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"Never doubt" has become the unofficial slogan for this Senators team -- some of the players were heard shouting the phrase after Foligno's late heroics.
"I think it's a good expression," MacLean said. "To me, if you come here every day, and you're going to do it right, good things are going to go your way."
Yeah, no kidding. Those quotes came from an Erin Nicks article on NHL.com (http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011020130) and are 100% fitting for the Sens. As mentioned many times, they seem not to realize they should be dead and buried, something that is characterized in players like Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, Erik Condra, Z.Smith and others, and why should they? Last year all of those players, save Michalek, were busy battling the long odds in the Calder Cup, the AHL equivalent to the Stanley Cup. Down 3-1 in the first round, they had to fight through overtime after overtime (3 in a row) in order to move to the second round. They would eventually grind their way to the first championship in B-Sens history, so don't tell them they should quit anytime soon.
Player Notes:
Colin Greening - 7 points in 11 games is stellar for a second year NHLer playing in his rookie season, but it's really not all about the points with Greening. He's a big, fast, hard hitting power forward who loves to shield the goalie from seeing much of the play in front of him. Try to move him out of the front of the net, it's not easy when he's 6'3", 215+. People warn not to overrate him and to take it slow, but what's not to get excited about here? He's got all the tools - although he's still developing his NHL scoring hands presumably, he's got the size, he's got the drive, the smarts, the speed, the heavy shot. You're allowed to be excited about this one.
Erik Karlsson - averaging the 3rd most time-on-ice in the NHL, tops in assists, tops in D-man scoring, this kid is the definition of a stud. He's fast, great offensive instinct obviously and is already out there in all situations. While Karlsson still has work to do defensively, his play in the D zone has been vastly improved recently.
Milan Michalek - everything you can say about Colin Greening, you can say about Michalek - except that Michalek seems to have found his scoring touch with 7 goals in 11 games. Yeah...he's found something alright! His goal to tie the game vs the Rangers on Saturday was a thing of size, power, drive and perseverance.
Jason Spezza - I'm nervous to put him in here even though he's got the 2nd most points in the entire league. He's played a much more complete game the last few, but although he's put up major points all year, he hasn't been as complete as he was last year upon returning from injury. The Sens need all the goals and assists they can get, but they also need a more complete game from Spezza. The huge plus is that Spezza appears to have found some major chemistry with Michalek and Greening - wingers who create time and space for him to make plays and that's made Spezza into a heck of a dangerous player.
The Sens bottom 6: Guys like Smith, Neil, Condra, Konopka, Winchester have all proven their worth in bringing energy ever single shift they play. You might beat the Sens, but it won't be easy - and these guys are a big part of that reason.
The Veterans: Gonchar and Kuba have turned their games around. And if there was one thing the Sens needed, it for them to get out of their funks and come back to what made them excellent NHL players. Both are hitting guys (yes, hitting), making good, smart decisions with the puck and are chipping in offensively. They make a huge difference when they play well.
K-Daug: Daugavins got called up to play in the NHL and he made sure he was noticed in a positive way on every shift. He looked to have his first NHL point last night until a goal that originally looked like it was Kuba's turned out to be tipped by Neil. Still, he brings energy, grit and some skill to the ice. Congrats to him on a solid stint thus far.
David Rundblad: If you're watching the Sens right now, you're seeing what I'm seeing: and that's a star in the making on the backend. The number of times he's effortlessly stepped past an opponent with a head fake or a little flick of the wrist is really incredible to watch. His defensive zone play appears to be getting better by the game as well. Rundblad looks like he'll be a fantastic addition to the Sens back end.
Craig Anderson: I think we all know he can be a little better, but without some of his saves, we'd never have made those comebacks. Winning in the shootout is a huge plus as well.
"I think it's a good expression," MacLean said. "To me, if you come here every day, and you're going to do it right, good things are going to go your way."
Yeah, no kidding. Those quotes came from an Erin Nicks article on NHL.com (http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011020130) and are 100% fitting for the Sens. As mentioned many times, they seem not to realize they should be dead and buried, something that is characterized in players like Colin Greening, Milan Michalek, Erik Condra, Z.Smith and others, and why should they? Last year all of those players, save Michalek, were busy battling the long odds in the Calder Cup, the AHL equivalent to the Stanley Cup. Down 3-1 in the first round, they had to fight through overtime after overtime (3 in a row) in order to move to the second round. They would eventually grind their way to the first championship in B-Sens history, so don't tell them they should quit anytime soon.
Player Notes:
Colin Greening - 7 points in 11 games is stellar for a second year NHLer playing in his rookie season, but it's really not all about the points with Greening. He's a big, fast, hard hitting power forward who loves to shield the goalie from seeing much of the play in front of him. Try to move him out of the front of the net, it's not easy when he's 6'3", 215+. People warn not to overrate him and to take it slow, but what's not to get excited about here? He's got all the tools - although he's still developing his NHL scoring hands presumably, he's got the size, he's got the drive, the smarts, the speed, the heavy shot. You're allowed to be excited about this one.
Erik Karlsson - averaging the 3rd most time-on-ice in the NHL, tops in assists, tops in D-man scoring, this kid is the definition of a stud. He's fast, great offensive instinct obviously and is already out there in all situations. While Karlsson still has work to do defensively, his play in the D zone has been vastly improved recently.
Milan Michalek - everything you can say about Colin Greening, you can say about Michalek - except that Michalek seems to have found his scoring touch with 7 goals in 11 games. Yeah...he's found something alright! His goal to tie the game vs the Rangers on Saturday was a thing of size, power, drive and perseverance.
Jason Spezza - I'm nervous to put him in here even though he's got the 2nd most points in the entire league. He's played a much more complete game the last few, but although he's put up major points all year, he hasn't been as complete as he was last year upon returning from injury. The Sens need all the goals and assists they can get, but they also need a more complete game from Spezza. The huge plus is that Spezza appears to have found some major chemistry with Michalek and Greening - wingers who create time and space for him to make plays and that's made Spezza into a heck of a dangerous player.
The Sens bottom 6: Guys like Smith, Neil, Condra, Konopka, Winchester have all proven their worth in bringing energy ever single shift they play. You might beat the Sens, but it won't be easy - and these guys are a big part of that reason.
The Veterans: Gonchar and Kuba have turned their games around. And if there was one thing the Sens needed, it for them to get out of their funks and come back to what made them excellent NHL players. Both are hitting guys (yes, hitting), making good, smart decisions with the puck and are chipping in offensively. They make a huge difference when they play well.
K-Daug: Daugavins got called up to play in the NHL and he made sure he was noticed in a positive way on every shift. He looked to have his first NHL point last night until a goal that originally looked like it was Kuba's turned out to be tipped by Neil. Still, he brings energy, grit and some skill to the ice. Congrats to him on a solid stint thus far.
David Rundblad: If you're watching the Sens right now, you're seeing what I'm seeing: and that's a star in the making on the backend. The number of times he's effortlessly stepped past an opponent with a head fake or a little flick of the wrist is really incredible to watch. His defensive zone play appears to be getting better by the game as well. Rundblad looks like he'll be a fantastic addition to the Sens back end.
Craig Anderson: I think we all know he can be a little better, but without some of his saves, we'd never have made those comebacks. Winning in the shootout is a huge plus as well.
Last edited by SpezDispenser on Sun Oct 30, 2011 4:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
yeah but its TOI/game that means something. saying he has 3rd most TOI is just padding his stat line. For instance, the guy in 4th place has played one fewer game and has 3 minutes less in total TOI...