Oh, hi everybody. I’m sick and in bed LET’S DOOOOOOO THIS!
My Father Always Said The Saddest Thing In Life Is Wasted Talent
Just kidding I’ve never met my dad because he’s professional basketball player. Remember when the Washington Captials were considered a perennial cup contender? I’m not saying they’re a bunch of Laydown McGillicuddys (help get #laydownmcgillicuddys trending worldwide!) but squeaking their one win on the season past the Buffalo Sabres has these guys flirting with Bronze Game status. There are obviously still some very dangerous players on this team but are they as threatening as they once were? I’m looking in your general direction Alex Brovechkin. Look, I find it kind of hard not to love this guy but imagine for a minute he played on the Senators. How bummed out would you be with him right about now? I mean, people seem disappointed in Spezza so far this year and he has 5 points in 5 games. Meanwhile in Washington you have this generational talent at forward and guy had fewer points than defenseperson Erik Karlsson last season. Even Ol’ Spezz had the dignity to make sure to beat that total just to save face. And don’t give me this “coach lost the room” bologna. We’re talking about Alexander “scoring while sliding on his side backwards” Ovechkin here. Even Dani “slowest guy on the team / can he even see properly out of that one weird eye?” Heatley put up better numbers whilst hating Clouston in a “diminished role” on a much weaker team in his final nightmare year in Ottawa. What I’m asking is: was last season’s output a fluke or are we going to start seeing a serious decline in this player’s output? Yes, all players tend to trend downward as they age but there are a lot of comparably aged/talented players in the league right now that aren’t getting sonned by their team’s version of Mike Ribeiro. Speaking of which: Nick Backstrom you are aware that you get more ice time than Mike Ribeiro, yes?
Oh Looook the Curtains Are On Fire!
So, as much crap as I just talked about the Capitals, it would seem that the Sens will be without the services of Jason Spezza tonight. So…eek.
Still, it feels pretty good to have a player that is quickly emerging as a viable fill-in for the oft injured Spezza in Kyle Turris. Am I anointing him a 1st line centre? No but dude is positively flying out there so that’s a plus. Here’s to hoping Turris can stay hot and hold it down while Spezza recovers. This is something that he might have to get used to doing with the compressed schedule. It’s not just up to Turris though, with Alfredsson’s adamantium bones back suspiciously quickly from the flu (I’m at home with a sore throat today and I don’t even want to make lunch) and Latendresse already having missed time, I’m going to guess neither of those dudes will be at their best tonight. That’s not even mentioning Smith getting his head caved in on Sunday.
Now, I’m the first guy to preach patience but I think Ottawa needs a big game from Jakob Silfverberg tonight. Yes, he’s got a goal and he’s looked pretty good so far but tonight would be a big time oportunity for him to put it all together a little bit.
Celebrate the Moments of Our Lives
How are you planning to celebrate Peter Regin’s 6th game without serious injury? I’m hoping it’s by cheering his first point on the season. Seriously though I’m just glad the organization has gotten over this whole “depending in any way, shape or form on Regin emerging as a top 6 forward” phase. What’s that? Regin was filling in for Spezza at practice today? What me worry.
According to the projected lines for tonight’s game Chris Phillips will be on the 3rd pairing which can only mean one thing: Paul MacLean’s been getting my emails!!! What? Big Rig ain’t as young as he used to be I like seeing him get fewer minutes on the first game of two in two. Seems like a good call to me. Wiercioch draws back into the lineup which is very exciting but enters at the expense of Andre Benoit. Fair trade off but I just want to point out that I think Benoit has been a pretty good call up. Big up A.B. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Raphael Boroweicki deservedly hangs onto his spot and will play alongside Gonchar. I thought Gonchar was fantastic against Pittsburgh. I hope he has someone to impress on Washington as well. Meanwhile, Marc Methot and Erik Karlsson remain my favorite thing. After a Ross and Rachelesque “will they or wont they” Mika Zibanejad will indeed dress tonight. I don’t expect much as he’ll be facing a significant adjustment but welcome his fresh legs and youthful enthusiasm to the bottom 6.
Heyyyyyy Craig Anderson is Rocking a .073 GAA & .975 Save Percentage So…
Guys TAKE ADVANTAGE while he’s en fuego. I was troubled to hear Craig Anderson’s post game comment that he thought he let the team down by not stopping maybe the entire league’s most threatening trio of shootout bastards in the game against the Pens. The fact that Ottawa was an impressive 2/3 in the shootout and lost is telling of how hard it is to stave off Neal, Crosby and Malkin in succession. More important to me was how Andy rose to the much greater challenge of keeping the Senators (how formal!) in the entire game. We all griped about how weak the defense was going to be and bro-bro is holding down a goal a game. Ottawa totally has a good chance tonight. We were a few Erik Karlsson shots finding their way in from taking the last game so expect a fired up Special Little Guy tonight. Dude seemed FURIOUS with his performance against Pittsburgh.
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Enjoy the gains!
Welcome To Your Karlsson Years 
Not sure what meds you are battling that sore throat with, but I suggest a bit more.
Just on an over the counter self administering morphine pump…Nearly due for a refill.
Didn’t know those were available. So all I need is a sore thoat eh . . .
Dude, does Silvferberg belong right now? Maybe he needs more time to settle in, but the way Mark Stone came into the playoffs last year was impressive. He’s got a heavy shot, scoring touch, and great sense of awareness (insert drop pass to Spezza here). Given the short season I am all for letting some guys come in and test the water, but I would like to know why Stone hasn’t been considered? 4-5 games into this season may be a bit early to be asking…….
Borowecki Turtle laid some serious hits friday night, hoping he can do so again.
Hopefully Regin doens’t look like he’s from Pompei anymore…..
Anderson….a beast…..been super consistant…….just solid.
Zibanejad….I know nothing about this kid…..nothing. I hope he’s still…….good, and Swedish?
Get well soon fearless leader
I think Silfverberg will deservedly stick the whole season. There’s a lot to like about his all around game he just hasnt had the opportunity to get too many truly clean shots off. When he starts displaying that majesty…whew boy look out. The Sens wanted him to play with the team last season and instead he chose to go back to Sweden and win whatever the SEL championship is called and earn MVP while he was at it. Stoner did look quite good in his playoff game but keep in mind he played in the WHL last season and…hell SOMEBODY’S got to play for Binghamton, right? 🙂 He also has a broken finger right now so that will slow things down for Stone. Hopefully he, Hoffman and DaCosta get looks this year.
Youre absolutely right about Regin. No one who’s watched him play doubts he has the tools but with Hoffman, Stone, DaCosta, Prince et al pressing for a spot (even more so next season) Regin needs to stay healthy, produce his share and do his puck possession thing if he’s going to keep his job.
Boro, Benoit and Wiercioch have definitely taken the pressure off Murray to go over pay for a whatevs F.A. so far. Still early but this has been the most pleasant surprise for me.
I expect a quiet but solid game from Ziba tonight…though I’m not sure what line he’ll be playing on. He’s had a lot of frustrating time out of the lineup due to…i dont know I think he had Rubella at one point…but has been tearing up the AHL of late since returning. How that pans out in the NHL we’ll see!
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but generally folks don’t discuss such issues. To the next! Cheers!