I taint never scared

Hi each and every buddy! Welcome to this thing about tonight’s game! Okay, so, coming off a uhh…less than successful tilt against the Bostonian Brewhahas, the Sens take on the Pennsylvania Penguins in what promises to be an ice bath of exotic delights. Right? That’s a thing. LETS. MOVE. ON.

Mandatory Concussed Star Player Section:
Yeah, we’re all bummed out on this. What’s writing about this going to do? Get well soon, EVERYBODY.

Battle of the marshmallow legs (What? Goalie pads kind of look marshmallowy):
Tonight Craig Anderson makes his…I don’t know…90^th start in a row? Does anyone get the feeling that Andy starts a few too many games in a row sometimes? Then as a result he’ll have a bit of a burn out game? Was Boston that game? I don’t know. The defense made some serious flubs against the B’s but on the other side of the meatnormous omelet, for a guy so good at shootouts you think he could stonewall a one on one at least 50% of the time. Anyway, let’s see how it goes, its not like I’m saying lets put (I’m just going to assume former Penguin) Alex Auld in instead. So…let us pray?
Pittsburgh will start good goaltender who I still can’t believe got picked no.1 overall Marc Andre Fluery. Apparently Marc Andre “can’t hurrs what I am saying because he has hisStanley cup ring…pluggings one of his h’ear.”  That said, Tim Thomas, MA Fleuy is not and I as team consultant encourage of the taking of 50 shots like they did against Beantown.

Santa With Muscles:
Last time these two teams met, Nick Foligno engaged in some flumbling AND bumbling all over Fluery. This was amazing to witness because it was during Movember and Foligno could not have looked more like Inspector Clouseau at the time. Fluery was no worse for wear but as you may remember BryMurr got in a bit of a war of words with Penguins star Sidney Cronston after he delivered quite the elbow to the head of our lovable little scamp in retaliation. Foligno was not injured by Sid the Squid (trademark children’s show idea) butMurraypromised to ice the likes of Ziebart Konopka, Matt Carkner and Christmas Neil. Hopefully this results in aLOTof goals. No but seriously bros. Contain Matt Garbagecooke (he cooks and eats garbages) but can we not hurt them on the g’darn scoreboard tonight? That’s all I want. A little scoreo here and there.

Hopes and Dreams:
Spezza take the wheel. Also, get well soon Erik Karlsson’s ability to get his dynamite slapshot to hit the net. Michalek aint there to redirect them no more.

Puck drop is scheduled for the opening faceoff. The game will be broadcast on a television station….Im thinking BET.  

“Lets quit the horseplay and get down to brass tacks, Dracula” – President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Photo of the Sens taken in the third period

James

Hey, its December somethingth today and you know what that means? Hockey season is still happening! Well, gentlethuggz, it has been just a whirl of wind the past couple of weeks hasn’t it? Just…whirling with wind. I hate to start a Roundtable of Death in the midst of some struggles in Sensville but perhaps it’s for the best to have some Real Talk right now during this rebuildy season. So what are we liking, what are we not so much liking, what art we loving what art we loathing? Let us live and laugh and love together. . . uuugh I am unbearably weird.

Liking:
-Even though this has been a week that has REALLY challenged my easy, breezy, beautiful outlook of “HEYYYYY it’s a rebuild, win or lose it’s all good” the games have still been really exciting to watch. Even in some seriously heartbreaking circumstances. Funny when a team can score (especially late) how much more bearable a loss can be.

-Stumbled a bit the last couple of games but couldn’t help but notice Karlsson’s solid defensive play of late. Unfortunate that Ovie scored that admittedly badass winning goal on Our Special Little Guy as Karlsson was kind of making him his step-nephew all game up to then.

-Erik Condra quietly contributing.

Not so much liking:
-Really getting hemmed in all up in the defensive zone. All up in. In must situations, most notably on the power play. I’ve noticed that the once mighty PP can be completely derailed by being extremely tenacious with the defenders when they are either behind Ottawa’s net or are looking to begin a rush in the defensive zone. Maybe it’s the youth being exposed here or maybe the book is out on the Sens PP strategy. Just check as tight as you can on the breakout and watch them freeze up.

-Not liking how I got hypnotized and suddenly expected Zack Smith to put up a point a game and unfairly feel disappointed all of a sudden if the dude isn’t a game changer. Relax, me. Cant say he didn’t make it hard NOT to expect the world from him.

– Alex Auld showing why he’s played for like …11 frigging teams last night. Looking forward to Uncle Robin’s Goalie Hunt to start next season. But oy, last night, man, Auld in the shootout. Memories of the last two years. Cant go side to side at all. I mean in all it’s a bad game for Alex (AND COMPANY) but… when it reminds me of the last two season’s? it’s really bad. Bounce back bro, Andy cant start every damn game.

Loving:
-Nick Foligno. He’s our generation’s Zack Smith. No, really, I’ve always been a fan of this guy but I cant deny he’s been incredibly frustrating over the years. Guy couldn’t work any frigging harder game in and game out but … he dooooesnt always get let’s say…return on his investment. People who follow the team closely have seen the flashes of what Lil Nicky (great movie, GREATER nickname) can do. He’s scored some of the craziest goals I’ve ever seen (I think most of them in the preseason though). Nice too see him playing some of the best hockey of his career lately and props for not diarrheaing the bed at centre position. Also, new development…guy has tankish hitting qualities! Keep it up!

-In brief: Michalek keeping it up, Alfie finding his inner slapshot, Cardiac kids style comeback lone bright spot in garbage dump of a game in Jersey last night.

– Heard we’re getting a new scoreboard at the end of the month. EFF YES! FINALLY no more watching the game on the ice!

Loathing:
– Gonchar injury. I really hope Tintin isn’t out long after going into the boards seriously hard last night. Not only would it be a blow to the power play but to the team in general. Case in point, Filip Kuba. No denying the team game has suffered considerably since the veteran backend’sman (new slang) went down with … I don’t know…whatever he’s frigging hurt with this time. I like me some Jared Cowen and all but you can see giving him like 46 minutes a game, Mmmm might be pushing it a bit for a guy who’s only been in the NHL a couple months. Help us Dave Hale. Help us. Wherever you are.

– Can we not get a little bit of a competition going twixt Bobby Butler and Filatov? I know they play different wings and until recently MacLean has had a lineup that was doin big thang$ but has Butler really been a part of that aide from that one game against Calgary this year? Would love to see some healthy/unhealthy competition between these two.
-Zenon Konopka last night. Getting kicked out of important faceoffs, getting unnecessary penalties at literally the worst times to go down a man…ive been easy on Zenon till now but I had my “what is this guys purpose on this team?” Moment last night.

Varada’s Korner

waaaaaaaait for it....

Coming off the Win-In-Peg…………..RIGHT…………GUYS? the Sens look to stay in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack tonight against Texa$. Before I get this blogparty starrrrrrrrteeeeed, I just want to say:

 Sens, if you’re reading this, which I know you are, because youre always mentioning that on the twitters, and at our personal hangouts, that I am really proud of you boys in red, white, some sparkly gold, black, and occasionally off white as well, that it is now December and you’re sitting in… well…tightly clinging to 8^th seed in the East. 8^th. Ahead of the likes of the Tampa Bay Thundersticks and the Washington Das Kapitals. Look, this is NHL hockey its a wild circus sometimes, the Boston Brewing Company was in like worst place a month ago…then decided to basically not lose anymore and punched everyone in their area, meaning, a lot’s going to change over time but I still wanted to offer my thanks for your very respectable/ fun to watch hockey up till this point. This is a team with a lot of rookies, a new coaching staff, a new system, some old dudes, a lot of weakness down the middle and it’s for these reasons that you guys were picked by pretty much everyone except Adnan at SilverSevenSens to finish dead last in the East. But you’ve got too much fight in you, don’t you guys? Don’t listen to the pouters, the doubters and the snouters. I’m probably not alone in thinking after those 2 early blowouts that it felt like a taste of things to come all, “Wow, 2011-2012 is going to be ‘February of last season’ bad.” Nope, been pretty good. Regardless of what happens, it has been DAMN fun to watch this team (more fun than last year already) and I hope they can keep it going.

Tonight’s matchup:
So our beloved Senators are in Texa$ to take on the Christmas Stars in a battle of the bubblicious teams. You guys, does anyone know anything about Dallas that they’d like to contribute before I start this thing?

Battle of Booms from the Point:
Former/Future AHLer Sheldon Souray has turned heads this season in this reclamation season with the Starrz …oh …oh wait, sorry, sorry, I thought this was 10 games ago. It’s not 10 games ago? Oops,  Souray has ZERO points in 10 games after coming out of the gate something fierce. Now, usually I’d just make fun of the former all star and be done with it but I bring up his cold streak because I find that the Sens have a way of helping players/ teams break out of their stupid slumps. You know what I mean, friends? Like, Eric Staal will score against Ottawa and out comes the “Eric Staal, with his first point in 19 gaaaames…his last goal came against Ottawa.” You notice that? Anyone see 24/7 last year? Aaaaaanyone see Bridges of Madison County? I don’t know, watch out for this guy. He’s got a streak he’s looking to break. Erik Karlsson, hopefully intact after last game, looks for his 400th assist this season. Our special little guy is RIPPING it. Can Rundblad get in on a little bit of the Swedish magic?

Battle of the Under the Radar and SUB under the radar forwards:
Apparently, no one knows who Julia-Loui Eriksson is. I do because I used to play fantasy hockey back in the old days when I thought I cared about something like that. Anyway, with 22 points in 24 games, yeah, Loui is putting up Nugent-Hopkins type numbers – yup that is already a thing. Definitely a guy you might want to hip check in the face if possible. Dogman I’m lookin at you. Now moving one step BELOW under the radar, who the hell is Jamie Benn? Maybe I don’t follow the West even more than I though but I have no idea who the guy who has TWENTY THREEEEE points in 24 games. I’m telling you guys, this West? She moves, in mysterious ways. I also hope Mike Ribeiro has a terrible game because he seems thoroughly unlikable.
The Sens counter with Milan Michalek who I think counts as an under the radar guy outside of Ottawa. Guy is nails and no one gives a crunch but you know what? You know what Milano? You just go in there…score your goals and keep looking like a husky. As for our Sub-under the radar guy? Wait till these pricks get a load of Zack Smith. You know NO ONE knows who that guy is in the West. Even his name is inconspicuous. Maybe he’ll even get more power play time? You laugh now but it seemed to work a little bit there, last game.

Dans Le Filet:
Kari Lehtonen is currently on the injured reserve with a case of BEING THE NEW PASCAL LECLAIREITUS. Seriously folks, this guy goes down more than <insert latest answer to Paris Hilton joke fodder> *Takes bow, accepts award for terrible comedy/blogging* So anyway, let me just go on Askjeeves.com and find out who the backup for Dallas is….loading….loading…..ANDREW RAYCROFT!!! HES STILL IN THE NHL? Wait, maybe this isn’t so great as if anyone is looking to snap a cold streak I am almost CERTAIN it’s Raycroft. Move over Souray.
Dharma and Craig Anderson *shrugs, polishes terrible comedy award* looks to make his billionth start for Ottawa and as such can move into a tie for third overall in wins for goaltenders! Cool eh? Still not over that Lehtonen joke? I know. Just….the worst.

ENJOY THE GAME!

See ya'll next year after I get back from my tour with R. Kelly.

James

You guys, I can’t stop thinking about the Senators 2^nd line centre position. I feel like…I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof. A cat on a hot tin roof that’s concerned about the Senators 2^nd line centre position! Help me Dr. Zeus (you).

For Cyril Sneeriousness, now that the city seems to have finally stopped dusting off the perennial “Lets trade our best player who plays one of the hardest positions in the sport to fill at about a point per game” chestnut…You know who I’m talking about! Rhymes with recently snored his brewhundredth career mole? No? Rhymes with Shanaynay Splendzza? OH GOD YOURE SO BAD AT THIS GAME. Anyway, I’ve always understood the criticism of Spezza but never felt his shortcomings trumped his rare set of pure, uncensored, 2 hot 4 TV skillz. Further, in recent times, the thing that’s really solidified Spezza for me is his clear desire to WANT to be the best player he can be. I think losing Heatley, enduring a few injury plagued seasons, watching Alfie age and the birth of his son Rudiger Hortense Aloysius Spezza have perhaps taught him something something you only have so much time in this league and  something something you don’t know what you got till it’s something. *Dusts off hands* well, that wraps up another really interesting post and I want to thank…oh wait, I didn’t even talk about what I was supposed to talk about….
With Spezza carrying his weight on the first line and fans in large getting behind this whole future captain thing, the question of Spezza’s value to the team finally seems put to bed. That’s said, we face a new question down the middle of the lineup  with hockey player and croissant enthusiast Stephane DaCosta’s recent demotion to the AHL and Peter Regin’s shoulder on dialysis for at least another month. Who’s going to centre the second line?
Regin missed a huge stretch of last season with a blown out shoulder and has already missed time TWICE this season for it. Though I want all the best for Denmark’s best export since LEGO, I have to say that I am beginning to question his long term health and viability in the league. Like groin to the goalie LeClaire who came before him, the shoulder is probably the last body part an NHL centre wants to suffer a chronic injury to. In addition, I’ve always been a tad skeptical of Regin’s legitimacy as a top 6 centre. A solid playoff performance and an absolutely dismal season (even as far as dismal 2010-11 Sens seasons go) under his belt. Is Peter Regin already a bit too big of a risk going forward both injury and production wise? I mean, Phoenix’ Kyle Turris is a guy who is seen as a gamble at 2^nd line centre considering how little he’s  done to prove himself at the NHL level but bro take a hit off of this reality bong and check this out, our Regin is a risk too….

Kyle Turris Age: 22 Pos: C
GP: 131 G: 19 A: 27 PTS: 46

Peter Regin Age: 25 Pos: C
GP: 146 G: 18 A: 33 PTS: 51

Ehhh…K. So what would you do? He’s a month (minimum) from returning. Wait it out with some weird Foligno (What!?), Winchester, Zmith? Tri-headed monster as second line centre like many are speculating? This is very risky and such a risk could potentially prove the undoing of what is currently a .500 team. Unless of course the 3^rd line continues being really, really, amazing. Or do you shake hands with the devil and make a trade for Gatineau native Derick (great spelling!) Brassard of Columbus? Brassard with the pedigree of Nikitia Filatov, the injury problems of Regin and the healthy scratch skills of Alex Semin? And the 2011 point totals of…uhhh…not joking, Zenon Konopka (be my guest, look em both up!).  Do you just role the MFing dice, accept its a rebuild year and risk tanking to await the sunny shores of Zibanejad? Any other ideas?

VARADA

Strange times, my friends, strange times. This team is one Spezza injury away from not really having a natural center on the team. Not that keeping our 18 year old prospect in town and stunting his progression by giving him a -47 plus-minus for Christmas is the answer
…and Regin isn’t the answer either. I know Maclean was all like “He has NHL experience, and that goes a long way,” but yeah…less than two full seasons played, and with last season being of the absolutely abysmal variety (didn’t he score like 0.5 goals last year?), I don’t really know what the value is there. He has more experience not really being the answer to our 2nd line center question? He’s young, he’ll get better, but at the moment he’s not playing. It’s unfair to expect him to seamlessly re-integrate coming off of shoulder rehab.
Unfortunately, I also don’t think a trade is in order, especially a trade for a high-cost / high-risk / high pedrigree / underperforming player like Turris. This team has the potential to seriously bottom out, and I wouldn’t want to lose any picks outside of the first two rounds. Turris ain’t coming back for a 3rd rounder. Also those big market guys are crazy. Watch for the Rangers or Flyers to trade for Turris just because they’re bored. (I actually think he goes to Montreal. They need a shakeup.)

So, back when Steve made this image and I said “Awesome I’ll put it up when Butler scores his first goal of the year” the blog was still called Cory Clouston Fashion Review

Hey Each and Every Last One of You,

That was some game, right? Lots to muse on. If the Sens were to play every game like that especially the way they did in the first period they’d beat the Calgary Flames on the road Tuesday nights all the time, every time.

Craig Anderson, or as Denis Potvin might call him, Greg Granderson, really kept the Sens in this one early. He matched and eventually bested The Mighty Kipper. I was thinking before the game, sure the Sens haven’t beat the Flames since the The Gilded Age but now we have a former Western goaltender who played these guys pretty regularly and might have a bit of a book on some of their shooters. It’s a shame the wonkiness of the goal that got past him, Andy deserved a shutout. Maybe my favorite game from him this season.

Enrique Karlsson. Did you see that play where Karlsson made a bit of a flub but then backchecked his little buns off to catch up, laid a nice hit AND scored a sweet take away? Our special little guy has a sweetheart and that sweetheart is me. “ALRIGHT BACK OFF….BACK OFF! …He’s going to the dance with ME!” – A.C. Slater

“Diamond” Bobby Butler. Ive been hard on this guy so far this season I mean the guy has to live up to his being on the side of OC Transpo buses fame but damn he looked HUNGRY last night. Somewhere in the second period I really noticed Butsy Segal putting on the jets and I just had a good feeling about his game. A fantastic game from Bottle Service.

Powder Play: They didn’t score on the PP but hot damn when you see Gonchar, Spezza and Karlsson each get a good clean chance to step into a shot you effing better have Mikka Kipprusoff in net. Jah bless those three can shoot.

Western Secrets:
Its always interesting to watch a Western game as you get surprised by some of the players who aren’t huge marquee names. I thought Mark Giordano or in Potvin-speak “Gurgando”  looked very impressive. Ditto Rene Bourque. I mean I obviously don’t see these guys game in and game out but it was funny that a couple guys attached to trade rumors were standing out last night. Calgary you might want to hang onto those dudes. On the other side of that coin….

The Ballad of Oli Pumpkinhead: Wasn’t it just fantastic watching Jokinen getting SONNED in the faceoff circle by Jason Spezza last night? I don’t know, I cant stand that dude for some reason.

More on Spezza: I’m noticing a lot of comments (obviously not on this site as you’d think the comment section was shut down WIIIIIINK) moaning about how he had a couple of giveaways. I gotta say, guys, I agree to a certain extent but giveaways happen. Other really good players cause giveaways Ovie, Malkin, even the high exalted Datsyuk has his moments. I’m just saying, Spezza had a pretty great game, was nails in the circle, shot lots and even had a couple takeaways. It’s like complaining about penalties, I get it I get it but penalties are just gunna happen in this work a day world. Keep shooting for the stars Jason Spezza and I’ll be right there to borrow money!

Fun Fakt: Jabe BonesMister makes over $6,000,000 EVERY YEAR. To put that money in perspective take 75,000 dollars then double that, then double that, then double that… Computer Explode

Yep, Kipper's mask is really that badass.

 Everybody!

There’s a hockey game taking place tonight! And by tonight, my little Eastern Standard Timers, I mean, this thing pops off at 9:30pm. You see friends, back in the 1850’s God invented something called TIME ZONES and on Saint Christmas Day, She deployed a net maaaaaade of magic over the mountains and…you know what? Never you mind that…its just history, its what I’m into, its boring.

LETS TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE!

Wigwams, we’ve been friends for a while now right? *Pause for acknowledgement* and, and, and you know my style right? *stares kind of desperately at you* You know that I typically adhere to the WTYKY motto that: SENS RULE. ALL THEM OTHA TEAMS *STINK* Right? If the Sens have a terrible season and don’t make the playoffs and you say something like “Oh well, I guess I’ll go for Montreal now” I will delete you off of Friendster so fast it will make your novelty troll doll collection spin REAL TALK but I must say….
Konfession Korner: You guys, I have a little bit of a soft spot for the Calgary Flames. I admit I got swept up in the Flames Cup Run of 20 ought 4. The lunch pail work ethic, the so many red beards, the Craig Conroy post game interviews! In many ways, they tend to remind me of the post-cup/pre-build Senators. Lost in the weeds in a Sunbelt suffered cup loss paradigm, a loveable do no wrong captain willing to go down with the ship, management caught up in acquiring overpriced FAs to augment a rapidly fading core chasing that mysterious missing piece dragon, few to no future star players coming up in the farm system, Craig Hartsberg on staff, a lights out goaltender desperately attempting to carry the defense corps on his ba—okay, I said in MANY ways not all ways.

Am I alone when you look at the Flames and see how they are – pause for AMAZING joke – flaming out – hold for applause – STILL holding – and feel a bit of sympathy for Kipper, Iggy and their loyal fans? We Sens buddies had to sit through some post 2007 death throws, Alex Kovalev and impending first round playoff doom before the powers that baconate had mercy and held a fire sale for a shot at a brighter future. It doesn’t seem Calgary’s brass is quite there yet. Okay, I’ve said my piece,Calgary pals, I feel your frustration. It stinks when you know your team is stuck rudderless in the Stinksville peninsula. Okay, greaaaaaaat…got that out of the way….PSSST, now follow me over here!

Over here:
My beautiful babies, since the 2011-2012 Flames are basically the 2010-2011 Sens we know that this is a team RIPE for curb stompery. Home? Away? It doesn’t matter. Their spirit is weak. Their players (outside of a mere few) are playing with the fear of a demotion, trade or worst of all, a public de-pantsing by Detective Droopy their coach. We have the inside track of how winnable this game is for our boys also in red, gold, white and some black accents.

Except of Course for One Thing:
So, Mikka Kipprusoff has a tendency to turn the Senators hopes and dreams into a bunch of miniature turtles that he stomps with a miniature turtle stomping machine. You know? Yes, me too. The guy’s good at goaltending. It would appear that after beating the maple loaves on Saturday that the Sens remembered how to score again but they’ll probably have to turn it up a notch as Mikka aint no leafs starter du jour. Am I right,  AndrewRaycroftVesaToskalaJSGuigereJonasTheMonsterGustavssonJamesReimerBenScrivens? Those guys know what I’m talking about. Not a goalie graveyard at all.

Heyyyyyyy Guess Who Has to Land On The Score Sheet:
Bump bad da daaaaa: Jason Spezza! I have a feeling, win or lose, if Spezz can pot one it will ease the tension on the first line for this coming road trip and possibly even open things up for the 6 points in 6 games hot Nicholai Foligno! Also of note: Spezza will need minimum 3 points to catch up to Nicklas Backstrom for the scoring race I made up between them! Speaking of overtaking scoring leads Milan Michalek, please score 2 to 3 goals tonight and unseat that Garbage Pail Kid. Also, does Alex Ovechkin still play hockey? Is he waiting forCrosby to return to make it a fair fight or has he entered a Michael Jordan semi-pro baseball hiatus?

 HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Can You Score An MFing Goal Already?
Bobby Butler. Wha happened? Get well soon Bobby Butler’s ability to score goals. Uhh, ANYWAY, after a hot start you’d have to think Colin Greening had better post up one or two on this 37 game road trip if he wants to stick around on that first line lest Papa Alfie has to come in AND GROUND ALL OF YOU. Here’s to hoping Stephane DaCosta can make the most of his time in the top six and fight off what are becoming pretty scary rumors of trades for Derek Brassard (like Nikita Filatov BUT with 2.5 years at over 3M AND injury problems!) or gelp Matt Stajan…ugh…Bryan Murray used to watch Toronto Ottawa games a few years ago and is aware that Matt Stajan sucks right? This is a rebuild baby fellas, you dont trade for other team’s runoff 2 months in just because Regin is hurt.

With Nealer out tonight, the Sens will need to bring the ‘in your big stupid face’ grit to the Flames. Even though in a cruddy place the Flames aint gunna roll over, as the Tao states, Still good to the East is the team that stinks in the West. Get all up in these dudes respective AND collective worlds and for the love of Pete shoot the puck lots. Oh, also, may our defense reliant offense continue to roll! Enjoy the game!

#votealfie
#votejamesforalabamaagriculturecommissioner

Remember?

Steven (yeah that’s right watch us drop this on all your heads, Steven started this thread…pretty cool eh? We’re always mixin it up trying new things -smiley face )

Three questions comes to mind after this game.  Has Anderson stolen a win for the Senators yet this season, other then making four saves in a shootout?  Is this a cause for concern? Is this what it feels to be a “western style” NHL team? 

The Mighty Varada

I’m pretty concerned with a $3m goaltender with a .88% SP. He’s been mediocre at best, and sometimes brutal. Auld hasn’t been much better. But I’m not quite in desperation mode. He’s not consistently bad, so he’ll get the starts. But if Lehner plays as well as he did for a few more games, they’ll have an interesting decision to make.

James (less than mighty)

I think it a tad unfair to say that Anderson DIDN’T steal those shootout wins. He did. No denying that. Andy even gave the boys more of a chance then he should have had to in the S/O against Buffalo. He has not been a star on this team by any stretch outside of it his shootout performances though. It’s a bit frustrating that he has been in ‘eye of the tiger’ mode in losses and looked mortal in wins. I call it The LeClaire Technique (remember all those “Pascal LeClaire first star with 68 saves in 3-1 loss!” games, No? I don’t remember that guy either –its called Sports Related PTSD)

I, like Varada who came before me, am not really all that panicked right now. Through the ups and downs I never waiver from seeing this as a rebuild season. 6 game win streak? Cool. Bigger question, how are the rookies looking in those wins? 4 game losing streak? Fine. Our second line centre played for a college I’ve never heard of last season not mention no Alfie in the lineup (which is something the team needs to get used to anyway).Anderson looking ordinary out there? Meh, hows Lehner developing down in Bingo? If the Sens finish in the playoff race, amazing, just please Bryan, don’t lose sight of what this team is. If they were to defy odds and make it to the post season I hope that they do it according to the original plan ie. no surrendering of picks. If they had it set up to sell Kuba or whomever at the deadline, carry on. If they come in 14th, so be it, that would still technically be better than predicted.

So, what does this have to do with Anderson? I guess, again, I’m looking big picture. I’m almost more concerned with how he does NEXT season than this season. I want the Sens to win too but this is the one season we can most afford to ignore getting into a “goalie controversy” distraction for what feels like the twelfth time. Leave that toToronto. If Anderson has a cold streak in November fine, let him learn to heat up again. No need to bring Lehner up to go on an extended road trip against the likes of Hall, Eberle, Nuggie-Hopscotch, and the Sedin bros. To go to Varada’s stat, 88% is disappointing, but 3 or 4 percent more and he’s back to respectable goaltending stats. I don’t want to sound dismissive but for real, if they keep playing entertaining hockey and keep the blowouts to a minimum I’m a happy customer for the 2011-Mayan Apocalypse season. Speaking of entertaining, uhhh…who put the café au lait in Stephane DaCosta’s baguette last night? L’enfant est inspirée! I kind of believe in that kid a lot. He is rough around the edges for sure but I love that he doesn’t play scared. That’s what makes the best players on our team like Krang Karlsson so fun to watch. Still very early. Alons les boys!

“This song is about REAL TALK with your girl, so I called it REAL TALK” – R. Kelly, seemingly terrible person/amazing singer/life coach

 The Still Mighty Varada

Well said! Keeping it in perspective. Nicely done. We’ll only need about 10,000 more “Steeeeeady boys” speeches following losses this season, promise.

Agreed bout Da Costa. He looked saucy last night. He almost slapped Lundqueesy with a leather glove.
How do we feel about this upcoming West coast road trip? “Steeeeeeaady boys.”

James

The Mayor Jim Watson of Sens Fans up in this peace.
I think this road trip will be rough in spots for sure but the recent losses have been pretty close with encouraging moments. I am also managing my Alfie expectations. If anything I am a bit worried about Papa Alfie pushing himself back into the fray too quickly. Though its not Russian Machine Never Breaks still Swedish Machine…you know…Breaks, But Tends To Recover Very Quickly. I smell a NEW new blog name! I don’t think its insane to think they could potentially come out respectably. Baring some sort of shame spiral. Though they’ll be battling fatigue the Sens will probably start playing low risk road hockey (yes, street hockey) and could come out with a few cheeky wins. Man, Im going to miss going to games 😦 What becomes of the Dogman with Alfie back? I hope they take him along in his kennel. Thats not a joke, the NHLPA is prejudiced against Latvian players and forces them to travel that way.

Something Sens and Habs fans can agree on. L'Enigma in a better place in the KHL

“Here it comes/ its coming here/ and it’s here and it’s back again, also/ right now/ it’s the return/ of the..James/ Day Preview/ Thing all over the place” – Eminem, hit song about this.

Wow, thanks Eminem. Great song, even better rapping times, great friends.

Friends,
The rivalry that the land before time forgot resumes TO-NIGHT! SENS, HABS. All in. All Right guys? I don’t remember much about the last time these teams played so hold on to your novelty hockey puck shaped hat(s) as it’s bound to be a divisional hockey game! No, I think this could shape up to be a spirited affair as one team predicted to be in last place is 6 and 1 in their last 7 and looks to maintain their momentum while the other team that was expected to be their middling selves has been in large playing like toilet garbage (yes, garbage that even a toilet would disregard) and look to continue saving their coach’s job as their fans are a bunch of maniacs righting the ship.

The next stretch of games will be a test of things to come as Daniel “Al-fie, Al-fie, Al-fie” Alfredsson appears to be out indefinitely with a case of the Shannahan Blues. A test of things to come as …look, I hate to say it, but one day Daniel Alfredsson will no longer be an active NHL player and come that day the boys will need to learn how to play without the best player in franchise history. They did admirable job when he was out last season and I KNOW, I KNOW that it sucks to think about but…we’re going to get a look at the changing of the guard over the next difficult stretch. Speaking of changing of the guard…

The Battleof the Spezza vs. Backstrom that I made up for some reason: The Future Sens captain both knows and cares about my baseless rivalry between these two players and looks to pad his current 1 point lead over Backstrom. Backstrom has three games in hand Spezz if not for yourself and your fans DO IT FOR THE BLOG!

Injurious Basterds: An excuse reason behind Montreal’s early struggles is the dreaded injury bug. Former effective hockey player Scott Gomez is out with an undisclosed injury that is rumored to be Cheechooitis. UPDATE VIA @Pascal_LeClaire: ANDREI MARKOV IS INJURED, REPEAT, ANDREI MARKOV IS INJURED!!!! As is Christ Campoline. Whatever,Montreal stinks, Sens rule, moving on…
For the Sens, the Andrei Markov of forwards, Peter Regin is out (again) along with future causer of an awkward numbers game on defense Matt Carkner and Anointed One, Daniel Alfredsson They are reportedly watching a Storage Wars marathon on A&E tonight. Bibi is making her famous salted gjörfluunger fish snappers for the wounded boys!

In There Like Swimwear (slowest golf clap for that B.S.): Return of the Dogman. Coming off his first NHL goal and a non-hockey related tooth extraction, Kaspars Daugavins will no doubt be playing tonight’s game with a good luck tooth necklace and hopefully fresh Movember ‘stache a sproutin’. Could we be any more excited for this guy right now? GO DOGMAN! Guy is in my favorite Latvian since Olgerts Dunkers (RIP)!
Life-like, human sized doll Brian Lee draws into the lineup replacing David Rundblad. I gotta say, though not as much of a fan favorite, Lee deserves a game or two here and there after being such a good soldier (the uhh…last few seasons).

As Sens fans (doi), we know well of Jacques Martin’s Game of Zones (and their cloggery). Let’s hope the Sens can break on through to the other side (see picture below) and open this game up!

Things to watch for: There’s a lot of young forwards who’ll be chomping at the bit tonight  trying to solidify their place in the line up; Filatov, Daugavins, DaCosta, Condra, and Butler. Greening doesnt really count as he is kind of Gettin-R-the-Frig-DONE right now. So, anyway, will any of these dudes make it onto the score sheet tonight? I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping for Condra, Filatov or Butler to put up their first of the season. It was encouraging to see the Foligno-DaCosta-Butler line producing in the loss to Boston. After taking 2 whole games off of putting the team on their backs hopefully the Greening-Spezza-Michalek (or Green Spezzlek) line gets it going again.

Craig Anderson in to have a 200 foot staring contest with Carey Price.

The Sens need to be this if they want to secure a victory tonight.

Hey Everybody, could that game last night have been any more KICK BUNS?

Some pictorial musings for your viewing pleasure…

What's awesome with this picture?

Did anyone else catch this former Montreal fan ABSOLUTELY losing his shit on the DaCosta goal? This guy is your Frank D’Angelo Presents Cheetah Power Surge Brain and Nerve Tonic Presents WTYKY First Star of the Game. Welcome to the Brother and Sisterhood of Ottawa Senators Fans. Also, please change your shirt as quickly as possible, there is a strict dress code policy against tattered rags.

Sonya, Johnny Cage, Foligno, Raiden, Scorpion, Sub Zero, Frank D'Angelo...

  Goal Jesus finally repaid professional hockey player and local event shower upper Nick Foligno for all his effort with a beautious goal last night. The guy has put in the effort required for about 15 goals so far this season but always seems to come up short. If Goal Jesus (.com) feels it is part of His devine plan to bestow upon Foligno one MEGAGOAL (trademark) every ten games who are we to mess with the universe?

Holy Kristmas is this team more fun to watch than last years! What can I say, I love these Shaemuses in short pants. FOUR IN A ROW!