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

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.

rooneypoo wrote:
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.

Only three lines that can score? I count all four lines having scoring potential personally, no?

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?

Definitely. He looks out of synch or something.

Michalek used to get 2-3 breakaway opportunities a night. Now they're few and far between. That's him not making the same space and advantages for himself. He's gotten loosen up. The team's playing great -- just play your game and it will come.

Problem is finding a good match for that guy. Spez is not an ideal fit.

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.

Yes, I agree. We should all hail that heir to notch for pointing this out to us. Oh whatever will we do with our awful goaltending this year? I hear Turco's available.

Dash wrote:Alfie with the Iafrate lol

Guess I'll have to add Buffalo to the stones... and guess the hair will grow some more.

By the way, I sent a link to your post in the other thread to TGOR. I signed the e-mail Mr. Montagoose. I wonder if they'll use it.

beerandsens wrote:

hemlock wrote:3 point night for Spezza. Mistakes aside, he's been really friggin' impressive since coming back.

Agreed. That was an unreal performance by Spezza. The second and third periods were much more enjoyable to watch than the egg the Sens laid in the first.

Elliott was HUGE in the first period, and really, throughout the rest of the game. He outdueled Miller tonight, no easy task.

Alfie, what more can you say, his play speaks for itself. And I know it may seem an exaggeration but in quite a few facets of Karlsson's game he looks better than his partner, Kuba.

In the Sens' defense, they did have three *full* days off between games. A little rust -- well, a lot of rust -- was not unexpected. Elliott was da man for sure.

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:
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.

Only three lines that can score? I count all four lines having scoring potential personally, no?

Let me re-phrase that: 3 lines that the opposition might legitimately feel are a constant threat to score, plus a 4th line that is both nasty and capable of scoring.

Spread the wealth! I don't ever remember the Sens rolling out line after line of scoring threats, like right now. Keep those duos +1 coming -- Alfie/Fisher, Spezza/Michalek, and Kovalev/Regin. Whatever. Just spread it out, and let our good young guys play (Regin, Shannon, Winchester, Foligno when he returns).

N4L wrote:

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.

Well, he *did* lose the face off and Elliott had to make a save to preserve the lead. Let's not forget that. In fact, didn't he lose the last *two* face offs?

rooneypoo wrote:Let me re-phrase that: 3 lines that the opposition might legitimately feel are a constant threat to score, plus a 4th line that is both nasty and capable of scoring.

Spread the wealth! I don't ever remember the Sens rolling out line after line of scoring threats, like right now. Keep those duos +1 coming -- Alfie/Fisher, Spezza/Michalek, and Kovalev/Regin. Whatever. Just spread it out, and let our good young guys play (Regin, Shannon, Winchester, Foligno when he returns).

For sure. Duos are the 'new NHL'. How about Spezza/Shannon/Michalek? You have the big, fast, net driving (when he's on) LW, the slick passing, play-making center, and the intense speed of Shannon on the right. That gives Fisher Alfredsson and on their left I would put Foligno when he returns, but Winchester for now. That leaves you with Regin and Kovalev as the third duo with Cheechoo as their RW (remember Kovalev apparently prefers LW).

Line 3B stays the same forever. Kovalev joins the big boys on the PP.

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:Let me re-phrase that: 3 lines that the opposition might legitimately feel are a constant threat to score, plus a 4th line that is both nasty and capable of scoring.

Spread the wealth! I don't ever remember the Sens rolling out line after line of scoring threats, like right now. Keep those duos +1 coming -- Alfie/Fisher, Spezza/Michalek, and Kovalev/Regin. Whatever. Just spread it out, and let our good young guys play (Regin, Shannon, Winchester, Foligno when he returns).

For sure. Duos are the 'new NHL'. How about Spezza/Shannon/Michalek? You have the big, fast, net driving (when he's on) LW, the slick passing, play-making center, and the intense speed of Shannon on the right. That gives Fisher Alfredsson and on their left I would put Foligno when he returns, but Winchester for now. That leaves you with Regin and Kovalev as the third duo with Cheechoo as their RW (remember Kovalev apparently prefers LW).

Line 3B stays the same forever. Kovalev joins the big boys on the PP.

That simple move of putting Cheechoo with Alfie and Fisher created so many new combos/options -- and that's something you don't have to put up with when Foligno comes back.

LET THE KIDS PLAY!

PP was back to horrendous tonight though.

Two words: Cap'n Clutch.

The only way that game winner could have been better is if number 11 had scored it on the 11th win of the streak. Perhaps an encore tonight?

I also gotta say that Karlsson is exciting me as much as Havlat did when he first played for the Sens. Good times ahead for this guy. Game winning assists in the last two games plus some ridiculous plays to keep the play alive in the offensive zone and to bail us out on the D zone as well.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Two words: Cap'n Clutch.

Hmm, I thought I posted a reply to this already but the site has been flaky, so here it comes again:

Don't take this the wrong way, but Alfie had a tap in and an empty netter. Kelly (who did not even get an assist) did more work on the GWG than the Alf (although I am very, very happy that Kelly didn't pick himself up off the back boards and go in front for the tap in). Fisher also made a great cross-ice pass, and Karlsson's decision to slap-pass instead of shooting was fantastic. He faked Miller about 2 feet outside his crease.

Spezza had a very good game. And not just the two goals, although those were first-class shots, both of them. I was equally impressed with the play he got his second penalty on -- no way that's hooking. Lately it feels like he's driving for results. Going for the net, trying to take the puck away on the forecheck, shooting more, obviously. That play in OT against Montreal, trying to get the puck from Frier last night. He's doing good things now.

But, of course, none of that would have mattered if Elliott didn't steal the game in the 1st. It's another "short" week this week -- only 3 games, so it'll be difficult for him to get yet another NHL star, but who knows. Vancouver may be "all that: but they *did* fall behind 0-3 against the Leafs, just recently, and they lost to Montreal. Did you see the winning goal? Did you hear Cap'n Lou's comments after the game? Not exactly playing for each other the way the Sens are going.

It was still a Clutch goal which was really all I was trying to say. For sure Spezza's game was great and Karlsson's was off the charts good IMO. It wasn't a simple tap of the puck though. He had to receive it, which I agree Kelly would have found a way to screw up, control it and smack it in. Of course that's a lot easier with no goalie in the way. It's also being in the right place at the right time too though. I can see how you'd misunderstand my post though.