GAME DAY: L.A. Kings @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm ET - MON. Nov. 22, 2010

Jon Quick expected to start as per SNet.ca.

I'm gonna say the Sens pull it together and Karlsson's "Flu" is just a little too much for him to play tonight and Hale will draw back in. I think it's the perfect opportunity to give Karlsson a seat in the press box. He's been taking a lot of penalties lately so a game or two off could do him some good. Get healthy, blame the bad play on flu symptoms if that helps and then come back better for the experience.

Karlsson out tonight, Hale in (confirmed)

Leclaire starts tonight!

http://twitter.com/nhl_sens

Is Kelly actually on the top line, or is that just the practice lines?

CC with the media this morning:

http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/101122_Clouston.mp3

Definitely Kelly on the top line with Spezz and Alfie

Glad to see it. Kelly is good on the first line in short stints of 5 to 10 games and Fisher is not effective as a second line player right now. I also think it makes sense to have a true grinding 4th line and they've done that with Ruutu, Neil and Winchester.

I have my fingers crossed that Leclaire can come up big for us because we need to string together some wins to get off this slide big time.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Glad to see it. Kelly is good on the first line in short stints of 5 to 10 games and Fisher is not effective as a second line player right now. I also think it makes sense to have a true grinding 4th line and they've done that with Ruutu, Neil and Winchester.

I have my fingers crossed that Leclaire can come up big for us because we need to string together some wins to get off this slide big time.

No need to panic, it's still early.

Tonights lineup

Forwards
Kelly-Spezza-Alfredsson
Michalek-Regin-Kovalev
Foligno-Fisher-Shannon
Ruutu-Winchester-Neil

Defence
Phillips-Gonchar
Kuba-Hale
Carkner-Campoli

Michallica wrote:CC with the media this morning:

http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/101122_Clouston.mp3

Definitely Kelly on the top line with Spezz and Alfie

Strange move, I don't mind it, but it's strange. It's not really like Kelly has a penchant to score.

They can't mess with the RiNK line!!!

The key to this game:

Score the first three goals for a change.

Stopping the first shot of the game for Leclaire would be HUGE!

Michallica wrote:Stopping the first shot of the game for Leclaire would be HUGE!

Not allowing a two on one in the first 30 seconds to their top two scorers might help as well.

any predictions tonight? Conventionally, the senators suck noodles coming back home from a 'lengthy' road trip. Plus, these are the fast and flashy Los Angeles Kings who reign atop the Western Conference (if not for detroit) who have OWNED the sens lately (undefeated since 2005), be it in Ottawa or LA. Treading PWNAGE territory there. and Jonathan Quick has a 1.82 GAA.

Now that I expect them to be utterly demolished, I can watch this game without feeling like

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

Michallica wrote:Stopping the first shot of the game for Leclaire would be HUGE!

Not allowing a two on one in the first 30 seconds to their top two scorers might help as well.

Agreed. BUT when I say make a save, I also mean not have the shot go off the post (see Carolina game)

Michallica wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

Michallica wrote:Stopping the first shot of the game for Leclaire would be HUGE!

Not allowing a two on one in the first 30 seconds to their top two scorers might help as well.

Agreed. BUT when I say make a save, I also mean not have the shot go off the post (see Carolina game)

To paraphrase the great Tom Barrasso - You want him to stop the ones that are going wide?

For those that like historical stats. Here's a positive one for the Sens.

Leclaire is 2-0-1 with a 0.97 GAA in three starts against Los Angeles - Sportsnet.ca

SpezDispenser wrote:The key to this game:

Score the first three goals for a change.

and not squander said lead.....