GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Chicago Blackhawks - 8:30pm ET - FRI. Jan. 7 2011

Sens home record: 9-11-2.

That's 4 losses in a row.

Good game, pretty hard fought, I was impressed.

Enough with these comebacks that end up to be losses anyways, this team can't even tank properly.

By the way, I've got an out of town wedding, no time to put up a GDT. Someone else please do the honors.

Well, a couple thoughts on the game last night.

Elliot was great. He's the only reason we got a point out of that game. Weird how sometimes he looks like an all-star, and other times he just looks like the backup he is supposed to be. Anyway, it was nice to see some great goaltending.

Our offence is anemic. We barely got that 2nd goal to send it to OT, and for some reason, we are the WORST in the shootout. Officially. I looked it up. We are 16-30 all time in the shootout, good for LAST in the NHL, with a winning % of 34.8. We also have the 5th worst shooting % in the shootout at 29.88, and the 4th worst save % at 61.1.

Strangely, also near the bottom in all-time shootout stats are the Washington Capitals. Using that little tidbit of info, you gotta figure there is more to it than just skill. Maybe some ways the teams practice shootouts?

Anyway, it was a pretty hard-fought game (good to see Neil throwing his weight around as usual), and it was great to see the goaltending show up, but we're not going anywhere until we find a way to score some goals.

tim1_2 wrote:Well, a couple thoughts on the game last night.

Elliot was great. He's the only reason we got a point out of that game. Weird how sometimes he looks like an all-star, and other times he just looks like the backup he is supposed to be. Anyway, it was nice to see some great goaltending.

Our offence is anemic. We barely got that 2nd goal to send it to OT, and for some reason, we are the WORST in the shootout. Officially. I looked it up. We are 16-30 all time in the shootout, good for LAST in the NHL, with a winning % of 34.8. We also have the 5th worst shooting % in the shootout at 29.88, and the 4th worst save % at 61.1.

Strangely, also near the bottom in all-time shootout stats are the Washington Capitals. Using that little tidbit of info, you gotta figure there is more to it than just skill. Maybe some ways the teams practice shootouts?

Anyway, it was a pretty hard-fought game (good to see Neil throwing his weight around as usual), and it was great to see the goaltending show up, but we're not going anywhere until we find a way to score some goals.

Yeah, I think the key to the games from here on will be Neil, Z.Smith etc. Guy who don't mind hitting everything that moves. It's the oldest trick in the book, you hit the opposing players as hard as possible and it gives them that second of pause for the rest of the game which results in turnovers, which usually result in a chance of sort.

People do it to us all the time and we give it up all the time. It's high time for Neil to do that every single game that's left on the schedule - and if I was in Clouston's position, he'd be getting some serious ice time right about now.

I have to blame coaching for the shootout losses. It's the same guys typically sent out there, and the key to a shootout is to not be afraid to try something different. If you are a guy that is known as a shooter - then the goalie is pretty certain how to play you. Send a guy out there with a lot of speed and a lot of creativity and the goalie has to react and be ready for anything.

Yeah, if I were Clouston, I would be trying other players in the shootout.

I love Alfie, but he is 31% in the shootout. Kovalev is slightly better at 38.5%. Why were these guys chosen over Jarko (44%)? I just looked up the stats for the rest of the Sens, and everyone else either had no attempts, or a very small sample size (like less than four attempts).

I would give a guy like Karlsson a try. He has the guts to try unconventional things, and we've seen quick D have success (i.e. Letang @ 45%). He has yet to attempt a shootout, but he couldn't be much worse than the usual suspects. Gonchar might even be worth a shot, although he is 25% in 4 attempts.

I'm no coach, but isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over again and expecting different results?