GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Pittsburgh Penguins - 7:00pm ET - Wed. Dec. 23rd, 2009

The Ottawa Senators (18-14-4, 40 points, 3rd in the Northeast) hit the road again to face the Pittsburgh Penguins (25-11-1, 51 points, 2nd in the Atlantic) on Wednesday night. The Sens are coming off a frustrating 2-0 shutout loss at home to the Boson Bruins. Tim Thomas continues to own us and I can't stand it any more. The win saw Boston leapfrog us for 2nd in the Northeast, and they have a game in hand. The Penguins are also coming off a shootout loss to the Devils that saw Martin Brodeur notch is record setting 104th shutout of his NHL career. Truly remarkable. Both teams will be looking to get rid of the bad taste left behind from a shutout. Biggest news for the Sens is that Leclaire and Neil will be back in the line-up on Wednesday night. Huzzah! Accordingly, Mike Brodeur and Josh Hennessy have been sent down to Bingo. Perhaps their return will spark the Sens.

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

Latest Updates:
- Leclaire starts in net for the Sens
- Neil returns to the line-up
- Donovan is in for Campoli
- Campoli will be a healthy scratch

Team Lineups:
Ottawa Senators: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/ottawa-senators-team-lineup
Pittsburgh Penguins: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/pittsburgh-penguins-team-lineup

TSN's Ice Chips:

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

Ottawa Senators:

Pascal Leclaire, who has missed the last 16 games with a fractured checkbone, and forward Chris Neil, who has missed the last 15 games with a left knee injury, will return to the lineup tonight in Pittsburgh. Jesse Winchester has been bumped from the first line to the fourth line. - TSN

Projected lines vs the Penguins:

Forwards:
Michalek - Regin - Alfredsson
Cheechoo - Fisher - Kovalev
Ruutu - Kelly - Neil
Donovan - Winchester - Shannon

Defencemen:
Phillips - Volchenkov
Kuba - Karlsson
Picard - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Leclaire
Elliott

Healthy scratches:
- Campoli

Injuries:
- Jason Spezza (knee, out 6-8 weeks)
- Nick Foligno (knee, expected to miss 2 weeks)

Pittsburgh Penguins:

Centre Jordan Staal practiced with the same full facial shield he wore in the third period against New Jersey. Staal broke his nose and missed most of the second period against the Devils when a deflected puck struck his face. - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Projected lineup vs the Sens:

Forwards:
Kunitz - Crosby - Guerin
Dupuis - Malkin - Fedotenko
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
Talbot - Adams - Rupp

Defencemen:
Gonchard - Orpik
Skoula - Letang
McKee - Goligoski

Goaltenders:
Marc-Andre Fleury
Brent Johnson

Injuries:
- Mark Eaton (lower body, questionable for Wednesday's game vs Ottawa)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://senators.nhl.com/club/preview.htm?id=2009020548

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009020548

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20091223/Ott@Pit/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=291223016

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- Clouston post-practice presser from Tuesday: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091222_Clouston.mp3
- Sens assign Hennessy and Brodeur to Bingo: http://bit.ly/4qtyUt
- Clouston post-game presser from Monday night: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091221_Clouston-post.mp3
- 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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Thanks Shabbs!

I can't believe how good Pittsburgh still is. 51Points!! Ridiculous.
Will they make it 3 years in a row to the Final? I don't get it...just don't get it...Malkin, Crosby, Gonchar and Fleury...Staal...

I just looked over their lineup again...still dont' get it. Anyone?

SensGirl11 wrote:I just looked over their lineup again...still dont' get it. Anyone?

1.Crosby
2.Malkin
3.Staal
4.decent puck moving D
5.Fleury is good enough

SensGirl11 wrote:I just looked over their lineup again...still dont' get it. Anyone?

What's to get? They're as well rounded as any team in the league: their defense is solid from top-to-bottom, anchored by a perennial all-star; their goaltender is a front runner for the most competitive Olympic team in the world; their top-3 centre positions are filled out better than any other team; they have lines with chemistry; and they put in a consistent effort, rarely taking all their skill for granted. Add in a coach that they like and seems to get the best out of them, along with a young core with the weight of historical comparisons and present day expectations on their shoulders, and you've got what looks like a modern day dynasty.

I'm not sure where the question mark is?

I mean...the guy that scored both their goals in game 7 of the SCF is on the 4th line...

Amen Gohan, Amen...

Gohan wrote:What's to get? They're as well rounded as any team in the league: their defense is solid from top-to-bottom, anchored by a perennial all-star; their goaltender is a front runner for the most competitive Olympic team in the world; their top-3 centre positions are filled out better than any other team; they have lines with chemistry; and they put in a consistent effort, rarely taking all their skill for granted. Add in a coach that they like and seems to get the best out of them, along with a young core with the weight of historical comparisons and present day expectations on their shoulders, and you've got what looks like a modern day dynasty.

I'm not sure where the question mark is?

Ridiculous lack of talent on the wings. Just...laughable, but hey, it works. The D is above average and Fleury is...okay.

I can't believe they're as good as they are with the wingers they have. Really, quite shocking. Blysma is coach of the year IMO.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:I just looked over their lineup again...still dont' get it. Anyone?

1.Crosby
2.Malkin
3.Staal
4.decent puck moving D
5.Fleury is good enough

You definitely aren't giving Fleury enough credit. He's at worst #3 on that list. I'm not sure if you realize jsut how good a shot he has at backing up Brodeur at the Olympics.

Gohan wrote:
You definitely aren't giving Fleury enough credit. He's at worst #3 on that list. I'm not sure if you realize jsut how good a shot he has at backing up Brodeur at the Olympics.

By default IMO. Ward has been shaky and injured, but I would take him over Fleury. I know Fleury won the Cup, but I've never been able to shake the feeling that he's beatable at any given time.

I don't know...you're right obviously, no one wins a cup by accident (Osgood), but...you know where I'm coming from I'm sure.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Gohan wrote:What's to get? They're as well rounded as any team in the league: their defense is solid from top-to-bottom, anchored by a perennial all-star; their goaltender is a front runner for the most competitive Olympic team in the world; their top-3 centre positions are filled out better than any other team; they have lines with chemistry; and they put in a consistent effort, rarely taking all their skill for granted. Add in a coach that they like and seems to get the best out of them, along with a young core with the weight of historical comparisons and present day expectations on their shoulders, and you've got what looks like a modern day dynasty.

I'm not sure where the question mark is?

Ridiculous lack of talent on the wings. Just...laughable, but hey, it works. The D is above average and Fleury is...okay.

I can't believe they're as good as they are with the wingers they have. Really, quite shocking. Blysma is coach of the year IMO.

It's only shocking because you're a Sens fan that isn't used to $7+ million centres making their wingers better.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Gohan wrote:
You definitely aren't giving Fleury enough credit. He's at worst #3 on that list. I'm not sure if you realize jsut how good a shot he has at backing up Brodeur at the Olympics.

By default IMO. Ward has been shaky and injured, but I would take him over Fleury. I know Fleury won the Cup, but I've never been able to shake the feeling that he's beatable at any given time.

I don't know...you're right obviously, no one wins a cup by accident (Osgood), but...you know where I'm coming from I'm sure.

Yeah I hear you. I can see how you would feel that way about Fleury. I'm not sure he'll ever shake that image...

Gohan wrote:
It's only shocking because you're a Sens fan that isn't used to $7+ million centres making their wingers better.

That's part of it for sure, Crosby and Malkin are the best of the best and Staal should be a 2nd line center on any team, but you'd figure teams would have found some way to shut them down and thus, shut down the Pens. It's really quite odd.

Gohan wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:I just looked over their lineup again...still dont' get it. Anyone?

What's to get? They're as well rounded as any team in the league: their defense is solid from top-to-bottom, anchored by a perennial all-star; their goaltender is a front runner for the most competitive Olympic team in the world; their top-3 centre positions are filled out better than any other team; they have lines with chemistry; and they put in a consistent effort, rarely taking all their skill for granted. Add in a coach that they like and seems to get the best out of them, along with a young core with the weight of historical comparisons and present day expectations on their shoulders, and you've got what looks like a modern day dynasty.

I'm not sure where the question mark is?

I realize that they have 2 of the nuttiest superstars in the league, and that's awesome for them. I'm still not sold on Fleury, but that's just me, he did impress me in the playoffs last year for sure. I just am not sold on him beyond that, but that doesn't matter, because he has something we don't. They have no wingers. They have the best top 3 centers in the league which is great, but no one to pass the puch to really. Gonchar is awesome, Letang is really getting much better. Other than that...they're okay defensively, but not any better than most teams. I don't know...I still don't see where they are so damned good. But, they are, so that's all that counts I guess. Everything just seems to work for them. The hockey Gods love that team, that's for sure.