Oh how quickly things can change in today’s NHL!
Afternoon sportsfans, Champ here feeling the winds of change (insert mandatory Scorpions plug here) in the Nation’s capital with the Ottawa Senators suddenly rolling over opponents like a fat kid at the all you can eat buffet (chubby & blimpy kids association please send your hate mail to the following email address mantooth@stayclassy.net).
Daniel Alfredsson has a lot to do with the Senators recent success. Classy.
The Senators, winners of 6 straight, are looking like the Harlem Globetrotters of the NHL right now. With Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek, and Jason Spezza now all back in the fold, they really look to be pushing for a top 4 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Goaltending, which was horrendous for about a 10 game stretch (almost Red-Light Rocicot-ish), is suddenly quite solid and providing the Sens with a chance of winning every night. Even the powerplay is putting pucks in the net – something Senators fans haven’t seen all season long.
The are even reports that Bryan Murray will be an active buyer at the March 3rd NHL trade deadline. Murry has made no bones about wanting to add additional scoring depth to this seemingly potent lineup. It’s believed he’s looking for a top 6 forward (Carolina’s Ray Whitney or Edmonton’s Andrew Cogliano come to mind) without changing the current roster.
It should make for an interesting conclusion to this hockey season after the Olympics. Either the Senators will keep plowing through teams or will suffer another bi-polar episode and go on a losing streak of epic proportions. It will surely keep fans glued to their televisions to see how this season plays out.
Until next time,
Stay classy, Ottawa Senators Fans.
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When talking about the performance of the Senators over the last few weeks, one would be remiss without mentioning the impact of rookies Erik Karlsson and Peter Regin. Both have been outstanding lately.
Most expected this from Karlsson, however, Regin is a nice surprise as the Sens have had difficulty cultivating true top 6 forwards. I’m not saying Regin is a top 6 forward yet, but his play this season leads me to believe he could very well be down the road.
You talking Andre Racicot?
Let’s not forget the contribution of Mike Brodeur who started it off …
The trade debate (buy, sell, rent, stand pat) will rage on over the Olympic break as we armchair GMs try to figure out what Murray will do (If he hasn’t already tipped his hand by then).
By Feb 15 we will have a damn good idea. 10+ points in the next 10 games and sitting at 70+ pts with 19 to go.
5 home, 5 away then break …
then
14 games in March: 5 home (2 vs TO) 9 away
5 games in April: 2 home 3 away (against Car, TB, Fla, NYI, Buf)
They close the season against teams they should ‘own’. And that is the best time to get hot …
That’s a great point, MoP! A very favorable schedule to end the year!
My guess is Ottawa won’t remain as hot as they are now (obviously). 5th in the East (as of today) is no small feat, especially when you consider the injuries they had. But frankly, I’m betting they finish 6th or 7th once the season ends. I don’t think they can hold 5th and keep up their current pace.
MoP absolutely an Racicot reference. He was dynamite in Montreal…I expect his number raised to the rafters any day now.
I agree that I don’t think the boys can sustain this kind of pace until the end of the season but if they can stay consistent for the next little while they’ll be well positioned for the post season
Very much so, Champ. The timing of this run couldn’t be any better. The fact that they are 5 pts back of the 4th place Penguins is pretty crazy. And the gap they’ve created between 5th and 6th (Philly) is a nice buffer too.