SENShobo
Next entry: A Class That Embodies The Real Lesson
Previous entry: Sens Need Mending
Third Time’s The Charm
by SENShobo on 11/06/09 at 09:22 AM ET
Comments (0)
Ottawa’s goal ‘luck’ returns, how to lay a clean hit, H1N1 hits the organization, and the can’t miss $4 million hockey cards, but first..
From the Ottawa Sun, on Ottawa’s 3-2 OT win over Tampa,
Returning to the lineup after missing two games with what’s believed to be a back/groin injury, the Senators centre fired his first goal of the season past Antero Niittymaki at 4:17 of overtime to give Ottawa a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay at Scotiabank Place.
...
“To get one in overtime, get the win and get my first is always nice,” said Spezza, who hadn’t scored since April 11, in the Senators’ season-ending game — against the Toronto Maple Leafs.“I felt pretty good about my game going into this. I just wasn’t getting any bounces. It’s nice to get one — that’s for sure.”
After a 7-1 win and 5-2 loss against the Lightning in their previous two games, both teams settled into a calmer game tonight, watching their play even as twelve power plays were handed out. With two power play goals for each team, Ottawa saw their power play rank climb to 22nd in the League, and their penalty kill rank fall to 6th.
It’s also good to know that some things never get old with the Senators, as two goals were called back at the end of the game, and it only took a third goal to get the Sens the win,
“There was no sense in arguing. It was a high stick,” said Kelly. “He didn’t have to go upstairs. He was in a perfect position to make the call.”
The other decision was a mistake by Fraser. The Lightning never had control of the puck when Kuba backhanded it home.
“(Fraser) thought (the Tampa player) was going to touch it and he never did,” said Clouston. “He knows he didn’t touch it. We’re fortunate that it didn’t cost us the game.”
I don’t have to think hard to recall the exact same situation last year when the Sens had a phantom stick end their delayed penalty advantage and call back a goal against the Habs. If I start seeing the Canes’ Leighton catching pucks inside his own net though, there’ll be dues to pay.
In honour of Volchenkov’s absence perhaps, Neil made his presence known, from the Ottawa Sun,
“He’s not the cleanest player,” said Downie (who admitted he didn’t see the hit), “and he’s always preaching about dirtiness every time we play them, calling players gutless. Then he does something like that. He’s got to look in the mirror.”
“I’m not even going to take that on,” said Neil. “Every time we drop the gloves, he says ‘I don’t want to fight.’ At least he showed up (Thursday night).”
Of the hit, Neil said: “I was coming in to take the boards away and had some good jump. He bobbled the puck at the last second and I don’t think he saw me coming at all. It was a shoulder right in his chest. He’s eight feet tall, so it’s not like you could hit him in the head.”
In case you haven’t seen the hit (KK), while the positioning is mildly reminiscent of the terrible OHL incident of a week ago, nothing else fits the bill. Neil squarely nails Hedman in the chest, not an ounce of head contact or board-driving, and Downie will probably avoid watching replays to never have to admit to being in the wrong, not that we don’t all know that steam when you see your players go down.
From the Ottawa Citizen, on the darker news,
The H1N1 virus has hit home for the Ottawa Senators organization.
Robin Lehner, the 18-year-old goaltender selected by the Senators in the second round of last summer’s NHL entry draft and now playing for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, has become the first confirmed OHL player diagnosed with the pandemic.
“I’m not feeling well at all,” Lehner told the Sault Star after a doctor confirmed he had the H1N1 virus and a viral infection on Wednesday. “I just don’t want to infect anyone else.”
First Leclaire gets flu-like symptoms, and then shows he’s recovered last night, and now another Ottawa goalie who’s supposed to be taking the reins of his team goes down. Watch out Binghamton? Just remember the importance of getting your flu shots. I’m still waiting to hear how the Leafs and Raptors got shots through the ‘proper channels’ when I have my doubts as to whether they fit into any of the high risk groups. For the record, the high risk groups are not those at the highest risk of contracting the flu either, they are those who would likely be the worst hit by it should they contract it.
From the Hockey Capital blog, some lighter news,
Sometimes the best sports memorabilia is the kind that celebrates something that didn’t happen.
Think leaked World Series shirts saying the losing team won, or those books commemorating the New England Patriots’ 19-0 season from a couple of years ago (they wound up losing the Super Bowl to the upstart New York Giants).
While it’s not exactly “Dewey Defeats Truman,” this year’s collection of McDonald’s hockey cards features none other than Ottawa Senators sniper Dany Heatley.
Word is he’s on not one, but two cards. I guess that $4 million over the summer had to pay for Heatley to serve at least some time in an Ottawa jersey this season.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators | SENShobo | Permalink
Comments
Be the first to comment.
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Clouston’s NHL Career Turns 50
A Class That Embodies The Real Lesson
Karlsson Down, Kuba In For Sens
Who is SENShobo?
Fully addicted to hockey, Andrew Dodds finds it safe to live in the alleys, considering his allegiance to the Ottawa Senators in the middle of Leaf County. He tries to bring you as many worthwhile Sens stories as he can find, along with his musings on the team and the NHL in general; musings indeed since he is but a humble hockey hobo.
If you have any general comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns about myself or my blog and its content, you can post them publicly here, or drop me an email.
Email:
SENShobo Recommends
The Professionals