A year ago the Ottawa Senators were fighting with Buffalo to see who would represent the East in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sens eventually lost that fight, but during that time a second, if not more poignant battle was being lost.

Elgin Fraser passed away last year on May 19th, succumbing to a rare cancer. Today his memorial is in the Ottawa Citizen:

A little boy who fulfilled his life’s

purpose in only three short years.

He inspired countless people

with his courage and strength

while he lived with Neuroblastoma,

a rare childhood cancer.

His love and passion for the game

of hockey brought communities

together and left an imprint on

people around the world.

Despite fighting for his life, he taught

people to love the life you are given and

to make the best of each day.

“Game On!”
Elgin-Alexander Fraser, Age 3

There is still a movement to get Elgin’s jersey hung at Scotiabank Place.

Oh yeah, the Sidney Crosbies beat the tar out of Philly and ‘the kid’ refused to touch the Eastern Conference trohpy. (Bastard…)

Here we go:

Sens Breakaway

1. Donovan breaks over the blue line with LeTang chasing
2. Donovan picks up the puck as LeTang catches him
3. LeTang grabs Donovan’s jersey near his left kidney
4. LeTang makes a sweep with his stick hitting Donovan in the left knee
5. Yoink!
6. Down they go…
7. You can see LeTang letting go of Donovan’s jersey as he is getting back up before Donovan slides into Fluery.

Pens Breakaway

1. Some guy on the Pens grabs the puck
2. Redden, playing for once, tries to poke check the puck away and misses
3. The Penguin kicks the puck ahead as Redden passes in front
4. Redden then on a back slash at the puck allows the Penguin an opportunity to fall down
5. The Penguin still manages to get a shot off against Gerber

The 1st breakaway should have have been a penalty shot or in the very least a penalty against LeTang but I don’t blame the refs as they weren’t in a position to see it.The 2nd breakaway is iffy, but considering Malkin managed to get a shot off and the fact that Redden was always ahead of him, it wasn’t deemed worthy of a penalty shot.In the end it doesn’t matter as even if Donovan had his chance, I doubt he would haven beaten Fleury, but boy had we not gotten into Pittburgh’s heads by that point.

Okay Roll The Video!

Download a copy.

There is something in the air today. There are bold predictions around the web. Hockey analysts are dusting off their best ties. TSN has had a facelift. The Maple Leafs are scheduling tee times. There is stubble on my face for the eleventh straight year.

In hockey, as in life, there are no certainties. A team with the best opening record in the history of the league, barely make it into the post season.

The second last game of their regular season against a team long since eliminated from competition makes more headlines than the goalie controversy.

Fittingly, the player who takes out the captain of a contending team now has to spend the summer in jail. (Perhaps he thought the original crime didn’t fit the time and felt he had more work to do to justify it?)

But as is said, the second season, is a new season. Anyone has a chance. Some have better chances than others. Some can argue who deserves to be here, and who doesn’t. Some will be up to the task, some won’t.

I predict, Ottawa’s first round will go long. Ottawa is a veteran team in the playoffs vs. a very young team. A team we knocked off easily last year. I team we outplayed 3-1 this past season. It won’t be easy. It won’t be a matter of fact. But we can do it.

We need only make it out of the first round. I don’t think anyone can expect anything more than that this year. Make it out of the first. Make a showing of it, and then heal in the off season.

Get out of the first round, and then Alfredsson and Fisher might just be back.

Then there are no guarantees…

Notes:

Sorry for the disappearing act this season. Work life has been tough, but that is now 100% behind me. I’m not a bandwagoner, I am a true fan. I’ve watched as many games as I could get my hands on. I’ve been out in bars in TO to have the heckles of the locals fall upon my back.

The next few weeks are busy ones for me, but I now have time again to analyze my favorite team and get this site back on track.

Many thanks to the faithful who’ve kept the internets alive with the teams antics in my absence (not that I’m the best or anything…)

Apologies to the BOOB, I dropped off the pool pretty quickly too. That won’t happen again. If you’ll let me into the next pool I’d be honored to be allowed a chance to participate again.

Anyone else notice that there are many more NHL bloggers out this year?

Yup, I’m finally back. Kinda.

My day job’s major project is finally over and I can once again comment on my favorite team on a regular basis.

Except that I’ll be out of town without regular access to this thing called the interweb for about a week. So, mid-month, Feb 10th, I’ll be back full time.

In the meantime here are a few posts to wet your whistle.

Regular readers will note that my posts have become erratic and tardy of late. This is both due to work requirements and illness. I hope that both will resolved soon. So pelase bear with me and I’ll get back into my groove and get some better quality posts happening.