GAME DAY:Ottawa Senators @ Carolina Hurricanes - 7:00PM EST. THU. Mar 4, 2010

I would be thrilled if we were to acquire Schneider.

Not to brag or anything...well yeah it is to brag. I was the one person who voted Carolina win by 2.

I certainly didn't expect a Leclaire collapse but that's no excuse. The Sens can't win by only scoring 1 goal on too many nights.

leclaire has been a dissapointmnet but i think he can still right his ship. maybe not this year but the next..? we need to get a very good goaltending coach. is there any names flying out there yet?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Not to brag or anything...well yeah it is to brag. I was the one person who voted Carolina win by 2.

I certainly didn't expect a Leclaire collapse but that's no excuse. The Sens can't win by only scoring 1 goal on too many nights.

Defensive stalwarts Hands of Stone Kelly and Mighty Mike Fisher didn't look great on either of the Leclaire goals.

Specially on the second, and Leclaire isn't blameless, but he reacted late thinking that Kelly would make the easy clear.

I wonder if Florida would have considered swapping Vokoun for Leclaire at the deadline?

Big Ev wrote:I would be thrilled if we were to acquire Schneider.

So he could be the backup here, ya, smart move.

N4L wrote:

Big Ev wrote:I would be thrilled if we were to acquire Schneider.

So he could be the backup here, ya, smart move.

Interesting. I bring up moving Fisher to the 4th line *twice* and it doesn't even generate a ripple. What's the matter guys (and gals), something else on your minds?

As for Leclaire, yeah, Clouston pulled him way too quickly. Frankly, I don't think he wanted to start him but probably was pressured by Murray to do so. He's on record saying that he hasn't liked the way Leclaire has been practicing since coming off his concussion. Shades of Emery, except we're finding out about it right away. Paddock tried to cover up for Emery ("He had the flu so we sent him home"); Clouston is (seemingly) butting heads with Leclaire over a similar issue. Neither one, IMO, handled the situation in the best way. Clouston should have handled it behind closed doors, not in front of a microphone.

Frankly, I don't really care as long as Elliott is not injured. He's young, he can play a ton of games, and I have no delusions about going far in the playoffs. Winning the first round and not getting blown out of the second is what I'm hoping for -- no more than that.

At some point Leclaire will get his head in the right place -- next year is his contract year, right? If need be, they can get him to help out in Bingo. An extra round in the playoffs will pay for Brodeur backing up Elliott next year. *That* is what Clouston should have said to him, in private. The difference between him playing here and in Bingo is *not* $3.7M but whatever Brodeur's contract is -- what, around $800K, maybe less? That's not a bluff.

I wonder if Edmonton would have done a deal like Leclaire + 3rd/4th/5th or whatever for Moreau or Pisani? That way the rid themselves of an older contract and get a pick.

wprager wrote:Interesting. I bring up moving Fisher to the 4th line *twice* and it doesn't even generate a ripple. What's the matter guys (and gals), something else on your minds?

I agree, Fisher should center line 4 until he starts to play the way he can play. He goes through these horrific slumps and he's not coming out of it any time soon (I don't think), better to have him checking than relying on his 2nd line minutes IMO.

TBH, I don't think Clouston is the kind of guy to dislike certain players to the point he'll start Leclaire just for "pressure" from a GM. I don't think he cares personally, what Murray says, and I don't think Murray is that type of guy either.
If you wanna know what I think, Clouston in my mind knows Leclaire is a better goaltender and he'll give the team the best chance in the playoffs provided he's healthy and back to form. So he's just trying to get him back to playing well.

marakh wrote:TBH, I don't think Clouston is the kind of guy to dislike certain players to the point he'll start Leclaire just for "pressure" from a GM. I don't think he cares personally, what Murray says, and I don't think Murray is that type of guy either.
If you wanna know what I think, Clouston in my mind knows Leclaire is a better goaltender and he'll give the team the best chance in the playoffs provided he's healthy and back to form. So he's just trying to get him back to playing well.

Well in that case there were other options. Leclaire played well in relief on Tuesday, so we know he can still "bring it". What if Clouston takes a time out after the second goal instead of yanking him right away? Tell the team that they can't continue to leave the goalie hanging out to dry like that two games in a row. Then add a quick comment to Leclaire to play the way he did two nights ago.

He's not building his confidence.

wprager wrote:

marakh wrote:TBH, I don't think Clouston is the kind of guy to dislike certain players to the point he'll start Leclaire just for "pressure" from a GM. I don't think he cares personally, what Murray says, and I don't think Murray is that type of guy either.
If you wanna know what I think, Clouston in my mind knows Leclaire is a better goaltender and he'll give the team the best chance in the playoffs provided he's healthy and back to form. So he's just trying to get him back to playing well.

Well in that case there were other options. Leclaire played well in relief on Tuesday, so we know he can still "bring it". What if Clouston takes a time out after the second goal instead of yanking him right away? Tell the team that they can't continue to leave the goalie hanging out to dry like that two games in a row. Then add a quick comment to Leclaire to play the way he did two nights ago.

He's not building his confidence.

Let's not forget he's a rookie coach. May be next time he'll take a time out^^.

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:Interesting. I bring up moving Fisher to the 4th line *twice* and it doesn't even generate a ripple. What's the matter guys (and gals), something else on your minds?

I agree, Fisher should center line 4 until he starts to play the way he can play. He goes through these horrific slumps and he's not coming out of it any time soon (I don't think), better to have him checking than relying on his 2nd line minutes IMO.

I think Fisher will start producing again when Foligno comes back. Not so much because Foligno is that much of a catalyst, it's just that when they played together, they followed a solid system: the cycle. It's something we've been missing lately. With Foligno and Fisher, you have two powerful guys who can cycle the puck, and it's hard getting it away from them. This would really tire out the opposition, and when it would be Kovalev's turn, he would come out with it and usually make a nifty pass to someone, occasionally a Dman coming down the backside.

In the past 4 games, the cycle is something I haven't really seen in this team. Regin's line has done it occasionally. But it's something that has created options and offence for us on our long run. After all, it spurned our only goal yesterday.

Did anyone catch the look on Clouston's face when he was pulling Leclaire? He looked disgusted and he spit as if he had a bad taste in his mouth.

That's the first time I've seen him look quite that pissed.

It probably stems back from practice where Leclaire isnt work hard enough. If you practice hard, work hard, so on, you get a lot more rope then someone who doesnt. Just like when the gave Emery the hook for his habits on the ice Leclaire got similar treatment.

Hook his a$$ if you dont think he deserves it and he stops 2 of 5. Leclaire probably wasnt ready from any aspect there and it goes beyond bad defense (and it was bad) and confidence.

Elliott is the guy here and it's about time they just say it because it will drag on like it always does in Ottawa.

N4L wrote:It probably stems back from practice where Leclaire isnt work hard enough. If you practice hard, work hard, so on, you get a lot more rope then someone who doesnt. Just like when the gave Emery the hook for his habits on the ice Leclaire got similar treatment.

Hook his a$$ if you dont think he deserves it and he stops 2 of 5. Leclaire probably wasnt ready from any aspect there and it goes beyond bad defense (and it was bad) and confidence.

Elliott is the guy here and it's about time they just say it because it will drag on like it always does in Ottawa.

That's quite true, I recall Clouston saying that. The next time Elliott comes out of the net will be for a one game rest, then for Robin Lehner in 3 years.

One thing I gotta say is Elliott is handling this situation brilliantly like he has in previous seasons here. He has taken his opportunities when given and he just keeps on rolling even when they bring in guys that are expected to carry the mail.

No sulking, no whining nothing. He just sits back and waits for his chance and takes advantage every time. How long before the Sens just hand him the job and not bother with bringing in replacement number 1 goalies?

I wouldnt even bet against Lehner getting the back up role in Ottawa next year if they decide not to go with Leclaire or Brodure, unlikely but wierder things have happened. Probably not good for his development if he isnt in the net 30 games or more.