GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Pittsburgh Penguins - 7:00pm ET - Thu. Jan. 28. 2010

PKC wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Absolutely incredible Dung happening here right now. I don't see these guys losing, I mean, they'll lose, but they'll bounce back because for the first time since Murray - and some could argue, not even then, this team is playing a beautifully tight system. Aggressive forechecks, men back to support, feet moving, neutral zone plugged. Incredible, the guys are working to win board battles, and when they lose, another player come in.

Diddle man...this is a treat to watch.

You know what's a treat to watch? Karlsson. That kid is incredible. He's gonna be putting up Mike Green numbers in a couple of years for us, count on it.

I'm seriously developing a very over the top man-crush on this kid. Every time he gets the puck I feel like he can skate through their entire team and rip one into the back of the net, even though he only has 1 goal this year.

His defensive game is more than incredible also for his size. He might the 2nd best defenseman after Doughty in that draft after all is said and done. Might have the best poke-checking on this team already.

On another note, Kovalev has to be a star tonight, he was flying out there. When he has the puck all Fisher and FOligno have to do is get open and it's lethal. What's nice is when he loses the puck, FOligno and Fisher are tough and determined enough to get it back from the opposite defensemen.

The team is just complete from top to bottom, so not surprising we don't let goals in.

PKC wrote:
You know what's a treat to watch? Karlsson. That kid is incredible. He's gonna be putting up Mike Green numbers in a couple of years for us, count on it.

I'm seriously developing a very over the top man-crush on this kid. Every time he gets the puck I feel like he can skate through their entire team and rip one into the back of the net, even though he only has 1 goal this year.

Oh yeah, this is a thing of beauty developing right before our eyes. No one knows just how good he can be, but I think we've got a taste now of where this is going (Dany Boyle).

hemlock wrote:
It reminds me of the team that marched through the 2nd half of the season and 3 rounds of playoff hockey in 07. Everyone contributing and working hard for each other. I'll dare say that this group has more chemistry than any Sens team ever.

It's beautiful. These guys are playing for each other 100%. No trades can be made! We live by the Cheechoo and now we'll die with the Cheechoo.

marakh wrote:

PKC wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Absolutely incredible Dung happening here right now. I don't see these guys losing, I mean, they'll lose, but they'll bounce back because for the first time since Murray - and some could argue, not even then, this team is playing a beautifully tight system. Aggressive forechecks, men back to support, feet moving, neutral zone plugged. Incredible, the guys are working to win board battles, and when they lose, another player come in.

Diddle man...this is a treat to watch.

You know what's a treat to watch? Karlsson. That kid is incredible. He's gonna be putting up Mike Green numbers in a couple of years for us, count on it.

I'm seriously developing a very over the top man-crush on this kid. Every time he gets the puck I feel like he can skate through their entire team and rip one into the back of the net, even though he only has 1 goal this year.

His defensive game is more than incredible also for his size. He might the 2nd best defenseman after Doughty in that draft after all is said and done. Might have the best poke-checking on this team already.

On another note, Kovalev has to be a star tonight, he was flying out there. When he has the puck all Fisher and FOligno have to do is get open and it's lethal. What's nice is when he loses the puck, FOligno and Fisher are tough and determined enough to get it back from the opposite defensemen.

The team is just complete from top to bottom, so not surprising we don't let goals in.

I'm trying to caution myself from getting too excited about this team, but how can you not when we are cruising along on an 8-game winning streak beating all sorts of quality opponents?

It's not like we're beating the cellar-dwellers and sub-.500 hockey teams right now, we are beating the best teams the NHL has to offer right now - Chicago, New Jersey and Pittsburgh.

hemlock wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:

hemlock wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:

wprager wrote:Is anyone still driving the tank bus? Or is it just sitting idling in the parking lot? Was it Hemlock who had the keys last?

I really want Gudbranson. Although trading up is fine.

Don't we really need an elite forward though?

Absolutely! We don't really need another right handed shot dman, with Karlsson and Cowen here. That being said, I still really want Gudbranson.

Look at Nashville. They've made drafting quality d-men a priority and they've got so much depth it's embarassing. It's certainly not a bad thing, but I'd still love to add a kid like Seguin, in case he-who-shall-not-be-named gets moved.

I agree with you though. We need a top 6 young forward. We haven't drafted one in years. We already have some solid defensive depth. It's just the more I read about Gudbranson, and the more highlights I see, the more impressed I am with him.

Once I start reading up on other prospects, mainly forwards, I'll start mancrushing on some of them too. But right now, the Gudbranson mancrush is in full effect.

marakh wrote:

PKC wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Absolutely incredible Dung happening here right now. I don't see these guys losing, I mean, they'll lose, but they'll bounce back because for the first time since Murray - and some could argue, not even then, this team is playing a beautifully tight system. Aggressive forechecks, men back to support, feet moving, neutral zone plugged. Incredible, the guys are working to win board battles, and when they lose, another player come in.

Diddle man...this is a treat to watch.

You know what's a treat to watch? Karlsson. That kid is incredible. He's gonna be putting up Mike Green numbers in a couple of years for us, count on it.

I'm seriously developing a very over the top man-crush on this kid. Every time he gets the puck I feel like he can skate through their entire team and rip one into the back of the net, even though he only has 1 goal this year.

His defensive game is more than incredible also for his size. He might the 2nd best defenseman after Doughty in that draft after all is said and done. Might have the best poke-checking on this team already.

On another note, Kovalev has to be a star tonight, he was flying out there. When he has the puck all Fisher and FOligno have to do is get open and it's lethal. What's nice is when he loses the puck, FOligno and Fisher are tough and determined enough to get it back from the opposite defensemen.

The team is just complete from top to bottom, so not surprising we don't let goals in.

I was thinking that after I posted Foligno as a star. I remove Foligno in favor of AK27

We have the right to get excited IMO. How can we be negative when we can barely find any negative points on this team right now. Seriously, even the defense who is average on paper look like all stars.

PKC wrote:I'm trying to caution myself from getting too excited about this team, but how can you not when we are cruising along on an 8-game winning streak beating all sorts of quality opponents?

It's not like we're beating the cellar-dwellers and sub-.500 hockey teams right now, we are beating the best teams the NHL has to offer right now - Chicago, New Jersey and Pittsburgh.

I actually believe that a team can only be as good as its coach - and right now we're seeing a coach who's young, who lives for the game, who works all the time on details, who converses with the players, who holds player accountable. So everything that Hartsburg and Paddock couldn't do, Clouston is doing. If they continue to believe in him and the system they're playing, the sky's the limit. We'll lose sooner rather than later, but again, if they believe like I think they do, they'll just hit the mat and roll the next game.

marakh wrote:We have the right to get excited IMO. How can we be negative when we can barely find any negative points on this team right now. Seriously, even the defense who is average on paper look like all stars.

exactly. and word is,A-Train is going NOWHERE....

Was that Elliott's best game as an NHLer?

SpezDispenser wrote:

PKC wrote:I'm trying to caution myself from getting too excited about this team, but how can you not when we are cruising along on an 8-game winning streak beating all sorts of quality opponents?

It's not like we're beating the cellar-dwellers and sub-.500 hockey teams right now, we are beating the best teams the NHL has to offer right now - Chicago, New Jersey and Pittsburgh.

I actually believe that a team can only be as good as its coach - and right now we're seeing a coach who's young, who lives for the game, who works all the time on details, who converses with the players, who holds player accountable. So everything that Hartsburg and Paddock couldn't do, Clouston is doing. If they continue to believe in him and the system they're playing, the sky's the limit. We'll lose sooner rather than later, but again, if they believe like I think they do, they'll just hit the mat and roll the next game.

If Elliott keeps playing like this, they aren't going to lose. This team is in another dimension right now defensively.

Washington's been great on their 8-game winning streak too, but they've allowed 18 goals against in those 8 games just to give people some perspective on how dominant defensively Ottawa has been during their run.

SpezDispenser wrote:Was that Elliott's best game as an NHLer?

I wish I would have watched it. His stats are slowly creeping into the upper echelon of the elite goaltenders in the NHL.

PKC wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Was that Elliott's best game as an NHLer?

I wish I would have watched it. His stats are slowly creeping into the upper echelon of the elite goaltenders in the NHL.

Tonight was a Picasso for Elliott.

marakh wrote:We have the right to get excited IMO. How can we be negative when we can barely find any negative points on this team right now. Seriously, even the defense who is average on paper look like all stars.

It's all gonna come crashing down isn't it? I hate to be negative, but I don't want to sound like I'm planning the parade either.

But you're right. The D has looked awesome lately. Taking care of business, contributing on the score sheet, moving the puck with purpose, playing the body hard, attacking the guys carrying the puck...just a total dominant effort being put forward by those guys.

SpezDispenser wrote:

PKC wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Was that Elliott's best game as an NHLer?

I wish I would have watched it. His stats are slowly creeping into the upper echelon of the elite goaltenders in the NHL.

Tonight was a Picasso for Elliott.

and he's just getting started...

OMFG! this is soooo exhilarating! I'm trying to stay grounded, but man oh man...

PKC wrote:

marakh wrote:We have the right to get excited IMO. How can we be negative when we can barely find any negative points on this team right now. Seriously, even the defense who is average on paper look like all stars.

It's all gonna come crashing down isn't it? I hate to be negative, but I don't want to sound like I'm planning the parade either.

But you're right. The D has looked awesome lately. Taking care of business, contributing on the score sheet, moving the puck with purpose, playing the body hard, attacking the guys carrying the puck...just a total dominant effort being put forward by those guys.

Slowing down probably, crashing down I doubt it, because the system is working very well and chemistry is not gonna disappear like a fart in winter.
Coaching staff is also tough enough to not let confidence take over even in small bad stretches.

Out of curiosity, what is people's general take on adding a Ray Whitney to this team before the deadline?

What would the cost be? Where does he play? Who goes to make room for him?

wprager wrote:McGuire is -- what was that expression -- verbally fellating Karlsson.

Yes, he is good and will be very, very good, very soon.

That's the kind of thing that makes me appreciate McGuire's work. He's one of the only guy on TSN that really appreciates hockey for what it is and not because Brian Burke is up there. McKenzie is great too, but appart from that nobody's gonna acknowledge that the Sens are becoming elite until we win a cup.
Same thing with Montreal media. I heard last night a guy on RDS. "well, they're just on a streak, like any team in the league has once in a while".
Well, watch the games first, douchebag.
I guess they are frustrated that their Original 6 dear teams are becoming a joke by the day.
I am not the homer kind, but that's the kind of thing that irritates me.