Ottawa @ Boston - Sept. 29th, 2011 - 7PM

Also I'd like to know why Foligno looks so scared to go to the inside.

http://twitter.com/#!/Steve_Lloyd/status/119584418015875072

Lost in #Sens win. Filatov essentially benched in 3rd period. Not a good way to cap pre-season for a kid getting a 2nd chance.

Not looking good

sandysensfan wrote:

wprager wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:Here were the lines at the Senators’ pre-game skate:

- Colin Greening-Jason Spezza-Nikita Filatov
- Milan Michalek-Mika Zibanejad-Daniel Alfredsson
- Nick Foligno-Zack Smith-Bobby Butler
- Erik Condra-Zenon Konopka-Chris Neil
- Mike Hoffman-Stephane Da Costa-Kaspars Daugavins

EDIT: I'm about 8 hours late on this one...

Also, B's are icing basically their full NHL lineup tonight - should be an interesting game.

Yes, but we are going with *five* lines. If we need that extra push to go over the cliff ...

Have you seen the defensive pairings:

Gonchar-Cowen
Kuba-Rundblad
Lee-Borowiecki...

You were saying we are going over a cliff? 2 experienced D -- one of them is useless. Basically a 2nd yr pro.. and 3 rookies... Anderson better be a wall in net.. or this could get real ugly..

You should watch This is Spinal Tap -- the "extra push to go over the cliff" is from the "This goes to eleven" bit.

But the rest, you were spot on.

Hoags wrote:http://twitter.com/#!/Steve_Lloyd/status/119584418015875072

Lost in #Sens win. Filatov essentially benched in 3rd period. Not a good way to cap pre-season for a kid getting a 2nd chance.

Not looking good

I liked his game tonight. I could swear I saw him out there in the 3rd with Smith.

Hoags wrote:http://twitter.com/#!/Steve_Lloyd/status/119584418015875072

Lost in #Sens win. Filatov essentially benched in 3rd period. Not a good way to cap pre-season for a kid getting a 2nd chance.

Not looking good

What? I saw him plenty of times out there

He was demoted to the 3rd line, playing with grinders (not unlike what happened in Columbus). Not sure why.

I think he's saying that Filatov was taken off Spezza's line and out of the top-6 which is essentially a benching for him.

Meh, Spezza didn't play well either and Foligno looked lost when he took his spot. Not much was working - I don't see Filatov being singled out personally.

Anyone know what's the requirements for a Swedish citizenship?

One of you should change his username to Mr Anderson, with this pic as avatar:



So I won't feel so alone.

La Femme wrote:One of you should change his username to Mr Anderson, with this pic as avatar:



So I won't feel so alone.

I'd do it

My thoughts on the Sens after the preseason:

Anderson was exceptional

Lee - looked really good sometimes and really bad at other times - looks better playing with Phillips.

Borowiecki - The potential is there, needs some seasoning in the AHL, needs to learn to be a little more patient when he gets the puck at the point in the offensive zone. Looks to be a certainty to be a player by next year.

Gonchar - average.

Rundblad - Closer than many are saying here. Love the way he can skate the puck out from below the goal line rather than a bad pass or ringing it around the boards. Probably ready by Xmas if he goes to Bingo rather than the SEL.

Cowen - Maybe our best all around Dman through the preseason. Which is scary.

Kuba - Makes as many mistakes as Rundblad without the upside. If he was a right handed shot making under 2M he wouldn't make the team out of camp.

Karlsson -

Spezza - He is what he is. I have learned to take the bad with the good.

Alfie - Sad to watch the decline, but hopefully he will be better this year after the surgery.

Michalek - complimentary player. 2nd line player at best on a good team.

Butler - I can't tell, seems to be competing better, but not getting any chances.

Foligno - Wouldn't be surprised if this is his last year in Ottawa. Just don't see the potential for growth that others seem to see. Has some talent and will but never seems to make the right play in the offensive zone.

Filitov - I've really liked what I've seen. Way more competitive than I had thought, and seems to make plays in his own zone below the dots.

Smith - Like the speed, agressiveness, shot and effort. Doesn't seem to have the hockey sense to be a top 6 or a high end checking forward. Maybe destined for a 4th line centre role.

Konopka - I still don't get the signing. Occupying Smith's spot.

Neil - Very important player to bring the kids along. Can play anywhere in the lineup for short periods of time.

Greening - I see potential. Seems to have a better hockey sense than some of the other Undrafted FAs.

Condra - Smart player - Chris Kelly lite. Could develop into a good 3rd line checking forward.

Winchester - don't really see a place for him, maybe as the 13th forward.

DeCosta - Again potential. Needs to spend some time in Bingo.

Zibanejad - Wow. Improving in every aspect of the game. Might be the best forechecker on the team at 18 freakin' years old. Very defensively aware and highly skilled. Will be shocked if he isn't the 2nd line centre all year.

Regin - Probably best suited as a 3rd line centre on this team. I don't ever see him as a 2nd line centre in the league (and I like his game).

Big Ev wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Big Ev wrote:I like Anderson but he won't have enough wins for Vezina

also this team has no need for Zenon Konopka.

If The Sens make the playoffs, he wins the Vezina or is at least nominated.

I think it will be King Henrik's year finally.

Also it's the Sens, no need for The. Just an FYI. #wpragerinme

Eat excrement and expire.

La Femme wrote:One of you should change his username to Mr Anderson, with this pic as avatar:



So I won't feel so alone.

Maybe Dash could PS that to make Neo bald. And change the bullets into little pucks.

Oglethorpe wrote:

Greening - I see potential. Seems to have a better hockey sense than some of the other Undrafted FAs.

Yeah, he's gonna be a big favourite of MacLean I think.

NEELY wrote:I think Ottawa is in the hunt for a playoff spot until the last week of the season. The Sens were not as bad as they seemed last year and a lot of fat has been trimmed. We'll see what good goaltending, a new approach, and hopefully a healthy season from most will do.

Personally, I'm happy with the way things are going because I think they are right in the thick of getting that 7th or 8th spot.

You also said we could win the division last year....

As much as I wish Neely was right, I just don't see us any better than 12th in the conference. I just want to make the playoffs before the leaves make it again.

If there wasn't pretty fair evidence of a team like us making the playoffs - like when Anderson took the Avs there year before last - that statement would be scoffed at, but hell, Anderson's done it before with a similar team.

Counting on a Sens goalie to carry the team if counter intuitive.

Also what are the Vegas odds of Alfie, Spezza, Michalek, Gonchar playing anywhere close to 80 games each ?

I'll be happy if we aren't last in the conference.