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

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.

rooneypoo wrote:

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!

I recall a recent pre-game show where Goodie Wilson was literally livid that Cheechoo was put on a line with Fisher because he dragged poor Mikey down.

wprager wrote:

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.

cool, thanks, and I'm sure GMHockey will benefit from any plug.

Anybody listen to the e-mail segment on TGOR this AM? Did they mention anything about the Ten Commandments?

wprager wrote:Anybody listen to the e-mail segment on TGOR this AM? Did they mention anything about the Ten Commandments?

I believe they just did. I was shaving and couldn't get into the room in time, but I heard something about scriptures and when he gets blood taken he declines the needle and asks for a hand gun and a bucket. Was that you?

Great game !

That's why you need great goaltending ! For games where you play like that. Having a good goalie keep you in the game until the intermission where the coach can rip into the team.

Spezza had a great game, glad he's stepping up. He clearly has the ability to dominate games.

Alfie ..well what can you say. So nice of the Slugs to let him wander in all alone. Great play by Karlsson to find him. The kid is doing good, seems BM knew what he was doing when he drafted him.

It'll be tricky to get #11 tonight, we're playing back to back.

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:Anybody listen to the e-mail segment on TGOR this AM? Did they mention anything about the Ten Commandments?

I believe they just did. I was shaving and couldn't get into the room in time, but I heard something about scriptures and when he gets blood taken he declines the needle and asks for a hand gun and a bucket. Was that you?

Well the last time GMHockey.com was mentioned on Team1200 we had a massive spike in page loads, first time visitors and guests on line. According to our Stat counter it looks like the email was not read.

wprager wrote:Anybody listen to the e-mail segment on TGOR this AM? Did they mention anything about the Ten Commandments?

you can always download it.

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:Anybody listen to the e-mail segment on TGOR this AM? Did they mention anything about the Ten Commandments?

I believe they just did. I was shaving and couldn't get into the room in time, but I heard something about scriptures and when he gets blood taken he declines the needle and asks for a hand gun and a bucket. Was that you?

No, I just sent them the link to Dash's post in the other thread and signed "Mr. Montagoose". I didn't add any text other than the subject, something like "Ten Commandments, Alfie style".

But now that I have a "handle" to use to sign off, maybe I'll e-mail them a bit more frequently. Somehow "wprager' doesn't really resonate as well as "Marko with a 'k'" or "The Matrix" or even "Man-stretch Luigi".

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:Anybody listen to the e-mail segment on TGOR this AM? Did they mention anything about the Ten Commandments?

I believe they just did. I was shaving and couldn't get into the room in time, but I heard something about scriptures and when he gets blood taken he declines the needle and asks for a hand gun and a bucket. Was that you?

No, I just sent them the link to Dash's post in the other thread and signed "Mr. Montagoose". I didn't add any text other than the subject, something like "Ten Commandments, Alfie style".

But now that I have a "handle" to use to sign off, maybe I'll e-mail them a bit more frequently. Somehow "wprager' doesn't really resonate as well as "Marko with a 'k'" or "The Matrix" or even "Man-stretch Luigi".

Except they'll probably call you Mr. Mongoose.

Disturbing:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:Anybody listen to the e-mail segment on TGOR this AM? Did they mention anything about the Ten Commandments?

I believe they just did. I was shaving and couldn't get into the room in time, but I heard something about scriptures and when he gets blood taken he declines the needle and asks for a hand gun and a bucket. Was that you?

No, I just sent them the link to Dash's post in the other thread and signed "Mr. Montagoose". I didn't add any text other than the subject, something like "Ten Commandments, Alfie style".

But now that I have a "handle" to use to sign off, maybe I'll e-mail them a bit more frequently. Somehow "wprager' doesn't really resonate as well as "Marko with a 'k'" or "The Matrix" or even "Man-stretch Luigi".

Except they'll probably call you Mr. Mongoose.

They better not.

By the way, is nobody else glad Spezza erased Heatley's name from one of the team records? I remember "celebrating" when Alfie broke a few of Yashin's old records and, yes, when Heatley broke Yashin's season scoring records (goals and points). Heatley owns at least two more Sens records -- points and goals -- and it may be a while before his name is completely removed. But at least consecutive goal-scoring games now belongs to Spezza.

I'm glad, I don't want Heatley's name in our record books at all. Sadly, I can't see anyone scoring 50 for us for a while.

BTW Heatley isn't exactly lighting it up like the sniper he was sold to SJ as.

He's currently on pace for ~ 89 points this season and ~44 goals. Sure it's nice but, with his line mates and the stacked team he's on he should be closer to 100 points and 50+ goals.

The 07/08 season was the beginning of the self destruction of the Sens where Heatley managed 41 goals and 41 assists in 71 games for a projected total of
~95 points and 47 goals.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:BTW Heatley isn't exactly lighting it up like the sniper he was sold to SJ as.

He's currently on pace for ~ 89 points this season and ~44 goals. Sure it's nice but, with his line mates and the stacked team he's on he should be closer to 100 points and 50+ goals.

The 07/08 season was the beginning of the self destruction of the Sens where Heatley managed 41 goals and 41 assists in 71 games for a projected total of
~95 points and 47 goals.

+1. I was gonna say that exact thing, but forgot in the other post and didn't want to bring this Donkey Chapeau's name up again. He's having a nice year, but being on the top line with Thornton and Marleau (who's having an AWESOME year) and having Danny Boyle and Rob Blake and Vlasic on the back end to transition the puck and that's all you can do? Is that worth 7.5 million? Not to me it isn't, but I hate the SOB, so I might not count.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:BTW Heatley isn't exactly lighting it up like the sniper he was sold to SJ as.

He's currently on pace for ~ 89 points this season and ~44 goals. Sure it's nice but, with his line mates and the stacked team he's on he should be closer to 100 points and 50+ goals.

The 07/08 season was the beginning of the self destruction of the Sens where Heatley managed 41 goals and 41 assists in 71 games for a projected total of
~95 points and 47 goals.

+1. I was gonna say that exact thing, but forgot in the other post and didn't want to bring this Donkey Chapeau's name up again. He's having a nice year, but being on the top line with Thornton and Marleau (who's having an AWESOME year) and having Danny Boyle and Rob Blake and Vlasic on the back end to transition the puck and that's all you can do? Is that worth 7.5 million? Not to me it isn't, but I hate the SOB, so I might not count.

I was hoping to bring it up when his projected numbers had dropped below 40 goals and 82 points but my point still stands.