GAME DAY: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators - 7:00pm ET - SAT. Nov. 27, 2010

The Ottawa Senators (10-12-1, 21pts) play host to the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs (8-10-3, 19pts) in this year's third installment of the Battle of Ontario (and the first at Scotia Bank Place). Looking at the last 10 games played, both teams appear to have struggled. The Sens are coming off a fairly impressive outing against the Pittsburgh Penguins, where they outshot and often outplayed their opponent, only to lose 2-1 (hey, if TSN doesn't bring it up in their highligths, neither will I, but we all know what happened). While the offensive output -- in the number of shots taken -- was impressive (they had 21 shots in the 1st period, which matched their game totals in each of the two preceding games), the offensive production continues to be missing.

The Leafs come into town sporting a 7 game road losing streak. The last time they lost 8 in a row away from the ACC was 14 years ago, and it wasn't called the ACC. Like the Sens, the Leafs' road troubles are also rooted in production, as they have scored an unimpressive 8 goals over the 7 game losing streak. To put a cherry on top, the Leafs blew 6 powerplay opportunities agaisnt the Buffalo Sabres, with only Phil Kessel's short-handed effort preventing a fourth shutout over this skid. In all, the Leafs have scored 1 powerplay goal in the last 32 opportunities away from home.

Folks, don't expect a barn-burner tonight.

Game Coverage:

TV: CBC(HD)
Radio: Team 1200
Web: Check: ATDHE.net and JUSTIN.tv

Latest updates:
Gustavsson to start for the Leafs.
Leclaire likely for the Sens (he deserves the start but not the lack of support).

TSN's Ice Chips:

Ottawa
Toronto

Ottawa Senators Key Injuries:

None

Toronto Maple Leafs Key Injuries:

Colby Armstrong (finger surgery, broken foot) on injured reserve and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks
Dion Phaneuf (left leg surgery) on injured reserve and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks
Jean-Sebastien Giguere (groin) expected to miss 1-2 weeks

Game Day Previews:

NHL.com
ESPN

Media Links:

SensTV On-line
Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators

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GO SENS GO!!!

game recap

ottawa scores first goal
ottawa gets penalty
toronto scores on power play
ottawa scores
ottawa gets penalty
toronto scores on power play
ottawa scores
with 5 minutes left in game, ottawa gets penalty
toronto players trip, hold, and cross check senators on power play until they score on power play
overtime, toronto players trip, hold, and cross check senators until they score
toronto fans gloat, sens fans pout, league does nothing

so.... 4-3 OT loss for Senators?

111519 wrote:game recap

ottawa scores first goal
ottawa gets penalty
toronto scores on power play
ottawa scores
ottawa gets penalty
toronto scores on power play
ottawa scores
with 5 minutes left in game, ottawa gets penalty
toronto players trip, hold, and cross check senators on power play until they score on power play
overtime, toronto players trip, hold, and cross check senators until they score
toronto fans gloat, sens fans pout, league does nothing

scary, but you might be right.

Guys, guys, I just figured something out! We've all been thinking that the Leafs fans are booing Alfie, but they are really just saying BoO, as in Battle of Ontario.

Ah, I feel so stupid now, thinking that all this time they were being obnoxious.

Dash wrote:so.... 4-3 OT loss for Senators?

Sorry, that's not one of the poll options.

wprager wrote:Guys, guys, I just figured something out! We've all been thinking that the Leafs fans are booing Alfie, but they are really just saying BoO, as in Battle of Ontario.

Ah, I feel so stupid now, thinking that all this time they were being obnoxious.

Maybe it is directed towards Bruce "BooBoo" Garrioch?

If we had Brent Burns, maybe we could have passed it off as Boo-urns?

14,873 on hand to watch the Bingo Sens versus the Hamilton Bulldogs, last night at the SBP. Biggest AHL crowd of the season. Too bad the B-Sens got shut out.

Forgot to mention in the first post (although it was obvious from the standings listed) that the Sens are just 2 points ahead of the Leafs, and Toronto holds 2 games in hand. Sabres are tied with the Sens at 21 points heading into their game against the Habs, but have played one more game.

In other words, this is a very important game, standings-wise.

Ottawa is just 4 points back of a playoff spot. Atlanta, having just shut out Montreal, holds down the 8th spot with 25 points. Carolina is a single point ahead of the Sens (but with a game in hand) in 9th.

You could have 5 teams within 5 points of the final playoff spot if the two teams chasing Atlanta who have a game in hand win it.

Cheechoo had 4 points in his last 18 games with the Sens; Folilgno has 5 in 23.

Cheechoo cost 3M and wasn't 23 years old. Pretty much an irrelevant comparison.

Also, not that I can defend his start to the year, but Foligno's had moments/games where he's been all over the puck and really given the defenders fits in the offensive zone. Not only did Cheechoo not produce, but he didn't do a whole lot of anything else (though not for lack of effort). Granted, he was probably responsible for significantly fewer turn-overs. Foligno's gotta stop trying to imitate Kovalev and start lowering the shoulder and challenging defencemen physically.

asq2 wrote:Also, not that I can defend his start to the year, but Foligno's had moments/games where he's been all over the puck and really given the defenders fits in the offensive zone. Not only did Cheechoo not produce, but he didn't do a whole lot of anything else (though not for lack of effort). Granted, he was probably responsible for significantly fewer turn-overs. Foligno's gotta stop trying to imitate Kovalev and start lowering the shoulder and challenging defencemen physically.

Maybe. Its just me but I find our coachng staff is terrible in handling the younger players.

Elliott starts - another great decision from Clouston.

asq2 wrote:Also, not that I can defend his start to the year, but Foligno's had moments/games where he's been all over the puck and really given the defenders fits in the offensive zone. Not only did Cheechoo not produce, but he didn't do a whole lot of anything else (though not for lack of effort). Granted, he was probably responsible for significantly fewer turn-overs. Foligno's gotta stop trying to imitate Kovalev and start lowering the shoulder and challenging defencemen physically.

I hate to say it, but same with Regin. Don't worry about trying to deke the entire team, it'll rarely work.