GAME DAY: Boston Bruins @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm ET - Mon. Dec. 21st, 2009

SensGirl11 wrote:Oh yeah, and Hennessy and Brodeur have been sent back to Bongo.

I told you when it happened that that was Hennessy's career last night when he coughed up the game winner.

It should also be noted that the outlet pass to Hennessy from whoever it was was woeful and Karlsson standing there flailing his stick was horrendous. But the worst offender? Elliott with his beauty rebound kicked right back into the slot. Are you serious? Come on.

SensGirl11 wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Sweet! Confirmed!

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/12/22/12241506.html

Can Leclaire steal the game tomorrow night? We need it! Welcome back to both!

Do you think Leclaire could have stole last nights game?

Absolutely not, we need to score in order for that to happen. The plus side there is that it was only our 1st time being shut out this year. I expect better tomorrow, but who knows...Alfie is starting to feel the heat, he should come out strong tomorrow. Fisher was underwhelming as well last night, he must have been messed up from having a long night with Carrie. Michalek is due to explode again soon too.

I thought Fisher was fine. He did a lot of good things defensively and was our 2nd most dangerous player in the offensive zone (Ruutu was the 1st)...although that obviously isn't saying much. He was physical, responsible, and threatening on multiple shifts. I just don't think he had any help. Kovalev didn't wake up until half the game was over (about the first time I realized we hadn't drawn a penalty yet...the count down to three was on! )

SensGirl11 wrote:

Gohan wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Sweet! Confirmed!

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/12/22/12241506.html

Can Leclaire steal the game tomorrow night? We need it! Welcome back to both!

Do you think Leclaire could have stole last nights game?

Maybe...Elliott's rebound control remains at an AHL level and was the direct cause of the game winner. I thought he played really well and I most of his game, but rebound control is a major issue...pretty much his only issue.

I don't recall him being that bad with rebounds last year. Was he just as bad?

Yeah he was but he was so much better than any other option we had in every other area that I think we all overlooked it...Pierre didn't though...and he was right.

Gohan wrote:Kovalev has been much better in the last 10. The contracts that need purging are Kuba and Cheechoo (and arguably Spezza)

Kuba can play the game, I'm not sure what his deal is right now, but yes, he can go in the off-season. Cheechoo is a fun guy to have on a 4th line - but a crazy luxury the Sens surely can't afford, so I agree there. Spezza, I'll wait to see how he rehabs his back and knee to cast final judgment, so I won't agree there. And Kovalev and his 5 million dollar contract makes the trifecta complete for me. That's almost 12 million dollars between Kuba, Cheechoo and Kovalev that frankly don't really do much for us.

And another 7 that did NOTHING for us and is now rehabbing. Man, it's a wonder this team is even in the playoff mix.

SensGirl11 wrote:
I don't recall him being that bad with rebounds last year. Was he just as bad?

They were okay, then were horrendous - and that coincided with him losing some confidence and ultimately some games.

Gohan wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Sweet! Confirmed!

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2009/12/22/12241506.html

Can Leclaire steal the game tomorrow night? We need it! Welcome back to both!

Do you think Leclaire could have stole last nights game?

Absolutely not, we need to score in order for that to happen. The plus side there is that it was only our 1st time being shut out this year. I expect better tomorrow, but who knows...Alfie is starting to feel the heat, he should come out strong tomorrow. Fisher was underwhelming as well last night, he must have been messed up from having a long night with Carrie. Michalek is due to explode again soon too.

I thought Fisher was fine. He did a lot of good things defensively and was our 2nd most dangerous player in the offensive zone (Ruutu was the 1st)...although that obviously isn't saying much. He was physical, responsible, and threatening on multiple shifts. I just don't think he had any help. Kovalev didn't wake up until half the game was over (about the first time I realized we hadn't drawn a penalty yet...the count down to three was on! )

Fair enough, maybe it was too boring of a game for me to even notice the good things. I thought he was mediocre, but I may not have been paying as much attention as I usually do.

Don't even get me started on that bum Kovalev....oh Murray WHY?!

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Oh yeah, and Hennessy and Brodeur have been sent back to Bongo.

I told you when it happened that that was Hennessy's career last night when he coughed up the game winner.

It should also be noted that the outlet pass to Hennessy from whoever it was was woeful and Karlsson standing there flailing his stick was horrendous. But the worst offender? Elliott with his beauty rebound kicked right back into the slot. Are you serious? Come on.

He should have probably kicked it into the Boston net.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Oh yeah, and Hennessy and Brodeur have been sent back to Bongo.

I told you when it happened that that was Hennessy's career last night when he coughed up the game winner.

It should also be noted that the outlet pass to Hennessy from whoever it was was woeful and Karlsson standing there flailing his stick was horrendous. But the worst offender? Elliott with his beauty rebound kicked right back into the slot. Are you serious? Come on.

He should have probably kicked it into the Boston net.

Now SSF, you have to call a spade a spade. I called out Alfie, Michalek and Kovalev for not producing offensively, now I'm also making reference to Elliott Diddling up. I call good things when I see them, I call bad things when I see them.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Oh yeah, and Hennessy and Brodeur have been sent back to Bongo.

I told you when it happened that that was Hennessy's career last night when he coughed up the game winner.

It should also be noted that the outlet pass to Hennessy from whoever it was was woeful and Karlsson standing there flailing his stick was horrendous. But the worst offender? Elliott with his beauty rebound kicked right back into the slot. Are you serious? Come on.

He should have probably kicked it into the Boston net.

Now SSF, you have to call a spade a spade. I called out Alfie, Michalek and Kovalev for not producing offensively, now I'm also making reference to Elliott Diddling up. I call good things when I see them, I call bad things when I see them.

That's fine. It just seems to me that Elliott has been the Ace of Spades too often.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Oh yeah, and Hennessy and Brodeur have been sent back to Bongo.

I told you when it happened that that was Hennessy's career last night when he coughed up the game winner.

It should also be noted that the outlet pass to Hennessy from whoever it was was woeful and Karlsson standing there flailing his stick was horrendous. But the worst offender? Elliott with his beauty rebound kicked right back into the slot. Are you serious? Come on.

Thats a good take. It was Kuba, btw, with that pass. I said something similar about Hennessy when he had the puck on his stick for over a second in the Boston slot before losing it...Then when that goal was scored, I said that the 4th line wouldn't see another shift...I was wrong.

Its hard to say, really, whether he'll get another chance. He's clearly not NHL calibre but Clouston likes him and was willing to play him. Under the right circumstances, I could see him back up with the team.

Gohan wrote:Thats a good take. It was Kuba, btw, with that pass. I said something similar about Hennessy when he had the puck on his stick for over a second in the Boston slot before losing it...Then when that goal was scored, I said that the 4th line wouldn't see another shift...I was wrong.

Its hard to say, really, whether he'll get another chance. He's clearly not NHL calibre but Clouston likes him and was willing to play him. Under the right circumstances, I could see him back up with the team.

I knew it, I knew it was Kuba...

I was incredibly impressed with Clouston for putting Hennessy right back out there. A very strong move from a coach who will DEMAND player's respect and attention. That blew my mind. I can imagine 20 or so other coaches in the league who would have never played Hennessy again, which is the wrong message within the context of a game like that - because, as you say, he could be called back up again at some point.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Gohan wrote:Kovalev has been much better in the last 10. The contracts that need purging are Kuba and Cheechoo (and arguably Spezza)

Kuba can play the game, I'm not sure what his deal is right now, but yes, he can go in the off-season. Cheechoo is a fun guy to have on a 4th line - but a crazy luxury the Sens surely can't afford, so I agree there. Spezza, I'll wait to see how he rehabs his back and knee to cast final judgment, so I won't agree there. And Kovalev and his 5 million dollar contract makes the trifecta complete for me. That's almost 12 million dollars between Kuba, Cheechoo and Kovalev that frankly don't really do much for us.

And another 7 that did NOTHING for us and is now rehabbing. Man, it's a wonder this team is even in the playoff mix.

Thats why I said arguably...I'm holding out hope for him, but it's waning.

As for the money, I'd say its 8 million that doesn't do much for us and 10.7 million that does nothing and is often a detriment. Kuba and Spezza have consistently been our worst players. Kovalev has rounded in the form (slightly) and Cheechoo is simply overpaid. I have no doubt in my mind that Cheechoo will be bought out in the summer. It's not even a question mark. Likewise for Kuba being traded the second that NTC comes down. Man, this summer is going to be SWEET!

SeawaySensFan wrote:That's fine. It just seems to me that Elliott has been the Ace of Spades too often.

Whilst I wasn't the most impressed with Elliott, I also commend him for coming up with a couple of massive games and ultimately keeping the Sens in it. Further good news is that he gets a rest now - and that this will help him in the future to be an even better tender. So it's all good.

Gohan wrote:
Thats why I said arguably...I'm holding out hope for him, but it's waning.

As for the money, I'd say its 8 million that doesn't do much for us and 10.7 million that does nothing and is often a detriment. Kuba and Spezza have consistently been our worst players. Kovalev has rounded in the form (slightly) and Cheechoo is simply overpaid. I have no doubt in my mind that Cheechoo will be bought out in the summer. It's not even a question mark. Likewise for Kuba being traded the second that NTC comes down. Man, this summer is going to be SWEET!

I really and truly doubt Murray trades Kuba any time soon - which is either good or bad, I'm really not sure which. Kuba has shown that he can be a solid #4 guy - and the money's about right for a number 4 guy, but he goes through HORRENDOUS streaks, which makes me really nervous when we'll need to break in Karlsson and Cowen and soon Wiercioch. We need a rock back there - an all-purpose rock, so not Phillips or A-Train, a bonafide number one guy. And if that means trading Kuba, I hope Murray has the stones to do it.

I also hope there are takers.

I shall welcome Leclaire back with wide open arms. Elliott did what he could. He wasn't fantastic, he was brutal at times, but he also won some games for us. Did he steal any? Maybe 1 or 2 if that. It's nice for him that he got some shutouts in there too. I agree with SD, this will make him better in the long run. I was just surprised that he wasn't better, considering that he went through almost the same thing last year with Garbage sucking it up.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Oh yeah, and Hennessy and Brodeur have been sent back to Bongo.

I told you when it happened that that was Hennessy's career last night when he coughed up the game winner.

It should also be noted that the outlet pass to Hennessy from whoever it was was woeful and Karlsson standing there flailing his stick was horrendous. But the worst offender? Elliott with his beauty rebound kicked right back into the slot. Are you serious? Come on.

He should have probably kicked it into the Boston net.

Now SSF, you have to call a spade a spade. I called out Alfie, Michalek and Kovalev for not producing offensively, now I'm also making reference to Elliott Diddling up. I call good things when I see them, I call bad things when I see them.

That's fine. It just seems to me that Elliott has been the Ace of Spades too often.

I agree completely, but his rebound control is a travesty. It really is.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:That's fine. It just seems to me that Elliott has been the Ace of Spades too often.

Whilst I wasn't the most impressed with Elliott, I also commend him for coming up with a couple of massive games and ultimately keeping the Sens in it. Further good news is that he gets a rest now - and that this will help him in the future to be an even better tender. So it's all good.

I agree somewhat that he needs rest but the team has put up some real stinkers in front of him too. Last night was putrid.

SensGirl11 wrote:I shall welcome Leclaire back with wide open arms. Elliott did what he could. He wasn't fantastic, he was brutal at times, but he also won some games for us. Did he steal any? Maybe 1 or 2 if that. It's nice for him that he got some shutouts in there too. I agree with SD, this will make him better in the long run. I was just surprised that he wasn't better, considering that he went through almost the same thing last year with Garbage sucking it up.

Like I said, he played just fine (even great at times) but his rebound control is horrendous. It might literally be the only hole in his game, but it's a gaping chasm. It's the grand canyon of goalie holes... Until it changes, we should expect nothing different from our backup.