SENShobo
Gerber Stands Tall, But Sens’ Offensive Shortcomings Loom In Loss
by SENShobo on 12/11/08 at 08:34 AM ET
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A little Kuba Q&A, but first…
From the Ottawa Citizen, on the Sens’ 2-0 loss in Chicago,
“It could have been the game for us,” said Senators coach Craig Hartsburg, shaking his head at the ineffective power play. “We really didn’t get anything done on it. It has to better, it’s a 1-0 hockey game (before the empty net goal). We get a four-minute power play, we had a 5-on-3. We’ve got to come up with something.
“We stand still. We have to move, the puck’s got to move. You can say we’ve got to shoot the puck, but if you don’t move and the puck doesn’t move, then all we’re doing is shooting the puck at them and you can’t get pucks to the net. We don’t move our feet crisp enough. We stand still with the puck. Very stagnant.”
Could have, would have, should have; the answers don’t matter when there’s time enough to ponder them. The biggest question for Sens fans, perhaps, is whether this Christmas will put some hope under the tree; it seems to have been left off the list so far.
The first frustration for Sens fans was perhaps the game’s broadcast itself: it was on TSN2. Only TSN2. Rogers does not carry that (though Mlakar is hopeful that will change in time for a game against Carolina on TSN2 in March), and not even Center Ice or GameCenter Live will get you the feed. Mlakar can be proud that 76 games are televised, but when you need to order what feels like 76 different television packages to enjoy them, unavailable as many are to fans outside the Ottawa area, a success story this is far from.
The game started, and it was shocking just how much quicker the Hawks were than the Sens, at both ends. Some have chastised Kuba for not hitting enough, his preference being defending with his positional play, but watching the Hawks’ blueline you can see just how well a less-physical, more mobile unit can be, especially on a team where forwards race back to help, sometimes faster than the defenders.
For the majority of the first period, the Sens were waking up to the challenge they faced. At every turn, it seemed as though their sticks were just a little too short, their stride not quite long enough, beaten to loose pucks all over.
Five minutes in, and Ruutu collided with Adams, and as they both fell, Ruutu gave him a little shove, enough to draw a roughing penalty. On the powerplay, it was a confusing sequence that led to a goal. The puck works around behind Gerber, and winds up 20 feet out, just left of the slot. Thinking a shot was coming, Smith drops full body down to block it, an inch or two in front of Gerber. As he gets up, Kane finally takes the shot, a Vermette stick undoubtedly sweeping in to take the puck provides a quick misdirection, and between the confusion of Smith’s down and up, and the misfired puck, Gerber has no chance, and the puck sails into the net, more by chance and fluke than Kane.
Not that Kane isn’t a talent, but it was a lucky fluke. What isn’t a fluke in a game, you are able to repeat, and Kane did exactly that, taking three high sticking penalties, including a double-minor after trying to defend against a Foligno check with what could have been seen as a cross-check to the face, and not surprisingly drawing blood. Despite 11 minutes of powerplay time — including a four minute stretch, and a minute of the now dreaded-by-Ottawa-fans 5 on 3 — nothing connected.
Not that you expect it to when it looks more like pinball, the puck bouncing from Ottawa pylon 1 to pylon 2. Hartsburg’s comments to the press hopefully find their way to the team; seeing Spezza on the doorstep isn’t where you’d expect him to connect best, especially with his wandering, and as Neil’s fight with Brouwer (after a clean open ice hit on Kane) and others this season have shown, he’s not quite immovable enough, not at all a Holmstrom, and dirty goals are what the Sens need now, like Kelly’s belly flop goal. Perhaps putting more emphasis on the board men driving to the slot or net when they have the chance, or going so far as to put Phillips or someone new in front of the net, someone with a much better chance at being immovable or a good screen, could spark something; Hartsburg shouldn’t be closed off to any idea at this point.
Balanced scoring still doesn’t seem anywhere near. According to NHL.com‘s stats, 15 of the team’s 23 shots (65%) came from Fisher (7) and the top line, with seven players failing to register a shot and six more tallying only 1 apiece. Some mysteries just puzzle to no end.
The one bright spot was Gerber. Despite not having played in a month, and being half a foot smaller than Auld, his play came up big. At both ends, there were missed opportunities where a hung-out goaltender was saved by a fortunate offensive miscue, but Gerber was solid in making 29 saves (the second goal came with Gerber pulled for the extra attacker). Denied a win by an offense that failed to connect, that would get great opportunities, staring at open swaths of net but instead not lifting the puck in order to put it squarely into Huet’s pad, making the now game over .500 goalie look good, the defensive efforts of the team showed strong, but while defense wins Cups, it has never won a Cup while being shut out.
From the Ottawa Senators’ websitee, a few questions with Kuba,
Q: What age were you when you decided you wanted to play in the NHL? Was it always a goal when you were young?
A: Probably not. We didn’t have much information about the NHL back then. The communist government was still in power there and they wouldn’t allow you to go to play in places like the NHL. My goal was just to make my hometown team and play for the men’s team there (HC Vitkovice), the Division I team. That was my goal.
Q: How much do you enjoy playing in a Canadian market for the first time in your NHL career?
A: I feel like I’m still getting used to it. But they have great fans here. The hockey support is huge and it’s a lot different that what I was used to in Tampa. I like it.
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