BOSTON – Paul MacLean said it was a factor, but not much of one.
But would he really have decided to start Robin Lehner tonight at TD Garden had Lehner not beat the Bruins 1-0 here exactly one year ago? I’m thinking not. More likely, Lehner would have played either Saturday or Sunday afternoon, when the Senators have back-to-backers in Philly and Long Island.
I’d say MacLean is using Lehner now rather than saving him for one of those games because he thinks Craig Anderson might be ready to go by the weekend. Anderson is traveling with the team and was even on the ice, in full equipment, for the morning skate. He didn’t take any shots – mostly just skated around testing his sprained ankle – but that’s when all eyes were on him.
The media had to go to the dressing room for availability when the doors opened, and while Anderson was in there with his teammates briefly, he went back on the ice when we were still in the room.
On a technicality, the PR rep said Anderson would not be taking questions today, as he didn’t “practice” with the team. He’s speaking tomorrow in Philly.
Asked if there’s any way Anderson plays in one of these three games, coach MacLean said: “at this time, no.” I still wouldn’t be surprised to see Anderson between the pipes Monday, but more likely he’s returning Wednesday, when the Senators are in Toronto.
In the meantime, the guy you should feel a little bad for is Ben Bishop. What does this guy have to do to hold his spot in the crease with Anderson out.
He was only the NHL’s third star last week, then completely did a number on the Canadiens earlier this week. Yet MacLean is turning to the AHL callup tonight?
He’s got to be playing the hunch.
On another note, the Boston media swarmed Daniel Alfredsson this morning, trying to find out if there was any way the Senators captain would green light a trade to the Bruins if and when Ottawa fell out of the playoff roce and GM Bryan Murray wanted to put him with a contender at trade deadline.
Basically, this is a moot story right now, as the Senators are battling for first place. and as long as they are still alive and kicking, Alfredsson isn’t going anywhere.
That doesn’t mean I won’t be writing about it in Cheapseats later today, however.
Enjoy the game tonight folks.
If the Senators somehow managed to knock off the B’s, they will have everyone’s attention. My prediction, only for the story it would be: Senators win 2-1 with slumpers Kyle Turris and and Zack Smith scoring the goals.
Categories: General
I often wonder why the media refuse to be totally open and candid in their coverage of the Ottawa Senators. Certainly celebrate those who are deserving but why not point out those who have played poorly. Is it the media’s role to simply be cheerleaders?
Last night in the loss to the Bruins there was very little to celebrate. Lehner was outstanding but the team allowed far to many shots (46) and again, had to rely on the netminder. Gryba was fantastic, Methot had a strong game but the rest of defence were awful!
The forwards cannot put the puck in the net and I don’t expect them to, for the most part, they simply do not have the requisite skills. But it doesn’t prohibit them from playing hard (or at least it shouldn’t). Obrien got smoked a few times and payed the price for going into the corners and causing turnovers and he was rewarded for his courage by scoring a goal going hard to the net. He now leads all forwads in scoring with 5. The 3rd line will always leave it on the ice, Greening didn’t register a shot or a hit!
As for the young Swedish forwards, again last night it was evident the do not belong in the NHL. Silfverberg, the MVP of the SEL, had 0 goals, 0 assists, was minus 1, had 1 shot on goal, 1 hit, 0 take aways and had 4 give aways! The give aways are that much more important when you consider how little he actually carries the puck! He played on the perimeter all night and was capable of making the odd pass to the point only. He never carried the puck more than 10 feet and avoided the corners like the plague but there is no mention of his unwillingness to play NHL hockey. Zibanejad had no goals or assists and didn’t register a shot on net! He had one hit, no take aways and 1 give away. Zibby is now moving the puck immediately once he gets possession of it and last night he hovered in the high slot when in Boston’s end! One has 3 goals in 21 games and the other has 3 goals in 16 but they are on the PP whenever there other team is shorthanded. Are they meeting Murray’s expectations? Are these numbers satisfactory? Who is encouraged?
As for the team, they were outshot 46 to 31, out hit 30 to 16, gave the puck away more, had 3 take aways to Boston’s 8 and registered 20 face off wins to the Bruins 37! We keep hearing, reading about structure, systems, and Potvin had the audacity to say that “Maclean only rewards those who have earned it”. Seriously? What is the consequence to exposing some realities?
can’t fluke out a win every night eh!
I see the slide starting right around now
OK, after watching the last few games I figured I would give some broader opinions as having read some other blogs I see far to much enthusiasm for how the team is playing…I sort of feel like Bobby and it is liberating!!
I also understand that we are missing 2 uber-elite players and some players that have contributed quite a bit to our team at the moment but still…
1. Our shot totals are completely misleading when you look at where most of the Sens shots come from:
- just across the blue line
- against the boards or at the very least the outside
We don’t ever really seem dangerous, we just get the puck to the net and hope to jam one in…I haven’t see us even get a shot away on an odd man rush in many games
2. Our D is playing above expectations but our goalies have been outstanding – we give up a TON of good scoring opportunities right in the slot. The Bruins got some bounces for scores and you would think it was a testament to the team D yet we gave up 46 shots and quite a few were very good chances.
3. I am not concerned yet but I am beginning to lower my expectations on Silf a fair bit…he is an NHL player to be sure but has not been at all what I expected in terms of how he handles the puck, makes plays or gets his shot off – and he falls down WAY too easy for a man his size. He is very easy to defend right now.
I am proud of the team and think the Paulrus has established he can get the most out of his players so I think the organization is in great shape regardless but we clearly need to make sure we keep looking for top 6 forwards as Turris, while young is showing right now he tops out at a #2 (would be interesting to know how his totals would look now with Karlsson and Spezza still in the fold) and once Alfie is gone I don’t think we can say we have another winger that is legit first or second line after Michalek.
We have a long way to go to really compete I believe…
But I always need some positive spin and I can say I can see things that give me confidence that Zibby will be a good player for us…it comes in spurts right now but he is 19 years old so I don’t expect him to be going full bore all the time.
Gryba is probably here to stay and I love that we have a big D that can make a good first pass and will keep other players honest…I would like to see him drop the gloves soon though, just so he can show he is capable of it.
Loving Methot and think that was another great Murray deal – he has a bunch of winners after some suspect ones.
I liked the move to swap Regin for Turris and thought Regin sparked Silf and Alfie while Turris got more chances after the switch than he had in a few games – I hope he keeps it like that for a while.
Lehner looked awesome…calm and good rebound control…love his battle and Bobby I have to completely disagree with you on his attitude – not sure why you are holding so tight to a few comments from/about a 19 year old kid 2 years ago but it seems…
I think Alfred is gone, he knows, and the Sens know, he’ll never win a Stanley Cup in Ottawa, so away he goes, and don’t be surprised if he likes Beantown so much he signs on for a couple more years, just ask the other ex Ottawa guys how their eyes were opened after they got out of Ottawa, I’m talking Chara, Kelly and even Chirarelli (sp)
They run a first class show in Boston
“The Paulrus”…..love it!
Dave, Lehner’s attitude may have changed; I certainly hope it has. He damn good!
As for Silfverberg, I do not think he is an NHLer (he suffers from acute noballitis). I suspect when he was the SEL MVP he carried the puck over two lines, deked around the opposition, was willing to go into the corners and battle for the puck! We haven’t seen him do any of that in the NHL! Zibby has 4 goals and that is excellent but I haven’t seen him carry the puck at all and stickhandle around other players. I haven’t seen his speed. He is playing the high slot and doesn’t venture into the corners to battle for loose pucks. He may suprise me but I just don’t see the any of the skills that was reported by all the members of the media. Indeed he is 19 but I want to see him do more that will inspire some confidence he was worthy of the 6th pick. So far I witnessed very little. Yesterday he had 1g (the result of a perfect pass by the opposition that hung their goaltender out to dry), 2 shosts, 1 hit and no take aways. Nor did he didn’t carry the puck at all.
I thought that if the two young Swedes were to play well, it would be against the NYI. The Islanders are an awful hockey club. They are sub .500, have allowed the second most goals scored against and are 25th in the league with the least penalty minutes! They are soft!
An indicator as to how the kids are playing may be how little is dedicated to them in the media. The day after a game here has been little to celebrate. I think if everyone is honest, they would have to say they have been disapointed. Silfverberg and Zibanejad aren’t small and they should be display some willingness to venture in the tough areas but I do not see that. Canadians occupy the top 4 in rookie scoring and 2 of them are 5-8 and 5-9! Both are less than 180 lbs but they are willing to battle for the puck no matter where it may be!
I remember some pundits suggesting that Montreal would finish below Ottawa and out of the playoff picture this year. I strongly suspect they misjudged the character of the new GM and the cultural change he instilled in organization and team! As much as I was surprised to see someone who was the class clown do a complete make over, he made great decoisons on personell (most of whom laced up skates in the NHL, like 28 other teams in the league). I didn’t like how the coach handled PK Subban, but maybe it was for the best. It is all about the team in Habtown! But the the thing that stands out is the teams collective courage to go anywhere and relentlessy fight for possession of the puck. Yesteday is a perfect example. Check out Ottawa’s dismal performance against the Bruins (referenced above) to that of Montreal. Make no mistake, the Canadians won the game because they show up.
Talent isn’t enough. To take full advantage God given talent a player must have a bit of courage.
Is is interesting that the media do not point out turnovers any more. Why?
Alfredsson is extremely indecisive so who knows if he’ll agree to a trade. It took him four months to decide to return this yea so who knows.
Silfverberg isn’t very good. Strange since we were told he played against men, was an SEL super-champion, would dominate the NHL and was the second coming of Alfredsson. So far he is invisible except in the shootout.
Zibanejad scored a goal but what of Kyle Turris? The 30 goal man has now scored one…close to 20 games ago.
No one in the media is holding him accountable, but why would they as it has been absolute country club atmosphere ever since Murray has been the GM. GM not held accountable, coaches fired every year and a half, players not held to account for their lack of performance and an owner completely oblivious and perhaps a little too tipsy to actuall set his foot down and demand more from this very, very mediocre group.
I had to laugh when the folks on Team 1200 were almost afradif of trading one of these propsects for help up front. Without the constant coddling and overrating of the Ottawa media and management Silfverberg would be in the AHL or on a third or fourth line. Same with Zibanejad. Zack Smith doesn’t score but he has character and grit and…he can skate? Most hockey players can skate.
Alfredsson stood up for his team by cross-checking Rinaldo and that’s fine and dandy but where was he on Sunday? Or againstt the Bruins? If Alfredsson just wants to dress and play out the string without contributing then he should be moved to the fourth line, or third line, and someone hungrier, younger and more skilled should take his spot on the top few lines.
Lehner was average to spectuacular. As Bruce Garrioch brilliantly pointed out on a pre-game show, you have to wonder if MacLean outcoached himself by starting Lehner as he gave us two points but Bishop may have given us
four points.
Such are the Senators though, hovering toward respectability while keeping a foot planted firmly in comfortable mediocrity. Speaking of mediocrity, Phillips has been godawful in his own end and would never see play on a competitive, contending team.
“uber-elite players”
you’re too much OD, ok maybe you have OD’d
Wayne Gretzky was uber-elite, Howe, Orr, Dionne, Lemieux, Messier, Lafleur
are you suggesting that your two hurt players are in this league
Google the list of the best 100 hockey players ever, and they will never be on that list
I appreciate that you are finally coming around on your critisizm of your favorite team but really, get a grip
Looks like the slide is deepening
the question I have is where does Alfredson end up?
where did you find that colourman on Sportsnet, man he is really something…brutal homer comes to mind
Choke, mon ami, lets not confuse best of all time with the use of the term, uber elite. Spez was 4th in the league scoring last year with Bulter (now on his 3rd NHL team) and the dancing machine (but doesn’t dance in Bean Town) Greening on his line. Karlsson may have his critics but he won the Norris last year! How many defencemen who have played in the NHL can boast that? As far as I am concerened, they qualify as super uber!
I know you hate being corrected ChokerLover and I know I certainly don’t have the time to correct all of your various errors but I think what you are referencing are the All Time Greats – not the current uber-elite in the NHL.
You can try to debate it all you want but the 4th leading scorer and the youngest Norris winner since Coffey (not to mention largest point differential – 25 points ahead of next Dman) would have to be considered the uber-elite right now.
Slide is deepening? You mean the Sharks? I know…tied for 8th with so many other teams…their hot start nothing but a memory now. Star studded team – huge salaries all around yet they just flounder and embarrass themselves year after year. I can see why you have such an attachment, you share a certain style.
OD99, no one is comparing Spezza to Flower or 99. Karlsson is an elite defenseman…in the offensive zone.
He is quite ordinary in his own end. Anyone notice how well the team is playing defensively with Karlie out? No coincidence there, they can play a team game!
The Senators face the Leafs tonight and our captain is saying there isn’t much of a rivalry. Is that why he gets booed constantly at Scotiabank Place and the ACC? The rivalary is still there Alf. Just walk into any office or sports forum and see the fans sniping at each other nonstop, bringing up past slights and incidents. I should know, I am the *only* local fan at my office! Two Habs fans, three Leafs fans and me! Bleh!
Now that the Senators have lost some games the Lehner experiement is over? How curious! Hopefully Bishop can allow no more than one goal today or this team will be in trouble! Why is Silfverberg still playing here? The guy is total dud in the O-Zone. Michalek should come in and the SEL Wunderkind should sit in the pressbox, but I have a feeling that MacLean doesn’t have the gravitas or the permission to make such a move, as player roster decisions are very much the purview of Bryan Murray!
Speaking of the players, enough with the outside shots from half the team. Reimer is going to stop those 8 times out of 10 so time to crowd their crease! Remember that losing to Toronto is shameful and if the Senators can’t get up for this one they deserve to be mocked! I personally will have a lot of trouble going to work and enduring the jeers from my cubicle mates, something the players can never understand as they live in ivory towers and only interact with fans when they make a rare incursion to Moxie’s!
Anyone else wonder if the Blackhawks are for real? Remember, Stanley Cups aren’t won in the regular season…
Oh, one last thing. Nice of Team 1200 post-game to shut down the phone lines and emails when negative comments about Turris or Silfverberg or questions about the prospects being up to par start coming in. Way to allow an aleternate opinion bozos.
Thank goodness for Don and Bruce!
I don’t think the Sen’s are doing too bad considering:
-their best defenseman & arguably the best defenseman in the league is injured
-their top forward and the 4th leading scorer in the best league in the world is injured
-the number 1 goalie in the league at the time he was injured has been out
-one of their top 4 defenseman has been injured all season
-their top goal scorer from last year has been out for several games
-they have been playing 2 rookie goaltenders since their number 1 was injured
-many of their forwards are in scoring slumps
-they have played 9 rookies this year including their goalies
Not too bad I’d say. Just imagine if they had close to their regular line up.
I agree with you Pierre, surely Murray makes all the decisions here.
I know I have metioned this before and may sound like kike a trivial thing but I had some suspicions about Silfveberg last year when he didn’t want to test his game against NHLers. To me it spoke volumes. Why anyone believes a kid who sat on the bench in the SEL (scoring only 5 times), scored 4 goals in the AHL is a legitimate NHLer mystifies me. He very well may be, but not here and now. Is this the best thing for his development? Have we fans seen either of them skate with the puck at all? Where is all the talk in the media about these two? The papers, radio and TV ignore them now! I know comparisons are off-times unfare but I do not see their willingness to carry the puck over two lines nor go into the corners or battle in front of the net lke the 5-9, 179lb Gallagher does for Montreal!
I think the Battle of Ontario is alive! It’s not as intense as it was but it is alive and well! Perhaps it gets dismissed because the Sens cannot respond equally if the game(s) gets really ugly! If Orr and Mclaren are turned loose, the B of O is right back on. I will be watching and hoping my Sens win but the team simply hasn’t got the horses to win whatever game the Leaf’s want to play! Dressing Stone is a desperation move; I am sure he is excited and he should be (Sly wouldn’t have been) but I suspec the will have little impact. If Obrien sits to make room for Stone (the leading scorer among all the forwards) there can be doubt Murray is the one who calls all the shots. It would also underscore the bizarre silliness that goes on in this organization!
I think Chicago is the real deal: they can skate, they can bang (Bickel is never talked about but he is a dandy), they can certainly score, they show up home or away, they have some very tough boys and they are getting the goaltending. Yep, I think they are the real deal Pierre!
Bobby G, good points, I didn’t say those players wern’t good, but uber-elite is way way over the top
PierreD, my thoughts exactly, great in one end, terrible in the other, and I think giving him the Norris was a mistake, but I guess no one else stepped up
OD’d Again, now you change your words and then try to argue, you didn’t say “current” uber-elite, you said uber-elite
and they aren’t in the same catigory as Crosby, Malkin, Chara, Weber, and on an on, they are good, and would fit in on any first line, but uber-elite…….. leave your hyperbole at the door
Another loss last night, and I watched it, and although they outshot their opponent, they were perimeter shots and they were never really in the game
WHEN WILL THE SLIDE END?
I didn’t change any words ChokerLover, you just aren’t bright enough to have basic reading comprehension.
When will the slide end indeed! Sharks lost to lowly Flames 4-1 last night and look to be slipping out of the play-off picture quickly. Probably for the best, that way they can’t embarrass themselves getting knocked out of the playoffs early yet again…sad how they just don’t ever get over the hump with all those great underachievers and huge salaries.
anyone can be brave behind a computer screen, speaking of bright, why would I give a hoot about SJS, moron?
Ha!
You can’t even keep your own lies straight I see…shocking that a troll can’t recall what team(s) he has claimed to support.
That’s right Chokerlover, even a guy like you can pretend they are brave posting on a blog…but they can’t hide their intelligence when they post the same nonsense over and over – feel bad for you.