Can anyone say ’scoring depth’? (Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography/OSHC)

Record Breakers!

It is truly a new age in the NHL. Ottawa set a club record for most wins in a row (eight) and the new NHL record for the most points to start to a season through 14 games. We’ve 26 points now, thats only one loss suckers! Yeah that’s right I’m talking about you, rest of the league!

For once, Ottawa got some recognition from the NHL’s website¹ being touted as the Game of the Night, but I suspect that was only because we were playing the Laffs.

Lack Lustre Leafs

This game was over in the first four minutes as the Leafs couldn’t find their legs and caused too many odd man rushes to keep them competitive.² Ottawa made them pay early and spaced 47s apart, Phillips and Eaves opened the floodgates in what would be known as a rout.

Goalie Controversy?

Damn is Gerber Baby on a hot streak. As much as I love Ray, you’ve got to give respect to the man between the pipes lately.

Corvo Corvo Corvo…

Over the last two games I’ve gotten to see what I think is the real Joe Corvo. ANd you know what? I don’t like what I see.

I’m getting very tired of seeing Corvo coughing up the puck and not engaging a forward waltzing into his zone. Not to mention the penalties.

I think if Corvo doesn’t get his game on soon, we’ll see a move before the trade deadline.

Secondary Scoring

Besides the aforementioned Phillips and Eaves, scoring came from Alfredsson, Mezaros and Kelly. Daniel pocketed his fourth short-handed goal of the season, leading all skaters.

Road Ahead

Can Ottawa go 81 and 1? Not bloody likely, but if we continue along this path, by the Christmas break we should 38 and 3 which would be and incredible start to the season.

Discounted Redden?

In other news, Redden opened his gob and the Ottawa Sun picked up a pretty little gem along the lines of Wade suggesting he’d take a home town discount to stick around after this season.

It’s already been debated everywhere but here, but the gist is that this will never happen. Wade would be insane to take what would amount to being a 2.5 million dollar cut to fit in with the Sens’ new salaries under the cap. It’s not going to happen. Been nice knowing you Wade, see you on the left coast sometime.

NHL.com↩
TheStar.com | Maple Leafs no match for high-flying Senators↩

Are you kidding me?¹ The Sun says that Murray is working over Dany’s agent to the tune of 7.5 - 9 million a season. Should be a pretty easy sell dependant on the length of the contract.

I can’t believe that they are trying to get this done this early. I mean, I’m estatic for the deal, but wow! Who’d have thunk it?

So whither Jason Speeza? Will Jason be cut loose next year? I really hope not, as he is nice and young and hot right now. It would be a real shame to lose him. But who would go instead? Redden?

The future may be a core built around Speeza, Heatley, Kelly, Vermette, Volchenkov, Mezaros, Fisher, Emery and Eaves. That coupled with a bunch of the young-uns… Not bad at all…

Ottawa Sun↩

Small Consolation Ain’t It?

Congrats to Finny¹ who wins The Scores’ Stanley Cup Final Blogger Pool²!

Here are the official results as compiled by Bob Coatsworth:

Ben from SensArmyBlog was the heavy favorie after getting two thirds of the big line in Spezza and Heatley by way of the snake draft. Who knew they’d be such non-factors? (sigh)

My secondary victory was propped up by a mean combination of secondary scoring anchored by the mighty captain Alfredsson and Fisher. Amazingly only Priessing didn’t notch a point. Here are my final stats:

Oh well, no prizes for me! Same time, same place next year peeps?

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(AP Photo/David Duprey)

Game 2

Corvo-licious! Sens Take 2-0 Lead On Series Heading Back To Ottawa!

I didn’t worry when Ottawa was down two goals. I didn’t worry when the pressure built at the end of the 3rd and Briere got his goal to tie the game. I didn’t worry after the first OT period.

The reason why is simple. This is not an Ottawa Senators team I have ever seen before. When adversity strikes they don’t turtle. They come back harder. These guys just don’t stop fighting. Ever.

In overtime when Corvo took an interference penalty, I wasn’t worried. I was concerned but I knew we were up to the task of killing it off. Boy were we ever. We had three good short handed chances.

Game Notes

1st Period

• I think Mezaros’ penalty was the result of a dive. The Buffalo player could be seen holding Mez’s stick until the call was made. Mezaros even tried to pull away and his stick was caught.
• We got away with one when the first goal was called back. The replay doesn’t lie. Boy was Buffalo flying to begin the 1st period.
• I nearly fell off the couch when Harry Neale referred to the Buffalo Bills!
• Did anyone notice Miller attempted to leave the ice because he thought a delayed penalty against his team was against Ottawa? Wouldn’t that have been an interesting empty net goal…
• Alfresson is on fire, he now has a goal in each of the last four games.
• I love the skill on our team, demonstrated by Vermette pickpocketing Afinogenov.

2nd Period

• Our Penalty Kill is getting better and better the longer we play.
• Neil shouldn’t take stupid penalties
• Fisher’s one-timer turned what was turning into a reall crappy PP into the game equalizer!
• Buffalo managed all of ZERO shots on Emery through the firt 10 minutes of the second period.
• Ottawa is taking far too many penalties…
• Redden needs to send Zubrus a card or something as he scores on the 5 on 3 gifted by the aformentioned Sabre.
• Why can’t Heatley score against Miller?

3rd Period

• Did anyone see that hit by Volchenkov on Pominville? Cause Pominville did not!
• LOL, Roy checks himself on the board trying to take out Saprykin.
• Another huge glove save, nothing is getting by Emery.
• End to end action, tremendous defensive play by Ottawa, forcing the Sabres to dump in the puck, and quickly clearing the zone.
• MIller robs Heatley again!
• Mezaros takes an inopportune penalty. Buffalo takes an opportune Time Out.
• Game is over, but wait, no one is one Briere! Just because he didn’t do anyting in game 1 doesn’t mean he should be allowed to stand beside Emery in the crease awaiting a pass!

4th Period

• MIller, confident that Heatley will never score on him, casually passes him the puck in a clearing attempt, then proceeds to save the shot…
• Ottawa is doing a great job riding… I mean keeping the pressure on Buffalo.
• Emery tried to clear to puck behind the net to a Sabre and nearly gave the game away! Like there wasn’t enough drama already tonight!
• Alfie decides that Toronto’s booing isn’t enough to keep him focused anymore so he nails Tallinder into the boards and is lucky he isn’t called for boarding.
• Our PK rocks, as Corvo sits, we get three good chances at a short handed goal.
• Ottawa totally controlled the OT by forechecking the hell out of the Sabres.

5th Period

• We must be getting tired, we’re causing too many turnovers in our zone.
• So far in the early part of the period, Buffalo looks to be the better team.
• Spezza wins possibly one of the most important face-offs in his career so far and feeds it to Joe Corvo. Three Sabres defenders decide to make like trees as his shot lobs throught them and bounces past Miller. Game over!

End Notes

I feel incredibly dirty having typed Buffalo so many times…

Props to the sports over at Bfloblog¹ who entertained me during the 1st OT period as I slung insults at them and their team. (It was all in good fun boys!)

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