakaway from Kuba.

That's true as well.

SpezDispenser wrote:Beautiful as usual - everything's fixed...like nothing ever happened.

HA HA! That was strange...

Let's get this party started!!!

Beers on the ready.

Best game preview on the net. Excellent work Shabbs.

I'm a little weary of the leafs for some reason. They've been playing well lately, and if they bring the effort from Saturday night....well we don't have Kipprusoff...

Michallica wrote:Best game preview on the net. Excellent work Shabbs.

I'm a little weary of the leafs for some reason. They've been playing well lately, and if they bring the effort from Saturday night....well we don't have Kipprusoff...

Yeah, he does a great GDT.