GAME DAY:Boston Bruins @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm ET - Tues. Mar. 1, 2011

I know there's a big love in for Anderson right now but I'd like to point out that there were at least 4 occasions in the last two games where either a forward or a Defenseman has bailed Anderson out. Not just blocking or getting a stick in the way of an open net either. I'm talking about pucks slipping through him, floating towards the goal line and a Sens player knocks it away before the opposing player can bat it in.

All I'm trying to say is the team is playing substantially better defense in front of their goalie which aids in him looking as good as he has. Just give some credit where it's due.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

hemlock wrote:

I read that Greening made a nice defensive play to help Anderson out. That's encouraging to see a young guy like that with a defensive conscience. Training camp next year is going to be SICK. So many guys are going to be fighting for spots. If I were Peter Regin, I'd be hoping I find my game again real fast.

I was there live and it was a play that could be viewed as amazing even if done by a seasoned veteran. There was a pass across, Anderson was left out of position, the boston player had a "yawning cage" and Greening got his stick in the way and prevented a goal.

I told my wife after that play that he deserved first star consideration for that play alone.

Nice!

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I know there's a big love in for Anderson right now but I'd like to point out that there were at least 4 occasions in the last two games where either a forward or a Defenseman has bailed Anderson out. Not just blocking or getting a stick in the way of an open net either. I'm talking about pucks slipping through him, floating towards the goal line and a Sens player knocks it away before the opposing player can bat it in.

All I'm trying to say is the team is playing substantially better defense in front of their goalie which aids in him looking as good as he has. Just give some credit where it's due.

Chicken and the egg theory right there. Anderson was awesome again last night but yes, sometimes the goalie needs to be helped out and last night the D gave him a lot of support as well. Rask had a ton of help from his D too, that's what good teams do, they cover for each others mistakes.

The team is playing better in front of Anderson but it's because Anderson gives them a ton more confidence than Elliott or Leclaire did. They know the first shot of the game isn't going in and they know it isn't a mtter of time before a weak one goes in.

NEELY wrote:Chicken and the egg theory right there. Anderson was awesome again last night but yes, sometimes the goalie needs to be helped out and last night the D gave him a lot of support as well. Rask had a ton of help from his D too, that's what good teams do, they cover for each others mistakes.

The team is playing better in front of Anderson but it's because Anderson gives them a ton more confidence than Elliott or Leclaire did. They know the first shot of the game isn't going in and they know it isn't a mtter of time before a weak one goes in.

And the D is getting more help from forwards who understand their defensive assignments. And we're seeing old Clouston style hockey. Looks a lot like what we saw when he broke into the league. As I said, certain veterans were doing their own thing. With a coachable lineup benefits are being realized.

Exactly. Clouston didn't change into a bad coach over night. I still think thye need to move on from him but a good goaltender and players who actually care make a huge difference.

NEELY wrote:Exactly. Clouston didn't change into a bad coach over night. I still think thye need to move on from him but a good goaltender and players who actually care make a huge difference.

Are you implying that Fisher, Kelly, Campoli, and Ruutu didn't care?

I would say that Fisher had very much turned into a player who seemed way too comfortable in his role, for sure.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I know there's a big love in for Anderson right now but I'd like to point out that there were at least 4 occasions in the last two games where either a forward or a Defenseman has bailed Anderson out. Not just blocking or getting a stick in the way of an open net either. I'm talking about pucks slipping through him, floating towards the goal line and a Sens player knocks it away before the opposing player can bat it in.

All I'm trying to say is the team is playing substantially better defense in front of their goalie which aids in him looking as good as he has. Just give some credit where it's due.

uhm.....isn't that what team mates are supposed to do?

Number Twenty Nine wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I know there's a big love in for Anderson right now but I'd like to point out that there were at least 4 occasions in the last two games where either a forward or a Defenseman has bailed Anderson out. Not just blocking or getting a stick in the way of an open net either. I'm talking about pucks slipping through him, floating towards the goal line and a Sens player knocks it away before the opposing player can bat it in.

All I'm trying to say is the team is playing substantially better defense in front of their goalie which aids in him looking as good as he has. Just give some credit where it's due.

uhm.....isn't that what team mates are supposed to do?

Check.

It couldn't have been a better night of hockey. The tank bus is still rolling along.

Only a month ago I would turn the game off in disgust but ever since the fire sale the hockey has been exciting or at it's worst, interesting. I love the effort the team is giving right now. I can handle losing 1-0 with efforts like that. I couldn't help but cheer them on at the end. When they lost I felt disappointed but had to remind myself this was good for the Tank.

NEELY wrote:I would say that Fisher had very much turned into a player who seemed way too comfortable in his role, for sure.

Absolutely agree. That was the key trade in all of them. Kelly could have stayed and would have been good, Campoli - same, Kovalev was an expiring contract, same with Ruutu, Elliott as well pretty much. The one that looked way too comfortable was Fisher - and he had years remaining @ 4.2 = no thanks for the rebuild.

Went last night and sat in the upper seats in The Ledge - great view of the ice BTW. Didn't like anything D.Smith did except that one incredible play where he saved a goal. Really not sure if he has a future - willing to re-assess over the course of a couple of games of course.

Greening was good, Condra I didn't notice much at all this game. Spezza was making a lot of high risk plays - probably because he's putting so much pressure on himself to be 'the guy'. A couple of sweet passes, but not his greatest game. Butler was good again - surprised he missed a couple of opportunities, but he was in the right place for sure.

Z.Smith was buzzing - and we need that. Neil was a good, heavy guy to play against last night.

All in all, the first two periods were fun to watch, lots of energy from the Sens, the Bs looked tired and were being outplayed. The third was absolutely boring. The Bs got that lead right away and clogged up the neutral zone something fierce.

Anderson is so steady. I'm starting to think we're genuinely lucky to have him.

That's all I can think of.

Also, Potulny didn't get much ice time - this is a guy who scored 15 last year (which would lead the Sens right now), let's see what he can do with some ice time.

Svatos isn't gonna make it unless he wakes up and starts being a little more creative.

hemlock wrote:
I would really like to see him find his way, otherwise he could play himself right down the depth chart a la Cody Bass.

He'll find himself traded - and I certainly don't want that - and I'm not so sure Regin wants that either. He needs to come into camp buffed. His core needs to be as strong as possible, his upper body needs work too. The talent level is there, but if he remains with his core not as strong as needed, he'll be hurt a lot at the NHL level.

SpezDispenser wrote:

hemlock wrote:
I would really like to see him find his way, otherwise he could play himself right down the depth chart a la Cody Bass.

He'll find himself traded - and I certainly don't want that - and I'm not so sure Regin wants that either. He needs to come into camp buffed. His core needs to be as strong as possible, his upper body needs work too. The talent level is there, but if he remains with his core not as strong as needed, he'll be hurt a lot at the NHL level.

Regin may need to change his game a bit too and become more of a puck retrieval guy who grinds and works the boards on the cycle along with his skill work of course.

SpezDispenser wrote:

hemlock wrote:
I would really like to see him find his way, otherwise he could play himself right down the depth chart a la Cody Bass.

He'll find himself traded - and I certainly don't want that - and I'm not so sure Regin wants that either. He needs to come into camp buffed. His core needs to be as strong as possible, his upper body needs work too. The talent level is there, but if he remains with his core not as strong as needed, he'll be hurt a lot at the NHL level.

Waived, not traded. No one is going to trade for a 3rd, 4th line plug that couldn't crack the last place teams lineup.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

hemlock wrote:
I would really like to see him find his way, otherwise he could play himself right down the depth chart a la Cody Bass.

He'll find himself traded - and I certainly don't want that - and I'm not so sure Regin wants that either. He needs to come into camp buffed. His core needs to be as strong as possible, his upper body needs work too. The talent level is there, but if he remains with his core not as strong as needed, he'll be hurt a lot at the NHL level.

Regin may need to change his game a bit too and become more of a puck retrieval guy who grinds and works the boards on the cycle along with his skill work of course.

Definitely, if he's gonna stick at wing anyway.

NEELY wrote:
Waived, not traded. No one is going to trade for a 3rd, 4th line plug that couldn't crack the last place teams lineup.

I don't think it'll come to that personally. He's got a lot of skill and apparently his work ethic is good, hopefully he'll use this year as something to draw on going forward.