GAME DAY: Colorado Avalanche @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm ET - Wed. Dec. 30th, 2009

OT - but did anyone see that crazy play in Tampa were Mezsaros was pushed onto Smith (after he had covered the puck) and stepped on the back of his neck. For some lucky reason he wasent cut and stayed in the game.

Scratch Kuba

dennycrane wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:Scratch Kuba then.

Glad to see Duchene at least score. Atta boy, Matt, atta boy.

One big save from Leclaire and this was going to OT.

Trade Kuba you say? Sounds good.

He is an Olympian.

Czech Republic has no chance.

I'm sitting there watching this thing go down and I see Kuba making countless mistakes near the end of the game, and it occurs to me: This is not his game. He is a very good 4, but we're asking him to be 1...That's the problem. This is at Murray's feet, not Kuba's, not Clouston's, not the other 5 non-#1 D...and even then, there isn't a whole hell of a lot Murray was able to do to fix the problem. It's just something we, as fans, live with until it gets fixed. Murray's building it right for the future and still keeping us competitive in the present. I think that's pretty good when a full scale rebuild is unacceptable to the fanbase and the owner.

As for the everyday, like I said, Kuba will continue to let us down when we ask him to do things he isn't suited for. I think it's time the most intelligent fans in hockey make peace with that fact

I think most of us realize the unfairness of this situation, but I also think that at some point someone has to look at the roster and say, no, 3.75 is too much for a 2nd pairing D-man. I'd rather put that money into a 6 million dollar first pairing D-man and live with it. The knock on us and the organization as clearer pictures of the salary cap came around was that we had too much money tied up in four forwards. What we needed to do was move Heatley's 7.5 for Michalek's 4.3 and combine that money saved there with Kuba's money and get one heck of a nice number one D-man. But instead - for the moment - we have Cheechoo and Kovalev sucking up 8 million dollars, 11.75 when you add in Kuba. Maybe Spezza's a part of that as well, so that's almost 19 million dollars in wasted money and more importantly (to me) cap space.

I literally yearn for the day we have a bonafide stud defender to step in and calm down the tempo of games that are going wild, to provide offense and transition, to make smart plays in our own end, to command respect on the PP, to make our young players (D-men specifically) better. Like...Dany Boyle...

Is Craig Anderson unbelievable or what? If Ryan Miller wasn't having a career year in Buffalo, I'd say it would be pretty damn close as to who gets the starting position for team USA.

I also submit that Anderson deserves an MVP nod this season. Without him, I don't think that team is even remotely at the top of the league.

As a side note, it's really nice to see that this team never gives up. Has there been any game (apart possibly from the recent Pittsburgh game) where the Sens gave up at any point in the game?

They just always battle. That's the kind of spirit you need in the playoffs. When this team gets healthy, with some more consistent play and perhaps a piece or two at the deadline and you might be looking at a team that can make some noise in the playoffs.

Let's not forget that this team is missing its number one center and its heart-and-soul, best contributor Captain, and we still came within an inch of tying it up late (or within a game-saving save of not needing to have to tie it up). And this is against one of the best (surprising, but so) teams ouf of the West.

No such excuses tonight, of course. We should win this game, and we need the two points.

wprager wrote:Let's not forget that this team is missing its number one center and its heart-and-soul, best contributor Captain, and we still came within an inch of tying it up late (or within a game-saving save of not needing to have to tie it up). And this is against one of the best (surprising, but so) teams ouf of the West.

No such excuses tonight, of course. We should win this game, and we need the two points.

Well said. Plus I'm in 200 row A for tonights game so they better win.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

wprager wrote:Let's not forget that this team is missing its number one center and its heart-and-soul, best contributor Captain, and we still came within an inch of tying it up late (or within a game-saving save of not needing to have to tie it up). And this is against one of the best (surprising, but so) teams ouf of the West.

No such excuses tonight, of course. We should win this game, and we need the two points.

Well said. Plus I'm in 200 row A for tonights game so they better win.

Take this over to the new GDT.

wprager wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

wprager wrote:Let's not forget that this team is missing its number one center and its heart-and-soul, best contributor Captain, and we still came within an inch of tying it up late (or within a game-saving save of not needing to have to tie it up). And this is against one of the best (surprising, but so) teams ouf of the West.

No such excuses tonight, of course. We should win this game, and we need the two points.

Well said. Plus I'm in 200 row A for tonights game so they better win.

Take this over to the new GDT.

OK ok. I don't want any trouble.

So much for my 3 point night for Fisher prediction. At least Shannon, Regin and Kovalev showed up to play and made the game interesting.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So much for my 3 point night for Fisher prediction. At least Shannon, Regin and Kovalev showed up to play and made the game interesting.

This game is done. Go make predictions for tonight's game.

wprager wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So much for my 3 point night for Fisher prediction. At least Shannon, Regin and Kovalev showed up to play and made the game interesting.

This game is done. Go make predictions for tonight's game.

No soup for you!

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

wprager wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So much for my 3 point night for Fisher prediction. At least Shannon, Regin and Kovalev showed up to play and made the game interesting.

This game is done. Go make predictions for tonight's game.

No soup for you!

Just watched that episode last night!

So, what, am I the GDT Nazi now? It'll take me a while to grow a suitable mustache -- like five years and a supply of rogain.

wprager wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

wprager wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So much for my 3 point night for Fisher prediction. At least Shannon, Regin and Kovalev showed up to play and made the game interesting.

This game is done. Go make predictions for tonight's game.

No soup for you!

Just watched that episode last night!

So, what, am I the GDT Nazi now? It'll take me a while to grow a suitable mustache -- like five years and a supply of rogain.

If the shoe fits.

SpezDispenser wrote:I think most of us realize the unfairness of this situation, but I also think that at some point someone has to look at the roster and say, no, 3.75 is too much for a 2nd pairing D-man. I'd rather put that money into a 6 million dollar first pairing D-man and live with it. The knock on us and the organization as clearer pictures of the salary cap came around was that we had too much money tied up in four forwards. What we needed to do was move Heatley's 7.5 for Michalek's 4.3 and combine that money saved there with Kuba's money and get one heck of a nice number one D-man. But instead - for the moment - we have Cheechoo and Kovalev sucking up 8 million dollars, 11.75 when you add in Kuba. Maybe Spezza's a part of that as well, so that's almost 19 million dollars in wasted money and more importantly (to me) cap space.

I literally yearn for the day we have a bonafide stud defender to step in and calm down the tempo of games that are going wild, to provide offense and transition, to make smart plays in our own end, to command respect on the PP, to make our young players (D-men specifically) better. Like...Dany Boyle...

Yeah, I agree with you...I'm just trying to find some peace of mind.

That Boyle contract is lonnnnnnnng though. He would be great to have, home town boy and all, but there aren't a lot of players worth 6.7 when they're 40...or 35 even.

Gohan wrote:Yeah, I agree with you...I'm just trying to find some peace of mind.

That Boyle contract is lonnnnnnnng though. He would be great to have, home town boy and all, but there aren't a lot of players worth 6.7 when they're 40...or 35 even.

Yeah, that was the only real drawback, but still...up until he's around 38, he's gonna be real effective. Not a day goes by where I don't wish we had acquired him, but...I guess we'll get our number one D-man eventually. I just don't wanna wait anymore.

I have a feeling you won't be getting your wish...it will be some time still before we have that #1.

Gohan wrote: I have a feeling you won't be getting your wish...it will be some time still before we have that #1.

Well, gott disagree there. We'll see today what Cowen's made of when they face their first serious opponent. Should be a nice, tight game, with some guys nursing some bruises. Should be the kind of game where Cowen could dominate in his own end.

Next season we'll have Karlsson with nearly a full season under his belt, plus Cowen. While neither of them will be making huge waves, we *will* have two #1s in the making.