GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Buffalo Sabres - 7:00pm ET - Wed. Feb. 3. 2010

Surprised to see the number of sens fans in Buffalo. Hope that's a new trend developing!
Is Michalek gripping his stick too tight?

wam bam! 10th in a row... when is it gonna end?
spezza, nice to see you givin it like you mean it.
remember the last time we started a season shaky and end it with a blast? finals...'

(ok, not expecting it but just a thought....)

Michallica wrote:Surprised to see the number of sens fans in Buffalo. Hope that's a new trend developing!
Is Michalek gripping his stick too tight?

I think he has like the worst puck-luck in the NHL.

asq2 wrote:

Michallica wrote:Surprised to see the number of sens fans in Buffalo. Hope that's a new trend developing!
Is Michalek gripping his stick too tight?

I think he has like the worst puck-luck in the NHL.

Ah...otherwise known as riding the Cheechoo express.

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Elliott is the best goaltender in The NHL right now. If only there were someone who never lost faith in that guy...

I'll give you credit on this one. You called this from the get-go. I couldn't wrap my head around it though, there was something special last year, then I thought teams had the book on him because he digressed so much. He had a chance when Leclaire went down and didn't do so hot. But now? I have nothing more to say than, congratulations Elliott, you are doing some incredible work right now!

There was something special in his first camp, his first game, and his first NHL season. The guy has all the tools, always has, it's been obvious but people look at the now and not at what can or will be. Same thing with Karlsson with a lot of people. They are both rookies still trying to find their games and find their way in the pro's.

Elliott, again, has every tool to be a true number 1 and a star in the league.

The problem with Elliott is that he doesn't give the Sens a chance to win games.

The goaltending situation in Ottawa is the worst it's been in years.

Karlsson to Alfie for the Gwinner. Yeah, that avatar sticks a little longer baby

Elliott, much like Clouston, has about one full year of NHL experience now. It seems to have made the world of difference.

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Elliott is the best goaltender in The NHL right now. If only there were someone who never lost faith in that guy...

I'll give you credit on this one. You called this from the get-go. I couldn't wrap my head around it though, there was something special last year, then I thought teams had the book on him because he digressed so much. He had a chance when Leclaire went down and didn't do so hot. But now? I have nothing more to say than, congratulations Elliott, you are doing some incredible work right now!

There was something special in his first camp, his first game, and his first NHL season. The guy has all the tools, always has, it's been obvious but people look at the now and not at what can or will be. Same thing with Karlsson with a lot of people. They are both rookies still trying to find their games and find their way in the pro's.

Elliott, again, has every tool to be a true number 1 and a star in the league.

The problem with Elliott is that he doesn't give the Sens a chance to win games.

The goaltending situation in Ottawa is the worst it's been in years.

ahhahahahaha

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Elliott is the best goaltender in The NHL right now. If only there were someone who never lost faith in that guy...

I'll give you credit on this one. You called this from the get-go. I couldn't wrap my head around it though, there was something special last year, then I thought teams had the book on him because he digressed so much. He had a chance when Leclaire went down and didn't do so hot. But now? I have nothing more to say than, congratulations Elliott, you are doing some incredible work right now!

There was something special in his first camp, his first game, and his first NHL season. The guy has all the tools, always has, it's been obvious but people look at the now and not at what can or will be. Same thing with Karlsson with a lot of people. They are both rookies still trying to find their games and find their way in the pro's.

Elliott, again, has every tool to be a true number 1 and a star in the league.

The problem with Elliott is that he doesn't give the Sens a chance to win games.

The goaltending situation in Ottawa is the worst it's been in years.

The numbers PROVE it. haha. Once again, a big knock against people who use stats to try an dprove points that are stupid to begin with.

Like tonight, Spezza might have had 2 goals and an assist, but no where will it show that play he made with 30 seconds left to earn that assist. That was my fav part of his game.

marakh wrote:Karlsson to Alfie for the Gwinner. Yeah, that avatar sticks a little longer baby

Two game-winning primary assists in a row. Future Cap'n Clutch.

Actually, I thought this was one of his weaker games (as it was for almost every Sen except Spezza and Elliott) until the last 5 minutes or so.

asq2 wrote:
Two game-winning primary assists in a row. Future Cap'n Clutch.

Actually, I thought this was one of his weaker games (as it was for almost every Sen except Spezza and Elliott) until the last 5 minutes or so.

And he was still pretty good for the most part. That says a lot about young Mr. Karlsson.

That ridiculous given and go on the blue line with Kuba, then through Spezza's legs was amazing. Thing of beauty.

Hats off to Elliott. !!!

TheAvatar wrote:Hats off to Elliott. !!!

Michallica wrote:I think credit needs to be given to Clouston. He shuffled them lines and might have just outcoached Lindy Ruff tonight.

True that. Loved the lines by the end of the night. 3 lines that can score = WIN. Let Regin play centre, and give him support on the wings. He and Kovalev work together v. well.

N4L wrote:I cant believe how good Karlsson is... that kid is 19. He's going to be an absolute stud. We will have a top 5 D man in the game some day. He will also be the captain at some point in his career.

Spezza, well, gonna call a spade a spade here but he was unreal tonight. What an enermous play he made with 30 secs left to take the puck in the slot there and pass it up to Alfi. That's what I look for personally, not the goals or points (his goals were redic tonight) but plays like that where you can count on a guy when you need him most. Spezza was amazing tonight (except the first like the rest of the team).

Alfi, automatic.

Elliott, the reason The Sens didnt lose. Really happy with how the bounced back after that dismal 1st.

Exactly. If Spezza closes out the season playing like this, and I DON'T mean scoring every night, I'm happy. What amazed me most was that decision on the first goal. 3 months ago, that was a drop pass or a soft play on the boards. Tonight, it was to the net and shoot. More of the same, Spez!

SpezDispenser wrote:I can't believe how much we didn't deserve to win that game.

Dear Brian Elliott:



That's all I have to say for you.

Usually a bad sign... you know what they say: at the end of losing streaks, you lose games you should win, and at the end of winning streaks, you win games you should lose.

Let's hope they get their heads into the game from puck drop tomorrow night against a very tough, steady VAN team.

hemlock wrote:

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
There was something special in his first camp, his first game, and his first NHL season. The guy has all the tools, always has, it's been obvious but people look at the now and not at what can or will be. Same thing with Karlsson with a lot of people. They are both rookies still trying to find their games and find their way in the pro's.

Elliott, again, has every tool to be a true number 1 and a star in the league.

If there's one thing you probably know more than anyone, it's goaltending. If you say he can keep this up, then I'm inclined to listen.

He's not going to keep this up, no one can. Can he be as consistant as a Kipper or a Miller or a Luongo, I think he can.

Will he get the chance to keep going though? I wonder if/when Leclaire is going to be given another shot to get in there and prove he's the #1.

I hear you but... you don't sit the guy with 8 straight wins and the 1.13 GAA / .960 SV% numbers (or whatever they are). Elliott plays until he missteps or asks for a break.

rooneypoo wrote:
Usually a bad sign... you know what they say: at the end of losing streaks, you lose games you should win, and at the end of winning streaks, you win games you should lose.

Let's hope they get their heads into the game from puck drop tomorrow night against a very tough, steady VAN team.

Oh, I know. I didn't want to say anything, but I had to get up and let off some steam in the third when the Sabres tied it up. I went for a walk to cool off a bit - and not because the Sabres had scored - although that wasn't the greatest feeling - but because I could see the Sens starting to crash back to earth. They had had a pretty crappy first, a better 2nd and so far in the third it was anyone's game - and they were starting to run around in their own zone.

I hate that feeling, it's usually a bad sign of things to come. To my utter shock, the Sens pulled this one out, but against the high powered Canucks, they would be down 6 by the time the third rolled around. We need to get back to basics a little more, more of the three or four foot passes, snapping the puck out of our zone and through the neutral. We also need to be more cohesive in the defensive zone or else we'll be constantly relying on Elliott to shut the door.

I'm very pleased we pulled that one out, but the warning signs are there. We need to tighten a couple of things up or we'll be trying to stop a losing streak and start another winning streak.