Primary Sidebar
Follow Silver Seven
Northeast Standings
Senators Schedule
Next 5 Games
@
Pittsburgh
|
Thu 04/22 | 7:00 PM EDT |
Last 5 Games
|
Pittsburgh
|
Tue 04/20 | L 4 - 7 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
Sun 04/18 | L 2 - 4 |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Fri 04/16 | L 1 - 2 |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Wed 04/14 | W 5 - 4 |
|
Buffalo
|
Sat 04/10 | L 2 - 5 |
Playoff Experts: Penguins beat Senators 7-4
by Ryan Classic on Apr 21, 2010 1:48 AM EDT
in Senators recaps
0 comments
This was a weird game.
The first period was a relatively quiet one. The Pittsburgh Penguins outshot the Ottawa Senators. Brian Elliott was solid. Evgeni Malkin scored another goal, his ninth in eight games against the Senators this season. There were a few questionable calls, and a few questionable non-calls. But overall, it was a quiet period. Pittsburgh led 1-0.
Then the second period came, and all hell broke loose. Sidney Crosby scored the first goal of the period at 3:47, making it 2-0 Pittsburgh. Ten minutes later the score was 5-3. Chris Kunitz added another, and the second period ended with eight goals total, six at even-strength, one on the power play, and another shorthanded. The end of Brian Elliott came after the Penguins made it 4-0, and in came much-maligned goaltender Pascal Leclaire. There were twice as many goals as there were penalties. It was as atypical a period as you could have.
In the third period, Jason Spezza finally scored and made it 6-4, but Jordan Staal responded five minutes later to make it 7-4 and put the game completely out of reach. That would be the final score. The last two minutes got extremely chippy as 40 penalty minutes were handed out, including three 10-minute misconducts, one each to Chris Neil, Jarkko Ruutu, and Matt Carkner.
Nick Foligno spent four minutes in the penalty box tonight despite never being assessed a penalty after the Senators were twice called for a bench minor for too many men on the ice. A single too many men penalty is one too many, but two is completely unacceptable. Over the course of the regular season, the Senators accumulated 13 bench minors, tied for the most of any team. They already have three in the postseason.
The Penguins now lead the series 3-1. Game five is Thursday night in Pittsburgh at 7:00pm ET.
0 comments | 0 recs |
From the stands: Game four was so frustrating
by PeterR on Apr 21, 2010 1:20 AM EDT
7 comments
I figured that I might as well post my post-game thoughts in the FanPosts section, since I will be posting purely as a fan of the team. The official recap can be found on the front page (probably pretty soon).
I attended game four, 'Andy Sutton: Expert' sign, Sens scarf, and jersey in tow, with high expectations. I left disappointed and frustrated, though, and for many reasons. Not just because of poor refereeing: There was plenty of that, and although it affected both teams, it seemed to punish the Senators more. Not just because of bad goaltending: Brian Elliott was bad, Pascal Leclaire was only slightly less than bad, but both faced some seriously good scoring chances. And not just because of bad luck: Bounces and broken glass worked against Ottawa tonight. Really, all of those things combined to make me feeling pretty frustrated. It seemed like whenever the Senators started getting some measure of momentum, something would happen to shut them down. Sometimes in their control, sometimes out of their control, but always aggravating. You'd expect a 7-4 loss to be an emotional rollercoaster, and it certainly was.
7 comments | 0 recs |
ECQF Game 4: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators
by Mark Parisi on Apr 20, 2010 5:36 PM EDT
819 comments
Well, it's time for Game Four!
Look for Jonathan Cheechoo to save the team! Or... Look to everyone, but especially Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Peter Regin, Mike Fisher, and Matt Cullen to step up and score some goals. Look for Anton Volchenkov and Chris Phillips to continue to press Sidney Crosby and company. And of course, look for Pascal Leclaire to get the surprise start!
Ha, ok, I made that last one up. Brian Elliott has not played poorly in this series, but he has not been spectacular either. He will need to be at his best tonight to help get the team the win they need.
It's game four, folks. The Senators have vowed to give it their best effort tonight, and very soon we'll know if this series is going to last longer or if the Sens best isn't good enough.
As always, your presence is required in the comments thread, where we will be enjoying tonight's epic game, win or lose.
819 comments | 0 recs |
Silver Nuggets: Cheechoo draws in for Senators
by PeterR on Apr 20, 2010 1:00 PM EDT
in Silver Nuggets
42 comments
Here's your gameday dose of Ottawa Senators headlines, heading into game four of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins:
- Looks like Jonathan Cheechoo will draw into the lineup in the place of Ryan Shannon tonight. Lines: Regin-Spezza-Alfredsson; Cullen-Fisher-Foligno; Ruutu-Kelly-Neil; Z. Smith-Winchester-Cheechoo. (Gordon)
- Prediction panel for tonight's game: Don't stop believin'! Only one panelist picks the Pens. (Citizen)
- Daniel Alfredsson knows the team's got to leave it all out on the ice tonight. (Citizen)
- Ken Warren column headline: "It’s not all about the stars for Penguins". Umm... Ken? Sidney Crosby (7P) + Evgeni Malkin (4P) + Sergei Gonchar (3P) = rest of team (14P). Brooks Orpik is not why the Pens are winning right now. Just sayin'. (Citizen)
- Cool article about Jesse Winchester's first home playoff experience. (Sun)
- Tough reality check: The Sens have never come back to win when down 2-1 in a playoff series. But there's a first for everything, right? (CTV)
42 comments | 0 recs |
Senators thumbs up/thumbs down, playoff edition
by PeterR on Apr 20, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
in Senators ups and downs
8 comments
After a one-week hiatus, it's time for a playoff edition of the Ottawa Senators thumbs up/thumbs down ranking. Overall, the team is down 2-1 in their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Onto the meat and potatoes:
Biggest gains: Peter Regin
Regin is leading the team in goals with two, and tied for the lead in points with three. That's a point a game average. Which is even more impressive considering the rookie (these have been his first three playoff games, for cryin' out loud) is only averaging 15:25 TOI/GP. He's certainly benefiting from playing with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, and if there wasn't much urgency to finding room to re-sign the kid this off-season before the playoffs, there is now.
Biggest losses: Nick Foligno
It's tough to do this to Foligno, considering anyone who watches the games can see how hard he's working when he's on the ice. But the fact of the matter is that, with both Alex Kovalev and Milan Michalek now injured, Foligno is going to have to demonstrate he can be a top six forward in this league, or he might be relegated in favour of Jonathan Cheechoo, or some similarly on-the-outs skater. No points and a -3 don't look very good right now, but I'm sure Foligno knows that. If he focuses on the little things, the big things usually follow.
(Read the full team's rundown... )
8 comments | 0 recs |
My family just thought the whole scene was crazy. I guess my wife, Kary, was talking about all the noise in the building and the boys were super excited when they got their towels and saw everyone waving them. They don’t come to many games because they get pretty tired and they last about 15-20 minutes, and then they want to go home. But they’re excited and they’re really happy about this. They were wondering why daddy wasn’t waving at them, but he was kind of focused on a game.
1 day ago
DarrenM
7 comments
0 recs
Senators have no answer for Penguins' big guns, lose 4-2
by Mark Parisi on Apr 18, 2010 10:21 PM EDT
in Senators recaps
82 comments
Let's face it: The Pittsburgh Penguins outplayed the Ottawa Senators tonight. They didn't need help from the officiating crew to win this game, but they got it anyway. It was a game where Nick Foligno could be tackled - literally - on the ice not once, but twice, with no call, but a clean Chris Neil hit on Evgeni Malkin results in a roughing call on Neil and a game misconduct call on Jarkko Ruutu. Malkin's retaliatory whack at Neil was not called. It was a game where Matt Cooke took a run at Peter Regin and only got two minutes for boarding; Erik Karlsson would negate this call with a stupid slash 27 seconds later.
Those are the excuses... and none of them matter. Take those poor calls away and Ottawa still loses this game. Pittsburgh beat them to loose pucks. Pittsburgh won the battles for possession. Pittsburgh clogged the shooting and passing lanes. Pittsburgh made Ottawa dump the puck and then negated their forecheck. Ottawa had their chances. They didn't bury them. Pittsburgh did. End of story.
Who's going to step up? Peter Regin can't do it all himself.
Who's going to step up? Daniel Alfredsson? Kneeing Brooks Orpik isn't going to get it done, Alfie. That's bush league crap, and you're the team captain. You have to play better than that and you don't have to look further than Sidney Crosby to see what to do with your frustrations: You make the other team pay.
Who's going to step up? Jason Spezza? Shoot more, kid. Now is not the time to pass.
Who's going to step up? Mike Fisher? Matt Cullen? One goal is a start. Can you do it again? We need you. We need you all.
82 comments | 0 recs |
ECQF Game 3: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators
by PeterR on Apr 18, 2010 3:30 PM EDT
1295 comments
It's sort of like the series is starting over as a best-of-five tonight, except Ottawa has home-ice advantage, Pittsburgh has momentum, and both teams have a lot of unfriendly feelings towards one another. The mutual
Today's Special: Hate, with a side of violence
Yesterday, everyone was talking about Andy Sutton's mother-of-all-hits on Jordan Leopold, and the reaction of players to that hit. Today, so far, the talk of the towns has been the dialing up of they physical play--a somewhat scary probability given how physical the series had already been. Jay McKee steps into the lineup in Leopold's place, giving a bit more size and a lot more experience to the Penguins blueline, so he'll certainly help add to the mayhem. Still, the Senators have room for improvement in their physical play from last game, and getting a more aggressive forecheck will definitely wear down the Pens defence--particularly the likes of Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, and Sergei Gonchar.
Most Improved Players: The goalies
Both goaltenders really improved from game one to game two, and both will have to be similarly strong tonight. The Senators will more than likely throw everything they have at the Penguins early in the game, so the Pens will be counting on Marc-Andre Fleury to hold them in the game for the first few minutes. If he does, though, and the Pens withstand the Sens' offensive, it might be trouble for Ottawa.
Determination is spelled C-R-O-S-B-Y
Plain and simple, the Penguins won game two because of Sidney Crosby. If he can't stand up and deliver tonight, will Evgeni Malkin--who was nearly invisible in game two--fill in? Or will Jordan Staal step up when the team needs him, after two quiet games so far?
Ottawa's Most Wanted: Offence
Sure, the Senators' top offensive line has combined for six points, but they still need to provide more offence than they are. Even if it doesn't show up on the scoreboard, the top line needs to get more sustained pressure in the Penguins' zone, not only to create their own chances, but as a preventive measure to keep Pittsburgh from getting chances. Similarly, Ottawa second line of Mike Fisher, Nick Foligno, and Matt Cullen need to bring it offensively: They've got two points between the three of them.
As always, join us in the comments section for all you want to know about which most recent goal scorer Mark Parisi loves the most.
1295 comments | 0 recs
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
