GAME DAY: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm EST - Thu. Nov. 26th, 2009

The Ottawa Senators (12-7-3, 27 points, 2nd in the Northeast) return home to face the Columbus Blue Jackets (12-8-3, 27 points, 3rd in the Central) on Thursday night in the 2nd of back to back games. The Sens are coming off a tough loss to the New Jersey Devils that saw Neil, Picard and Carkner suffer injuries during the game. Hopefuly we'll have some updates today as to their status. Alfredsson showed his frustration at the end of the game by throwing his stick at a Devils player who was skating in on an empty net. Very odd to see the Captain lose his composure like that, reminisent of his behavious in the SCP vs the Ducks with a slapper towards Niedermayer. The Sens may have Kovalev back in the line-up tonight. Hopefully Mike Fisher is able to go as well as the Sens will need all the help they can get with all these injuries piling up. The Jackets have some dangerous weapons in Nash and former Sen Vermette. Hopefully the Sens can exploit Commodore's slowness and get some good opportunities. With all the injuries, everone will need to step up for this one. I expect Elliott to get the start again tonight.

Game Coverage:
- TV: TSN (HD), RIS, FS-O (HD)
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: check http://www.atdhe.net and http://www.justin.tv

Latest Updates:
- Mike Fisher and Chris Neil will not play tonight.
- Kovalev will be in the line-up tonight
- Elliott gets the start in net
- Spezza gets the "A" for tonight in place of the injured Fisher

Team Lineups:
Ottawa Senators: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/ottawa-senators-team-lineup
Columbus Blue Jackets: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/columbus-blue-jackets-team-lineup

TSN's Ice Chips:

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

Ottawa Senators:

Mike Fisher won't play tonight against the Blue Jackets, as he's still
day-to-day with an injury. Chris Neil (knee) will be out at least 10-14
days. Winger Alex Kovalev, who missed three games due to personal
reason will return to the lineup. Brian Elliott will start between the
pipes. - TSN

Projected lines vs the Blue Jackets:

Forwards:
Michalek - Spezza - Alfredsson
Foligno - Regin - Kovalev
Ruutu - Kelly - Shannon
Cheechoo - Winchester - Keller

Defencemen:
Phillips - Lee
Campoli - Kuba
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Elliott
Brodeur

Injuries:
- Volchenkov (dislocated right elbow, on IR, practicing with team)
- Donovan (knee, on IR, out indefinitely)
- Leclaire (broken cheek bone, out 4 weeks)
- Kovalev (personal reasons, missed Wednesday's game against the Devils)
- Fisher (upper body, missed Wednesday's game agasint the Devils)

Columbus Blue Jackets:

Projected Lines vs the Sens:

Forwards:
Huselius - Vermette - Nash
Umberger - Brassard - Voracek
Chimera - Pahlsson - Blunden
Torres - MacKenzie - Boll

Defencemen:
Hejda - Kesla
Methot - Commodore
Tyutin - Stralman

Goaltenders:
Mason
Garon

Injuries:
- Frederik Modin (knee, on IR)
- Andrew Murray (torn muscle in sholder, on IR, expected to miss 4 weeks)
- Derek Dorsett (head, on IR)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020353

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020353

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091126/Cls@Ott/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291126014

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- Clouton post-game presser from Wednesday night (MP3): http://bit.ly/6bjmk7
- SensTV On-line: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

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GO SENS GO!!!

Should be interesting to see who is in and who is out tonight. We need a big game from certain guys to avoid a losing streak here.

Yeah, when we hear more I'll update the lineups later today. Hopefully it's not too bad.

N4L wrote:Should be interesting to see who is in and who is out tonight. We need a big game from certain guys to avoid a losing streak here.

I liked how Spezza stopped skating when Langenbrunner was going in for the empty netter. Good compete level there.

THERE WE GO!!!! Someone else friggin saw it too!

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:Should be interesting to see who is in and who is out tonight. We need a big game from certain guys to avoid a losing streak here.

I liked how Spezza stopped skating when Langenbrunner was going in for the empty netter. Good compete level there.

I like how Alfie threw his stick.

Correct me if i'm wrong though- that's not an automatic goal is it? Isn't it just a penalty shot?

NM-

"If, when the opposing goalkeeper has been removed, a member of the defending Team, including any Manager, Coach or Trainer, throws or shoots any part of a stick or any other object at the puck or puck carrier, thereby preventing the puck carrier from having a clear shot on an "open net", a goal shall be awarded to the attacking side."

From the NHL Rulebook

N4L wrote:THERE WE GO!!!! Someone else friggin saw it too!

My son noticed it too and he's just a kid for Diddle sakes.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:THERE WE GO!!!! Someone else friggin saw it too!

My son noticed it too and he's just a kid for Diddle sakes.

That's the kind of crap that lets me know he doesnt have it in him to be what people expect. Those kind of plays, injured or not, are the ones that just take a little effort. Unacceptable. His "hard working game" is becoming non-exsistant again, tag on the fact that he's producing at the same pace as Chris Kelly for the most part... right now, Spezza is useless.

N4L wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:THERE WE GO!!!! Someone else friggin saw it too!

My son noticed it too and he's just a kid for Diddle sakes.

That's the kind of crap that lets me know he doesnt have it in him to be what people expect. Those kind of plays, injured or not, are the ones that just take a little effort. Unacceptable. His "hard working game" is becoming non-exsistant again, tag on the fact that he's producing at the same pace as Chris Kelly for the most part... right now, Spezza is useless.

It's not like he's a slowpoke either. He could have at least made it look like he was trying. I'm sure The Alfie noticed this nonsense too.

As Murray so astutely put it, those two need to have a chat.

It's becoming very clear the right choice was made when they put the "A" on Fisher. He is 100% the future captain of The Sens when Alfi decides to hang em up. Spezza will be an after thought.

Maybe that's what Alfie was pissed about... Spezza giving up on it.

I'll be in my Row A seats so hopefully I can piss of some fans with my customized Jersey.

shabbs wrote:Maybe that's what Alfie was pissed about... Spezza giving up on it.

The captain pissed off about their "star" center giving up on a play... naw, never. It's insulting to think Fisher, Phillips, and especially Alfi have sacraficed everything for the city and the team and they have to deal with that crap from a guy that gets more chances then anyone I have ever seen.

This is not a player any team should be built around.

It was mentioned on the team this morning that Murray went down and had a chat with the refs after the game - anyone have any details?