The game tonight was boring from the stand point that our arena is dead silent unless there is a big check, a goal or a fight. However, six goals is hard to say that it was a complete sleeper so I suppose I can say a few words.
First is about Gerber. I know I have been hard on his sloppy goaltending; that will not change. He was still popping out rebounds, but he actually did the one thing I have complained about for quite some time now and he actually stole a game. Yup. I will admit to that. Gerber played quite well. The defence, sadly, played like they were asleep and by the third period the entire team showed that they were off for eleven days.
Spezza ... Definitely leaving it there on the ice. He was much smarter this game and played a great up ice and a good down ice game. What else can I say? His numbers speak louder than my words, but he needs to show consistency before I get off his back.
Ruuuuuuuuutuuuuuuu ... Every game, every shift, every hit, shot and annoyance this guy does makes me giddy. Two goals in this game just added to the man-crush list and I am about ready to name my first born Jarkko.
Checking: The team needs to do a LOT more of it. We got stronger, grittier and tougher all around during the off season, but I didn't feel as though that were true. Take a lead from Volchenkov. He will knock a player on his rear, block a shot in the next transition and take shots on net. Now granted he has only scored 11 goals in his NHL career -- one of them coming tonight -- but he's a good example of a strong, punishing player. Oh and Vermette, helicoptering Fisher does not count as a check. ;)
More tomorrow when the Sens host Beantown. I hope that my next blog post doesn't have me returning to my annoyed rants about poor consistency.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Giving away the game!
There are two things I absolutely hate about Jason Spezza. First and foremost I hate how he does so many interviews. Yes, he's a top flight centerman for the Ottawa Senators, but he is neither the spokesman for the club nor is he the best there is in the league. Jason, do the fans and the city a favour and shut up, play hockey and let the points do the talking! The second thing I hate is the thing that cost us the home opener against Detroit ... forced and/or blind passing!
For a couple of years I have griped about how often Spezza tried to thread the needle and how very frequently it goes wrong. I usually get the idiotic response from Spezza lovers of "yeah, but when it works it's AWESOME OMG!" Yeah, when it works... Simple plays lead to goals more often than fancy plays. If you have no option then put the puck on net. It's a whole lot better than firing between your legs back towards the blueline where it is picked off and starts an odd man rush!
Now, I know a lot of people will be sore about this, but c'mon Gerber. Three goals? Seriously? The first goal I can admit that Volchenkov MAY have screened you a bit, but you knew if it won't hit him it'll come up. The second goal there was no excuse ... you cheated and dropped early. The third goal hit Kuba's stick and wobbled, but hit the netminder and still got through. I don't mind a sloppy goal now and then, but when the Sens had actually played decent defence for most of the night I expect the goalie to bail the club out on a bad change. Yeah Gerbs played well other than those three goals, but the ones that go in are the only ones that count.
For a couple of years I have griped about how often Spezza tried to thread the needle and how very frequently it goes wrong. I usually get the idiotic response from Spezza lovers of "yeah, but when it works it's AWESOME OMG!" Yeah, when it works... Simple plays lead to goals more often than fancy plays. If you have no option then put the puck on net. It's a whole lot better than firing between your legs back towards the blueline where it is picked off and starts an odd man rush!
Now, I know a lot of people will be sore about this, but c'mon Gerber. Three goals? Seriously? The first goal I can admit that Volchenkov MAY have screened you a bit, but you knew if it won't hit him it'll come up. The second goal there was no excuse ... you cheated and dropped early. The third goal hit Kuba's stick and wobbled, but hit the netminder and still got through. I don't mind a sloppy goal now and then, but when the Sens had actually played decent defence for most of the night I expect the goalie to bail the club out on a bad change. Yeah Gerbs played well other than those three goals, but the ones that go in are the only ones that count.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Stockholm... games one and two
I chose to wait until the second of the back-to-back games in Stockholm were concluded for selfish reasons. I really didn’t feel like writing two days in a row. That said let’s move on to the meat of the matter.
Goaltending Controversy ... round two!
In game one Gerber showed very little poise and let in three bush-league style goals. These goals were the product of poor position play and even worse they came without any screening. In game two Auld showed poise under fire and even when he made small mistakes he made up for it with smart plays. I said it last year and I’ll say it again this year ... Martin Gerber is not Ottawa’s starting goaltender. He could come ‘round and dance on his head proving me wrong, but I don’t work on the concept of faith. I like to be shown the truth. Will Auld be #1? I don’t know, but the home opener in seven days will be a shocking if Auld is not in net after how he played this game. His only goal against came in the last second and was no fault of his own.
The youngin’s and the old folks...
Winchester had a great camp, but let’s be honest, he has had even better start in the NHL. With Fisher out (again) with a groin injury there was a need for a good two way player to step up and work like Fish does and Winchester is a good substitution. Lee, although committed a nasty give away in the first game, has also stepped up his game and become a bit of a presence on the back end and contributed to Vermette's shortie in game two, but what about Jason Smith? Going to task on Crosby isn’t an easy order especially when Sid the Kid can fly past most players, but the older slower Smith got in his face sure enough. It got to the point where Sid hacked at Smith and all the veteran did was crack a grin at the kid and continue on.
The PEST line ...
There is absolutely no need to give a name to the Neil – Faligno – Ruutu line. Call it exactly what it is ... It’s the PEST line! They are fantastic. I won’t lie. I hated Ruutu right up until the game started on Saturday, but moving forward into Sunday I was even more in man-crush territory. Putting him out there with Neil for added agitation and toughness was a no-brainer, but Faligno too? Now that’s a heck of a combination! This just leaves to question what will happen when Fisher returns? Winchester goes back down and Faligno shifts lines? As much as I think Mike Fisher is amazing, I don’t think it would be a wise move unless you want that line to net goals.
Penalty Kill ...
Through 14 power plays the Senators only allowed one goal and it came in the last second of the second game. That is absolutely astonishing considering the talent of the Penguins. Moreover the Senators kept the Penguins to the outside or running around in their own end for the puck ... not to mention the short handed markers in both games.
Defence ...
You cannot have good PK without solid defence. The one thing everyone was saying when Redden and Meszaros left was that we lost a lot of defence. Ironic to that statement is that in their last two games Redden and Meszaros have gotten points on the board ... Defence? True, the Senators need a puck moving defenceman, but it seems that this club has started to transition well. Perhaps we won’t see a major shakeup if the club can come together as a team as they showed in Stockholm. I have long said this club needs to be tougher on the puck both up and especially down the ice.
Grit ...
See the above mentioned really. Smith, Neil, Ruutu, Phillips, Volchenkov even Alfredsson ... The Senators played with much more grit and intensity. Hartsburg could very well be the catalyst for this, but the players must continue to want and need to play for one another just like this.
Goaltending Controversy ... round two!
In game one Gerber showed very little poise and let in three bush-league style goals. These goals were the product of poor position play and even worse they came without any screening. In game two Auld showed poise under fire and even when he made small mistakes he made up for it with smart plays. I said it last year and I’ll say it again this year ... Martin Gerber is not Ottawa’s starting goaltender. He could come ‘round and dance on his head proving me wrong, but I don’t work on the concept of faith. I like to be shown the truth. Will Auld be #1? I don’t know, but the home opener in seven days will be a shocking if Auld is not in net after how he played this game. His only goal against came in the last second and was no fault of his own.
The youngin’s and the old folks...
Winchester had a great camp, but let’s be honest, he has had even better start in the NHL. With Fisher out (again) with a groin injury there was a need for a good two way player to step up and work like Fish does and Winchester is a good substitution. Lee, although committed a nasty give away in the first game, has also stepped up his game and become a bit of a presence on the back end and contributed to Vermette's shortie in game two, but what about Jason Smith? Going to task on Crosby isn’t an easy order especially when Sid the Kid can fly past most players, but the older slower Smith got in his face sure enough. It got to the point where Sid hacked at Smith and all the veteran did was crack a grin at the kid and continue on.
The PEST line ...
There is absolutely no need to give a name to the Neil – Faligno – Ruutu line. Call it exactly what it is ... It’s the PEST line! They are fantastic. I won’t lie. I hated Ruutu right up until the game started on Saturday, but moving forward into Sunday I was even more in man-crush territory. Putting him out there with Neil for added agitation and toughness was a no-brainer, but Faligno too? Now that’s a heck of a combination! This just leaves to question what will happen when Fisher returns? Winchester goes back down and Faligno shifts lines? As much as I think Mike Fisher is amazing, I don’t think it would be a wise move unless you want that line to net goals.
Penalty Kill ...
Through 14 power plays the Senators only allowed one goal and it came in the last second of the second game. That is absolutely astonishing considering the talent of the Penguins. Moreover the Senators kept the Penguins to the outside or running around in their own end for the puck ... not to mention the short handed markers in both games.
Defence ...
You cannot have good PK without solid defence. The one thing everyone was saying when Redden and Meszaros left was that we lost a lot of defence. Ironic to that statement is that in their last two games Redden and Meszaros have gotten points on the board ... Defence? True, the Senators need a puck moving defenceman, but it seems that this club has started to transition well. Perhaps we won’t see a major shakeup if the club can come together as a team as they showed in Stockholm. I have long said this club needs to be tougher on the puck both up and especially down the ice.
Grit ...
See the above mentioned really. Smith, Neil, Ruutu, Phillips, Volchenkov even Alfredsson ... The Senators played with much more grit and intensity. Hartsburg could very well be the catalyst for this, but the players must continue to want and need to play for one another just like this.
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