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Senators Host Islanders, Some Rookie
by SENShobo on 10/08/09 at 07:25 AM ET
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Early injuries continue, scoring struggles, and a departure, but first..
From the Ottawa Sun,
“There are going to be nights where things are going his way and he’s allowed to use his skill in the offensive zone and there are going to be nights where he’s very frustrated where nothing happens for him,” said Senators assistant GM Tim Murray. “That’s biggest thing for a young guy: Consistency.
“Certainly, from the circles to the net, he’s as good as anybody. He’s got great hands, a great shot and a great release. He can score on NHL goaltenders as well as he did on junior goaltenders. He won’t get the same amount, but he’s got that great instinct for scoring goals. If you give him any room from the faceoff dot to the net, he’ll make you pay.”
That’s why Tavares can expect to see a lot of Ottawa’s shutdown pair of Anton Volchenkov and Chris Phillips.
But no fanfare is needed, just focus. Calm focus without hyperbole.
Ottawa was Wayne Gretzky’s last Canadian stop a decade ago, and now it will be the first stop of the latest Canadian to go first overall. In the other end, picked a year earlier, Erik Karlsson will make his home debut for the Senators. Both share different memories of the World Juniors last year; both medalists but only one won gold, both top at their position but only one was tournament MVP.
Karlsson would undoubtedly like to things back in his favour.
Goaltending controversies have existed in Ottawa, but how about having Roloson and Biron while DiPietro remains injured, still in the beginning of that lifetime (15 year) contract. With just three goals through two contests, and not much more to speak of from the pre-season, Ottawa is looking for scoring even considering the additions of Regin, Cheechoo, Karlsson, Michalek, and Kovalev.
From the Ottawa Citizen,
“I thought in the first 45-50 minutes, we very good defensively, we gave up hardly any chances against,” said Clouston. “It was a good test for us. We were a little anxious at the end, we had a few breakdowns. It’s good to be in situations like that, so next time you’re a little more poised. There are a few things we can work on in the defensive zone, but it just gives you the experience.
....
It was a game of inches. Donovan’s opening goal was batted out of mid-air and it held up after video replays couldn’t find compelling evidence to rule it as a high stick.Daniel Alfredsson’s penalty shot goal, when he made Jonas “The Monster” Gustavasson look more like a mouse, came as a result of a questionable call when Luke Schenn hauled down Milan Michalek.
Finally, when Mike Komisarek hit both posts with a shot which could have tied the game late in the third period, it was clear that the breaks went the Senators way.
Chemistry takes time, and the comparatively short pre-season schedule, coupled with the more thorough evaluations of prospects, certainly doesn’t help. Watch tonight, and you’ll see the same speed from Michalek, the same puck control from Kovalev, but Michalek will start to speed alongside his linemates, and Fisher will be ready for those laser passes, or at least in less disbelief. You’re still talking about a team that’s played only two games, one against a top-tier goaltender, and the other in enemy territory in a game where embarassment simply could not be allowed. You’re also looking at facing a team tonight that was lead in scoring by a defenceman, Streit, with 56 points, no other player hitting 40.
Kuba will still be out, and while there was only a little nail biting seeing Volchenkov, Phillips, Carkner, and Picard holding down the fort against the Leafs, expect it to increase if the shortened bench becomes a trend, especially when the Pens roll into town on Monday. Shannon, still out with a suspected concussion, will keep the lines sufficiently shuffled, but hopefully Donovan shows just as much drive as he did in less than six minutes against the Leafs. Besides, you’re looking at facing a team where only two players topped 70 games last year (Streit lead with 74), and only ten reached the 60 game mark.
It never feels good to lose a player, but for once, I’m not as disappointed as I have been, from Sharp on the Sens,
Forward Ilya Zubov, who led Binghamton with 52 points in 63 games last season, said Wednesday that he believes he’ll be released soon so that he can return to his native Russia to play in the KHL.
“Finally, I think Ottawa ... (is) going to sign release to send me to Russia,” Zubov said. “So I’m going to go there, and I just want to say thanks to (Ottawa GM) Bryan Murray for giving me a chance to play there. Hopefully I’m going to do well, and might come back sometime. And just want to say good luck to everyone here.”
....
This comes a week after Zubov revealed publicly that he had asked for a trade. Asked what went wrong here with the Ottawa organization, he said: “Nothing wrong. I just don’t want to be in this league anymore. Two years for me, it’s enough.” He said the salary in the AHL was one factor, and he added: “I just want to say thanks to Ottawa. The organization gave me a good chance to play, and it was a good two years.”Zubov said he hasn’t spoken specifically with Ottawa officials, but rather with his agent, who told him: “Just keep practicing, work hard, and they’re going to tell you when you’re leaving.” Zubov said he does not expect to play this weekend.
Yashin remains one of the most hated players to don a Senators jersey. Kaigorodov never stuck in North America, even after Ottawa traded him to Phoenix. Nikulin made a fuss and threats before Phoenix took him and saw him depart last season. Those are only the ones that really made waves.
But Zubov was a different breed. He stuck around, worked hard, and knew where he was and should be. When Nikulin summered in Russia, training with Malkin and Gonchar, Zubov decided to learn from the locals, skating with Chris Neil. While Nikulin made a very public and demanding trade request, Zubov even stuck around through camp this year, to see if he would make the team, but Ottawa has yet to develop into the organizational model that rewards the hard workers systematically. It’s a disturbing trend that needs to be reversed.
But for the game tonight, some predictions, from the Ottawa Citizen,
James Gordon, Citizen web editor (sports), Hockey Capital blog
Senators 4, Isles 2
....
Ian Mendes, Sportsnet Senators reporter, Ian’s Sportnet.ca blogSenators 4, Isles 1
....
Wayne Scanlan, Ottawa Citizen columnist, Hockey Scanner blogSenators 4, Isles 2
....
Peter Raaymakers, writer/editor, Silver Seven Sens blogSenators 4, Isles 1
Although my predicted score makes it look like I think it’ll be a cakewalk for the Senators, I actually don’t think it’ll be an easy win. The Islanders are a young, fast, and tenacious team, but I get the feeling that at some point the Senators have to break out offensively. Including the pre-season, Ottawa has 17 goals in eight games, and that’ll change quickly; the Sens will bring the play to the Isles, and although it won’t be a blowout, the Senators should win convincingly.
....
Graeme Nichols, writer/editor, 6th Sens blogSenators 5, Isles 3
....
Ben Myers, writer/editor, Sens Army BlogSenators 4, Isles 2
....
Russell, host, SensUnderground.com podcastSenators 3, Islanders 0
....
Jeremy Milks, writer/editor, Black Aces blogSenators 4, Isles 1
I’ll have to agree with Peter; there’s too much tenacity in the Islanders’ lineup to think that they’ll go down flopping. They’ll go down, it won’t be a three game win streak as it was last season with Joey MacDonald (now with the Marlies sadly) between the pipes, but they’ll go down with fight. Tavares had better hope he’s more aware of the NHL than Stalberg was when Volchenkov removed from him a great deal of consciousness.
Senators 3, Islanders 2
Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators | SENShobo | Permalink
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