|
Resident Skeptic
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ottawa/Gatineau
Age: 25
Posts: 4,185
|
Weekly Preview #7
This will be my first weekly preview as I cover for Matt the Aussie, who leaves for Australia on the 19th. Have a great vacation dude!
Note: the figures used in this article do not include Monday’s games.
What you've missed:
The Senators took home only three points from a possible six last week, the only victory coming as a 4-3 shootout win at home against the Edmonton Oilers. The Sens struggled out of the gate, and appeared to still be searching for that ever-elusive chemistry. Pascal Leclaire managed to come up with some big saves, but the real highlight was Jonathan Cheechoo scoring his first goal. That and the Sens giving up only one power play to the opposition, which was killed successfully.
On Thursday, Ottawa faced old teammate and problem-child Ray Emery, and the Philadelphia Flyers squad he now backstops. The Sens got crushed 5-1, giving up two power play goals (though getting their only tally on the PP as well) as the Flyers cruised to their fifth consecutive win. Mike Fisher scored the lone goal for the Sens.
Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers was a little less worrisome. For one thing, Ottawa managed to salvage a point despite the loss. Also, the Sens outshot the Blueshirts 36-28 and Brian Elliott played a steady game, coming up with some clutch saves and performing admirably in the seven-round shootout as well.
In other games around the league:
- Montreal Canadiens fans were upset to watch their team get blanked twice last week, first losing 1-0 to Calgary on Tuesday, and then being defeated 2-0 on Saturday while giving up 55 shots to the Nashville Predators. Injuries continue to be a problem, and the Habs need Andrei Markov back now more than ever.
- The Detroit Red Wings won all three of their games last week, outscoring their opponents by a total of 19-6. Jimmy Howard started all three of those games, as Chris Osgood remains sidelined with the flu.
- The New Jersey Devils have quietly stolen the Eastern Conference. They also won all three of their games last week, defeating Anaheim, Pittsburgh, and Washington, and improve to a streak of eight consecutive victories.
- Carolina Hurricanes fans breathed a sigh of relief as their team held on to defeat the Minnesota Wild in a shootout on Sunday, snapping a 14 game winless streak. Injuries and inconsistency have been a huge problem for the ‘Canes, and the biggest culprit in both categories is their highest paid player, Eric Staal. (Staal actually makes more than twice the salary of the second highest Hurricanes contract.) He’s piled up a heavy 3 goals and 2 assists through 13 games this season, has been sidelined for two weeks, and might miss the next two.
What's coming up:
The Sens have another three game week ahead of them, all of them at home. First they face off Tuesday against the rival Leafs (7:30pm - Sportsnet East), then host the Penguins on Thursday (7:30 pm - RDS, TSN2), and close out the week against the Sabres, another Northeast rival, on Saturday (7:00 pm - CBC). It will be one of the more important weeks this season, as the Sens can’t afford to give up points to any of these teams – especially the two Northeast rivals.
The penalty kill has improved to 81.6%, but is still not among the league’s best, which hovers around 85.0%. Anton Volchenkov is obviously still sorely missed, and there is currently no clear date set for his return.
A key problem category has been offense – the Sens have been playing a perimeter-style game, seeming to rely on opportunities more than creating them. Jason Spezza also has only 1 goal, and Ottawa’s power play is ranked among the league’s worst. Anton Volchenkov should never be your highest scoring defenseman, but this is especially true when he’s missed almost half the team’s games! Alex Kovalev and Jonathan Cheechoo have both been underwhelming, and Peter Regin has cooled off quickly after his hot start. To be fair, Regin hasn’t been getting much ice time, but he never was to begin with and yet was still managing to be effective.
GM Bryan Murray has been hinting at trade possibilities, but no names or teams have been leaked. Don’t expect anything huge, but be ready to see a bit of roster tinkering if the Sens don’t manage a good showing this week.
On the positive side, Mike Fisher has been producing and is currently on pace for his best season yet. Can someone tell Carrie Underwood to attend all our games? While it’s hardly news by now, Daniel Alfredsson continues to play well and to produce for the Sens. More of a surprise is Jarkko Ruutu, currently fifth on the team in points and looking like he could be in for a career year as well.
In other games this week:
- Alexander Ovechkin is slated to return to the Capitals on Tuesday for a game against the Rangers. Despite missing six games to injury, Ovechkin remains tied for the league lead in goals. The Capitals are tied for 1st in the East with the Devils, and are just four points behind the league leading San Jose Sharks.
- The Ducks face the Penguins, Lightning, and Sharks this week. Currently sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Division, Anaheim needs more contribution from offseason additions Joffrey Lupul and Saku Koivu, as well as defensemen Nick Boynton and Steve Eminger.
- The Avalanche have an interesting opportunity to control their own fate, as they face fellow Northwest Division rivals all week – the Flames on Tuesday, Oilers on Wednesday, and Canucks on Friday. Colorado has surprised thus far, especially considering the absence of defensemen John-Michael Liles, Ruslan Salei, and ex-Senator Tom Preissing.
Who's hot?
- Ilya Kovalchuk returned Thursday, back early from a broken foot. He celebrated with a goal and two assists that night against the Rangers, and then topped it the very next night with two goals and two assists against the Kings. Incidentally, the Thrashers have won every game since Kovalchuk, who added an assist Sunday against Edmonton, returned from injury.
- Henrik Zetterberg has five goals and five assists in his last five games. The Red Wings have won their last three, and seem to be continuing their tradition of ploughing through the better teams, which they have been doing very well, but struggling (or not showing up) against the weaker teams.
- Leafs fans can thank their lucky stars that Phil Kessel is managing to get the job done, and all without Marc Savard. Finally back from injury, Kessel has four goals and three assists through his last five games, has managed 24 shots on goal during that span, and hasn’t taken a penalty. Now the Leafs just have to try and get Kessel’s presence to help them win.
- Defenseman Chris Pronger is riding a six game point streak during which he has accumulated two goals and seven assists. Pronger has 17 points through 17 games this season, is a +13 throughout that span, and has racked up 38 shots for the high-flying Philadelphia Flyers.
Who's not?
- Ryan Shannon of the Ottawa Senators has just one point, an assist, through his eleven games this season. At one time expected to become a point-per-game player, is Shannon only an opportunity away, or has his potential been squandered?
- Andrei Kostitsyn, the fourth highest paid Montreal Canadiens forward, has just one goal and four assists through twenty games so far. With almost a quarter of the season gone, he is on pace for four goals and 16 assists – his worse year yet.
- Tom Poti, once a 40+ point defenseman, has but four assists through twenty games to his credit. Scoreless and shotless in his last three despite consistently playing more than twenty minutes a game, the Washington Capitals might feel like a little more offensive contribution would help him earn his $3.5 million salary.
__________________
Thanks to AK-84 for the Alfie and OV8 sigs!
Last edited by JoshLind; 11-17-2009 at 01:51 PM..
|
Linear Mode
