Topic: Gameday Thread, Round 1

[UniCop]

Optional skates, yes. Many optional skates have 4 or 5 players showing up. But this was the morning skate of a game 7. I doubt it was optional.

It was called optional all day on the radio.
 
Spezz did media interviews, for crissake.  If the skate WASN'T optional, do you think they'd let Spezz mug for the cameras?

[rose]

Konopka and Carkner were off for "maintenance" yesterday too

But it was noted that Konopka left SBP after the game on Monday "walking gingerly" and not putting any weight on one side (can't remember which side).  I vaguely remember him struggling to get to the bench some time in the third period, possibly after blocking a shot.  Either way...with the highest faceoff average (69.2) in the League in these playoffs, he definitely would be missed if he can't play, IMHO.

[work2play]

Should be a great game, hope the officiating improves tonight.  It's been brutal this year.  Many blown or controversial calls in more than one series.
Two hours to puck drop.   

[Billy_Muckwalt]

Its all over, they couldn't get it done when the pressure was on... as usual.

[Metalhawk]

Pressure's on, Spezza's not.

I know, it's easy to rag on the guy, but he's the highest paid player on the team, and as a result is supposed to lead the way on the offense. But from game 1 on, he went right back to the forced and drop passes, basically nullifying all the positive I said about him during the regular season. He just can't do it under pressure. And he's being talked about as the next captain.

Some of the above could be said of Karlsson as well, but I am willing to cut him some slack seeing how he's not even off his entry level contract yet. Michalek goes as Spezza goes, so no surprise he was a no show.

Last but not least, I think MacLean has to take a big chunk of the blame for the last 2 games. All year long his mantra was not to tinker with a winning lineup. But inserting Silfverberg (who will be a big part of this team in the future, no doubt) instead of the foot soldiers who brought this team where it is was a big blow to the overall team chemistry, IMHO.

The future is bright, no doubt about it.

[FV]

Spezza will never be Captain.  Just not Captain material.  Phillips will take over until Karlsson's ready. IMHO


They did way better than most people thought they would (I said Rangers in 6 and didn't even think the Sens would make the playoffs).  They have a lot to build on.  Futures bright.   

[UniCop]

Last but not least, I think MacLean has to take a big chunk of the blame for the last 2 games. All year long his mantra was not to tinker with a winning lineup. But inserting Silfverberg (who will be a big part of this team in the future, no doubt) instead of the foot soldiers who brought this team where it is was a big blow to the overall team chemistry, IMHO.

Enough with the "tinkering with a winning lineup" crap.
 
Everyone points to Silfverberg/Stone/etc.....WE WON TWO GAMES WITHOUT ALFIE.  By this logic, they should have left Alfie in the press box for 6 and 7....after all, you don't tinker with a winning lineup....
 
And really?  Butler would have made a difference?  Daugavins?  If the insertion of one 4th liner over another is what "killed" this team, then this team got the result it deserved.
 
Silfverberg had nothing to do with the fact that Cowan regressed back to his Midget days in the last two games.  He had nothing to do with the fact that Spezza regressed back to Midget too.... Daugavins wasn't going to fix those two problems....

[Billy_Muckwalt]

Spezza? Captian? 

He will always be the kid, the turn over machine, the kid that can't get it done under pressure.
Sens need to move him and keep up with the rebuild. This year was eventful, but I think we need to rebuild a bit more before we can say the sens are a solid playoff contender.

Watching Spezza coast back up the ice half assed for the second goal was enough for me to switch over to the radio and get some work done. After many years of watching them blow it in the playoffs, I knew what was coming, and I wasn't wrong.

The good old first round playoff collapse.... no defence, no offence... This is probably one of the hardest teams to be a fan of in the nhl. They bring you to the brink of success so often just to collapse.

[Sasquatch]

^^ To a certain extent I agree...
It was frustrating to watch the last 2 games, turnovers and poor play. When you know the Sens could have easily taken this series if the gears were clicking. But they weren't.
I don't see Spezza as captain personally. There are a handful of others that look better suited to the position. I think people expect him to be captain only because he is our "star", just my opinion. But he is a floater. He had no push these playoffs and didn't find the extra gear needed when it comes down to crunch time.

In terms of not tinkering with the lineup. You're right UniCop, I would have left Alfie out of game 6. IF the Sens lost, I would have dressed him for game 7. BUT, I think the idea there was it may have been his last game. I don't think so, but it's possible.

But I disagree that this team is hard to like. In fact its quite thouzo posits. You want them to do good because they are a great group of guys. Frustrating at times, yes.
But this is my team.

[Billy_Muckwalt]

If McLean benched his captain in game 6 and they lost (which they did anyway), it would have made him look like an idiot. Alfie is the captian. What kind of message does that send? To him? To the team? This is what you get for 17 years? Sit down, we have mojo without you? I think the thought there was he could take the team to the next level. Sad that the same story played out and they choked it up in the 2nd. Thats where they lost the series.... game 6, period 2.

And I was laughing at the idea of Spezza wearing a C. He's anything but a C.

[UniCop]

If McLean benched his captain in game 6 and they lost (which they did anyway), it would have made him look like an idiot. Alfie is the captian. What kind of message does that send? To him? To the team? This is what you get for 17 years? Sit down, we have mojo without you? I think the thought there was he could take the team to the next level. Sad that the same story played out and they choked it up in the 2nd. Thats where they lost the series.... game 6, period 2.

And I was laughing at the idea of Spezza wearing a C. He's anything but a C.

 
Wasn't advocating benching Alfie, just pointing out to the "don't tinker" crowd the logical next step of their argument.
 

[Billy_Muckwalt]

Yeah, I think for me I wouldn't have done the Silfverberg experiment... I don't think that helped.
It's a real hard call to digest.

[UniCop]

Yeah, I think for me I wouldn't have done the Silfverberg experiment... I don't think that helped.
It's a real hard call to digest.

Somebody had to go in game 5.  If Silfverberg had been available then, I'm pretty sure Stone wouldn't have gotton his shot.
 

[FV]

Especially taking Stone out for him after the kid set up the winning goal in Game 5.  I didn't get that at all. 

[Billy_Muckwalt]

I would have kept Stone in given the situation. Silfverberg had just won over in euro, partied etc and then flew over jet lagged. I don't think it was fair to him either.

With the way stone played and the fact he showed signs of playoff mojo I would have kept him in. I believe in mojo. You put a rook out on the ice and he sets up a goal in one of his first shifts, he's the man.

[psahlgren]

Late here on my response to yesterdys game; but I thought Sens battled extremely hard and  Lundquist was a wall.
What do you do? I mean it was just one of those games.
 Hope Alfie stays another year.
Lord Stanley to Ottawa 2012-13

[gared66]

I was quite poisoned by the game and didn't even watch the last half a minute after the icing call. But I will draw attention to my having said that at least with the Rangers the Sens would have a graceful exit and still draw the highest pick among playoff teams. They will. 15tth overall. In the sober light of hindsight this wasn't a bad season at all.

[UniCop]

Especially taking Stone out for him after the kid set up the winning goal in Game 5.  I didn't get that at all. 

After setting up that goal, Stone played approx another 5 minutes the rest of the game.  He had already been taken out of the line, for allpractical purposes.

[rose]

After setting up that goal, Stone played approx another 5 minutes the rest of the game.  He had already been taken out of the line, for allpractical purposes.

 

[UniCop]

I was quite poisoned by the game

 
You wouldn't happen to be an east-coaster, would you?