GAME DAY: Carolina Hurricanes @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm EST - Oct. 14, 2010

The Sens are coming off a hard fought battle with the Caps that saw their hard work come to a disappointing end when Leclaire let in a stinker of a goal 5 hole. If he can clear up mental mistakes like that he could be stellar for us. It's also time for the top guys to start producing. It's at least a good sign that Gonchar stepped up vs. the Caps and logged an impressive 29 plus minutes of ice time and looked solid in all areas of the ice.

This will be another tough battle for the Sens and they better not take the Canes lightly because they are off to a nice start and Ward is looking quite good in net. It's going to take another strong effort (perhaps no softies Leclaire?) to get the elusive first win of the season. No need to panic just yet but, things need to turn around quickly in order to salvage October and attempt a plus 500 record for the month.


Game Coverage:
- TV: TSN (HD)
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: to be added

Team Lineups :
DailyFaceoff.com links not updated -- note says it's at the top of their priorities list.

TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/icechips/

Ottawa Senators:
Daniel Alfredsson didn't skate Wednesday morning, but says he will play Thursday. - TSN
Pascale Leclaire to start in goal as announced by Clouston.

Injuries:
Kuba (broken leg - 3-4 weeks)

Carolina Hurricanes:

Goaltender Justin Peters is scheduled to play a game during the Canes road trip reports the News Observer.

Injuries:
Sergei Samsonov (neck sprain) - game time decision according to NHL.com.

Game Day Preview:

Source: ESPN Preview
NHL.com Preveiw

Stats Comparison:


Media Links:
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

Follow GMHockey on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gmhockey

GO SENS GO!!!

We need Kuba to return in the worst way possible.

Based on past injury history we can at least double the projected return date so we're going to have to find a way to win without him. I totally agree with you there though PFK.

PKC wrote:We need Kuba to return in the worst way possible.

It's funny because this is the same Kuba that many people were suggesting we should offload in many trade scenarios, especially after the Gonchar signing. Yes, he will be a keystone in this defense corps while it matures.

I still would have been fine with a trade of Kuba depending on the return.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I still would have been fine with a trade of Kuba depending on the return.

I should have qualified my statement to say "Many questionable trade scenarios". I wouldn't go so far as to say Kuba is anywhere near untradeable, but many thought he was expendable or redundant on our team and priced too highly. That is where I personally disagree.

beerandsens wrote:

PKC wrote:We need Kuba to return in the worst way possible.

It's funny because this is the same Kuba that many people were suggesting we should offload in many trade scenarios, especially after the Gonchar signing. Yes, he will be a keystone in this defense corps while it matures.

Probably the same people who want to trade Spezza. And Fisher.

PKC wrote:

beerandsens wrote:

PKC wrote:We need Kuba to return in the worst way possible.

It's funny because this is the same Kuba that many people were suggesting we should offload in many trade scenarios, especially after the Gonchar signing. Yes, he will be a keystone in this defense corps while it matures.

Probably the same people who want to trade Spezza. And Fisher.

Cuss no. I've been perhaps the most vocal person in terms of defending Kuba and his place on this team. We need him, or someone like him, to stabilize that 2nd pairing.

Blame the fantasy hockey nuts who only look at numbers and invent hilarious & improbable trade proposals, not the guys who look at everything else.

rooneypoo wrote:

PKC wrote:

beerandsens wrote:

PKC wrote:We need Kuba to return in the worst way possible.

It's funny because this is the same Kuba that many people were suggesting we should offload in many trade scenarios, especially after the Gonchar signing. Yes, he will be a keystone in this defense corps while it matures.

Probably the same people who want to trade Spezza. And Fisher.

Cuss no. I've been perhaps the most vocal person in terms of defending Kuba and his place on this team. We need him, or someone like him, to stabilize that 2nd pairing.

Blame the fantasy hockey nuts who only look at numbers and invent hilarious & improbable trade proposals, not the guys who look at everything else.

Absolutely. We need him to take pressure off the first pairing. As soon as I heard we signed Gonchar I said the person that stood to benefit the most was Kuba. He was so miscast as a number 1 defenseman. On the second pairing though, he's going to make this team a real force.

I predict Leclaire gets the start.

Is it too early for the "must win" term to be used...?

I dont' think so. Its about time they start winning now, week-long gaps between victories is no way for a playoff team to play, so yeah must-win!

and I get the feeling they're going to ride leclaire till he gets at least 1-2 victories under his belt. However if he doesn't win on thursday, I'm inclined to believe that the sens will want to shake things up and start Elliott on saturday

shabbs wrote:I predict Leclaire gets the start.

Is it too early for the "must win" term to be used...?

Yes it's too early. :D Seriously though Leclaire has looked good for the most part and unless he implodes I think Elliott will ride the pine until perhaps the Florida game. I'm more worried about Alfie's condition personally. As for Kuba I don't expect to see him until Christmas. That guy takes forever to recover from anything.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:I predict Leclaire gets the start.

Is it too early for the "must win" term to be used...?

Yes it's too early. :D Seriously though Leclaire has looked good for the most part and unless he implodes I think Elliott will ride the pine until perhaps the Florida game. I'm more worried about Alfie's condition personally. As for Kuba I don't expect to see him until Christmas. That guy takes forever to recover from anything.

Give the guy a break, he broke his Cussing leg. It's not like he chipped a nail.

PKC wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:I predict Leclaire gets the start.

Is it too early for the "must win" term to be used...?

Yes it's too early. :D Seriously though Leclaire has looked good for the most part and unless he implodes I think Elliott will ride the pine until perhaps the Florida game. I'm more worried about Alfie's condition personally. As for Kuba I don't expect to see him until Christmas. That guy takes forever to recover from anything.

Give the guy a break, he broke his Cussing leg. It's not like he chipped a nail.

True. It just seems that you can at least double the projected recovery time for any injury Kuba sustains.

He'll be back by Nov.1st, no questions asked unless there's a setback. There's a timeline for this kind of injury, it's happened 1000s of times.

We need him, he can't get back quick enough.