Ottawa Senators TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

Great article on Conacher -- interview with a TB blogger. Explains why he was taken off the top line, too. And it's not what you think:

http://www.the6thsens.com/2013-articles/april/ask-a-lightning-blogger-johnny-fonts-about-conacher.html

3. Which part of his game needs the most work?

At times, I think Conacher can be a little careless when speeding into the opponent's zone - and that leads to losing control of the puck or a general turnover. So puck possession could use some strengthening. At the same time. The Lightning were specifically working with him on improving his defensive game. That took him off the Bolts top line combos (next to Steven Stamkos or Vincent Lecavalier) and saw him on the lower lines.

wprager wrote:Great article on Conacher -- interview with a TB blogger. Explains why he was taken off the top line, too. And it's not what you think:

http://www.the6thsens.com/2013-articles/april/ask-a-lightning-blogger-johnny-fonts-about-conacher.html

3. Which part of his game needs the most work?

At times, I think Conacher can be a little careless when speeding into the opponent's zone - and that leads to losing control of the puck or a general turnover. So puck possession could use some strengthening. At the same time. The Lightning were specifically working with him on improving his defensive game. That took him off the Bolts top line combos (next to Steven Stamkos or Vincent Lecavalier) and saw him on the lower lines.

Yeah, we saw a bit of that last night but he's only a 2nd year pro and that's the sort of thing that can be taught.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:Great article on Conacher -- interview with a TB blogger. Explains why he was taken off the top line, too. And it's not what you think:

http://www.the6thsens.com/2013-articles/april/ask-a-lightning-blogger-johnny-fonts-about-conacher.html

3. Which part of his game needs the most work?

At times, I think Conacher can be a little careless when speeding into the opponent's zone - and that leads to losing control of the puck or a general turnover. So puck possession could use some strengthening. At the same time. The Lightning were specifically working with him on improving his defensive game. That took him off the Bolts top line combos (next to Steven Stamkos or Vincent Lecavalier) and saw him on the lower lines.

Yeah, we saw a bit of that last night but he's only a 2nd year pro and that's the sort of thing that can be taught.

I really liked his game. There was one early shift he had where the Calder line started in the O zone and ended in the D zone that I didn't love, but the rest of the time, I really liked the kid's game. That line will be dangerous, particularly when Spezza and 9MM return.

I totally understand what you were saying before about having a complete top six, SSF. Still, I think we'll have an excellent 5/6 of a top six (adding Greening or Condra into the mix of true top sixers), and 8/9 of a potent and frightening top nine. I think adding Conacher will help that line become even more dangerous than they've been.

Silfverberg and Zibanejad have been top 6 for a month now.

Zibanejad last 10:
9 pts +5
Silfvewrberg
8 pts +2

Agreed. My basic point is that we have 8 people that can be top six. Thus, our top nine is filthy.

Our forwards are fine. I think it's the D that is starting to play like they are supposed to on paper

LeKing wrote:Our forwards are fine. I think it's the D that is starting to play like they are supposed to on paper

Ya, the number of shots against is out of hand. It's really the main problem with this team right now.

spader wrote:

LeKing wrote:Our forwards are fine. I think it's the D that is starting to play like they are supposed to on paper

Ya, the number of shots against is out of hand. It's really the main problem with this team right now.

They're awful at getting the puck out of the zone.

It used to be so easy, just hand it off to #65 and he'd do the rest.

Sens have as many real wins as Tampa Bay, and Philly and Carolina actually have more. Basically the shootout saving their asses.

Carolina is -15 and Philly is -12. Ottawa is +10. That's way more representative than ROW

LeKing wrote:Carolina is -15 and Philly is -12. Ottawa is +10. That's way more representative than ROW

It isn't more representative if they end up in a tie situation. They need to be careful now. A late stumble could easily knock them out of the playoffs.

spader wrote:

LeKing wrote:Carolina is -15 and Philly is -12. Ottawa is +10. That's way more representative than ROW

It isn't more representative if they end up in a tie situation. They need to be careful now. A late stumble could easily knock them out of the playoffs.

It's also representative of their goaltending differences. Let's face it, the Sens -- primarily due to the long-term injuries to *major* players -- have been surviving with the best goaltending in the league. For much of the season, until the rookies started coming around, they were in the bottom 2-3 in the league for goals for.

And, yes, a late stumble is a very distinct possibility. We have no idea what's in store when Anderson gets back between the pipes. He's been out for over a month and some say it takes a full year before you are 100% after a high ankle sprain.

We have to be very careful with Florida. They scored 3 goals in the third against Washington. Hopefully they'll be nice and tired as they played last night, but given how our third periods have been of late, we simply cannot afford to take them lightly.

spader wrote:

LeKing wrote:Our forwards are fine. I think it's the D that is starting to play like they are supposed to on paper

Ya, the number of shots against is out of hand. It's really the main problem with this team right now.

There weren't that many shots against Buffalo. Not sure what happened there?

SeawaySensFan wrote:

spader wrote:

LeKing wrote:Our forwards are fine. I think it's the D that is starting to play like they are supposed to on paper

Ya, the number of shots against is out of hand. It's really the main problem with this team right now.

There weren't that many shots against Buffalo. Not sure what happened there?

Umm, Buffalo happened?

wprager wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

spader wrote:

LeKing wrote:Our forwards are fine. I think it's the D that is starting to play like they are supposed to on paper

Ya, the number of shots against is out of hand. It's really the main problem with this team right now.

There weren't that many shots against Buffalo. Not sure what happened there?

Umm, Buffalo happened?

Not sure what that means. How about Ottawa pissed away a must-win game?

10 games left in the regular season... 10 games left...

shabbs wrote:10 games left in the regular season... 10 games left...

10 games left?

SeawaySensFan wrote:

shabbs wrote:10 games left in the regular season... 10 games left...

10 games left?