Obviously I know this season has been swirling down the crapper for sometime now but I still liked to think the team might provide some kind of happiness by laying a good old fashioned regular season smack down on the Leafs for old time sake. Seriously, they could go 6-76 on a season and I'd be happy as long as those 6 wins come at the hands of the Laughs.

This would have ruined my week after coming back from sunny Cuba if not for the fact I just found out my company has instituted mandatory unpaid leaves of absence in lieu of the recession. YAY America!

^{(Photo: Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)}

That course being...on our way to a high draft pick! Woo-hoo!

Which is a pity really considering how promising this game started out. The Senators had a really strong period, even coming out to a 1-0 lead going into intermission, which frankly was a nice surprise in it of itself since I expected them to get completely mauled. Then, the boys got into penalty trouble, lead mostly by Brian Lee, who had a game he must have wanted to forget. Lee received a double-minor after voicing his displeasure for being called for holding...only about a minute after he had just come out of the box for hooking. You know if the sweet and innocent cherub that is Lee is going to start voicing his displeasure, things must have been REALLY boiling over.

Mike Fisher got the lone goal for Ottawa while Milan Michalek and Patrick Marleau scored for the Sharks. While the boys actually didn't look all that terrible 5-on-5, it was the penalty troubles that came back to bite them. Alex Auld got the start for the Senators and it seems like the bloom on Brian Elliott has worn off. At this point, it's whoever wins is in I suppose. Because that worked so well for us last year.

In his third game with the Senators, Chris Campoli once again looked very strong and I'm beginning to feel very good about this trade. I still miss Dean McAmmond, but purely for sentimental reasons. Another complaint I have is that Jarkko Ruutu, Shean Donovan and Jesse Winchester only saw about 7 minutes of ice time.

Oh well, we all knew this wouldn't last forever. Back to reality for us I suppose.

Labels: alex auld, brian lee, chris campoli, dean mcammond, san jose sharks

^{(Photo: Scott Levy/NHLI/Getty Images)}

That would be 4 coaches out of the 4 teams that started their season in Europe as Tom Renney was let go by the Rangers today. It looked like starting the season in Europe didn't slow down the Rangers any after a red-hot start but after 10 losses in the past 12 games, Renney was fired after only a couple of weeks after Michel Therrien of the Pittsburgh Penguins was fired. The other two teams that started in Europe, the Lightning and of course the Senators all fired their coaches earlier in the year as well.

It looks like a lot of the teams that got off to quick starts are starting to fall apart. While I know exactly how that feels after somehow surviving the 2007 - 2008 season with the Senators and certainly would not wish that on anybody...I sort of find it hilarious when it's the Rangers. Sorry, I'm petty like that.

I know I've been very quiet lately but the Senators have actually been quite busy trading Dean McAmmond and a first-round draft pick they received from the Tampa Bay Lightning via the San Jose Sharks to the New York Islanders for Mike Comrie and Chris Campoli. Yes, Comrie is now back with the Senators. The more pressing issue for me though is losing McAmmond. I miss McAmmond for largely sentimental reasons. I know he wasn't really contributing to the team at all and was most likely not in the future plans but I thought he was a good team guy and a personal favourite of mine. Here's hoping maybe he'll get another role in the organization should he decide to hang them up.

Bryan Murray says that more deals are to come. The playoffs are clearly out of the question for this year so I guess this means we'll be collecting draft picks.

Labels: dean mcammond, mike comrie, new york rangers, tom renney, trades

No, gentle readers, we have not in fact abandoned you. DHS is off to some sunny destination because he has money to spend and I myself have been unbelievably busy with work so we haven't had time to update this place over the past week but I promise that we will resume normal programming as soon as we can. Stay tuned and thanks for your patience.

^{(Photo: Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)}

The Senators rolled into Colorado yesterday with a 5-game winning streak on the line and almost made it a perfect road trip but fell to the Avalanche in Overtime. Still, I have to say this road trip turned out better than any of us could have possibly imagined so this loss doesn't sting all that much. Hey, at least we got a point? (I'm giving this optimism thing a try. I think I'll be much better off for it).

Wojtek Wolski scored off of his own rebound about a minute and a half into overtime and Ryan Shannon had the two tallies for the Senators. Interesting stat about Shannon, he has 9 goals in the NHL and 3 of them were against the Avalanche. Good on ya, Ryan!

The Senators also got a chance to meet an old friend/foe in Andrew Raycroft who was in net for the Avs. He stopped 20 of 22 shots while Alex Auld, coming off a shutout against the Predators last night stopped 24 of 27 shots. It looked promising for the Senators as they managed to score 30 seconds into the game, but then Raycroft actually recovered from the softie.

I can't say much else about this game since I had to go to bed after the first period (I'm an old lady, I know) but from what I've read it looks like Daniel Alfredsson took a puck off the jaw and he's hoping X-Rays will show no significant damage. Here's to a speedy recovery, Alfie! We're on a roll, after all!

Congratulations to Jason Smith on playing his 1,000th NHL career game!

Labels: alex auld, andrew raycroft, colorado avalanche, overtime loss, ryan shannon

I don't know what to feel. I think I'm happy, but I had just resigned myself to being happy with landing Hedman or Tavares.

You guys read the live-blog. I missed the last bit of the game because I needed to go to sleep for an early meeting this morning. But dang.

I'm just glad Alex Auld finally got a shut-out after so many close calls. We're taking the winning streak into Colorado who aren't exactly challenging right now...let's make it count, boys!

P.S. A-Rod, how do you not find out what you're putting into your body before you actually put it into your body? You should be punished for the sheer stupidity of it all alone.

Labels: alex auld, lazy post, nashville predators, road win, what the heck is happening, winning streak

Yes that is right... the perfect live blog record is on the line! Tonight the Senators visit the hockey hot-bed that is Nashville to take on the Predators. Live blog starts at 7:45, puck drops at 8pm on TSN. What better way to spend Family Day than ignoring your loved ones and camping out in front of a computer with complete strangers quoting Simpsons verbatim all while watching a hockey game? All the OBC regulars will be there as well as a few other rabble. Remember, as always bring the funny in the comments section. Punch and pie are accepted. Hope to see you there!

^AP

Ladies and gentlemen, this game has officially made this the Best. Valentine's. Ever. Not only did the boys win, which is always nice, but they did it in a very convincing fashion after falling behind 0-3 in the first period. I had a sinking feeling when that happened. We all know that this run of wins will come crashing down sooner or later and of course, what a more dramatic way for them to break our hearts than on Valentine's Day?

But no, apparently not. They didn't want to get embarrassed on Love Day and decided to pull themselves up by the boot straps and came storming out of the gates in the second period with 5 answered goals. The Penalty Killing unit continues to impress and remains a constant bright spot for this team as they managed two shorties on the night. The Senators cranked up the volume and pressure on the Wild and for some reason the Wild just couldn't keep up after being so dominant in the first period. You could tell that the confidence was oozing out from the team with the chances they took.

They did many things right tonight, they didn't collapse after the Wild came out to the lead and just kept on battling back. Their passes were crisper and smarter and their forecheck was more aggressive and they were willing to take more chances on plays. Brian Elliott was pulled after the third goal and Alex Auld managed to keep the Wild at bay in relief. Niklas Backstrom started the night and was also pulled in favour of Josh Harding in the third period. The Wild fans sure didn't hesitate to let their disappointment be heard loud and clear. A bright spot for the Wild tonight was Owen Nolan. Three points in the first period and he sure has had the Senators' number over the years. Brian Lee, who is a Minnesota native scored tonight along with Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson, Chris Phillips and Antoine Vermette. Is it to early to say that Vermette's curse has been lifted?

The Senators weren't afraid to get physical either. Nick Foligno stepped in when Mike Fisher got dumped...and even if it did result in a penalty for Foligno, the PK unit was on fire anyways and it's nice to see the team standing up for one another. The elated looks on their faces after the win tonight is just not something that we see enough of.

I don't know what this means for this team but I can only hope that the team continues to work hard and pull together. They're enjoying hockey again and when they're happy, we're all happy. Frankly, I think this team still needs a couple of tweaks and I'm still not convinced the playoffs are happening this year, but hey, it sure is nice to get a couple of wins in the bag. You've got me believing again, what can I say? I can't stay mad at you boys.

I have to give mad props to the music selections at the Xcel Centre. I love their goal song.



Here's a Happy Love Day to everybody celebrating!

Labels: alex auld, brian elliott, brian lee, mike fisher, minnesota wild, nick foligno, owen nolan

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Is this real, you guys? I'm not just hallucinating that not only did Antoine Vermette finally score while going for the net but the Senators have actually won three in a row? The last team in the NHL to get their third win in a row and it's ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I never thought this day would come. Well, at least not before I had to be taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.

It's a little bit sad what our season has been reduced to that I get such a rush out of this but you know what, at this point I'm just happy for anything we can get. The hockey is good again and we're just taking baby steps to repairing this team's fragile psyche. That's the most important part I think. This team and the new coach has been building up confidence over these last couple of games and you can definitely tell that they're not letting one or two goals deflate them. Brian Elliott may not be the answer to our prayers but he has been stellar lately and I just want him to take this gravy train and run with it. This can only be good for his development and if the team is skating confidently in front of him there's not much more we can ask for. He didn't ask to be dropped into this situation but he has absolutely answered the call.

Jason Spezza had one of his best games and I hope that the talking heads would can it with the trade talk already. He was muscling for the puck, being creative but not costing his team and has been forcing the guys on the other end to actually show him some respect. He's not taken so easily off the puck anymore and he appeared to know the right plays to make. Nick Foligno also had a great game, battling for puck control and dominating on the forecheck.

Oh and Vermette finally scored. VERMETTE FINALLY SCORED. I have never been so happy for him. Dany Heatley also broke out of his goal-slump with two laser shots tonight. It was a fairly disciplined game, well at least in comparison to last night. I didn't feel like we accidentally won this game because our opponent was weaker and disorganized. The Flyers didn't look like the Flyers that we're used to seeing but for the most part they seemed to challenge. But right now, I don't even want to worry about how the other team is playing and focus on the Senators.

They look like a weight's been lifted off their shoulders. I didn't want to blame Craig Hartsburg for their struggles but apparently this is what the team needed to lift their spirits and get loose and enjoy playing hockey again. Now, it might just be the honeymoon of a brand new coach that's spurring them on and it could all come crashing down by this time next week. But I'm trying to have a healthy attitude about all of this and just enjoy the ride. Cory Clouston was brought into a crappity-crap situation and he's made the most of it, just like Elliott.

I'm going to bed happy tonight, and so should the rest of you guys.

Labels: antoine vermette, brian elliott, dany heatley, happiness, jason spezza, nick foligno, philadelphia flyers

^{(Photo: Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)}

Guys. I don't want to alarm you but I think this team just got fun to watch again. I didn't want to blame Craig Hartsburg for this team's suckitude or for putting on some really boring hockey but dang, if Cory Clouston hasn't gotten this guys drinking the Kool-Aid. They actually look like they're having fun out there and the hockey is about a million times more interesting. Maybe it's because Clouston doesn't have any pressure on him. Realistically, the season is over with anyways and he's only got the interim tag so, hey, he's got nothing to lose.

Brian Elliott and Jason Spezza both had some very solid games. Spezza was all over the ice, making plays and battling for the puck. Elliott stood tall, including a break-away chance in the second period that I'm sure was a huge save for the team.

Buffalo, for their part never really looked like they were in it. They seemed sluggish from the start and their PPs were very disorganized, leading to several short-handed chances for the Senators. And boy, were their PPs a plenty for both teams. In case you haven't noticed...we don't seem to like one another much. Jason Smith had a 16 minute penalty which included a 10 minute misconduct and a TRIPLE minor for apparently holding Patrick Kaleta up on the boards. I'm not usually one who thinks Smith is hot but...that was hot. I don't know what the refs were thinking with a triple minor because Kaleta wasn't injured and it was nowhere near an aggressive play, but to be fair Kaleta's back was to Smith.

Chris Kelly had a goal disallowed because of goaltender interference by Jarkko Ruutu, who promptly made up for it by interfering with Ryan Miller in what Pierre McGuire described as a "legal" fashion on the second Ottawa goal. Shean Donovan scored for the Senators in his first game back from a knee injury and Daniel Alfredsson scored the third for the Senators.

It looked like the Sabres were about to mount a comeback when Ales Kotalik scored early in the third period and I had that sinking feeling in my stomach again but apparently this team has found some fight and actually played very responsible hockey that didn't turn into a snooze factory. This season is still over for me, but at least we get to enjoy the hockey a bit more now.

The Senators visit Philadelphia tonight...dare I say 3 in a row?

Labels: brian elliott, buffalo sabres, chris kelly, happiness, jarkko ruutu, jason smith, jason spezza, road win, shean donovan

^{(Photo: Len Redkoles/Getty Images)}

Drama just seems to follow Ray Emery everywhere although you have to wonder if he's the one that brings it in the first place. Emery has left his KHL team over a salary dispute. According to the story on TSN, Emery is upset over the exchange rate used to pay his $2 million annual salary:

The team has reportedly been using the wrong exchange rate on Emery's $2 million annual wage, and the goalie claims he has been short-changed about 33 per cent of what is owed to him. Mytischchi Atlant is allegedly upset that Emery did not report on Thursday and has threatened legal action.

Emery was having what many thought to be a turnaround season with Atlant as he has put up some stellar numbers. He is 20-6-0, 2.00 GAA with a .930 save percentage. A good, athletic goalie yes, but there comes a point where you wonder if he's worth the aggravation.

Labels: drama, khl, ray emery

Are you sick of low-scoring NHL games? Then I highly suggest checking out your local AHL team because apparently scoring isn't an issue down there. Not enough of you attend these games anyways and the hockey is actually quite fantastic. Well, everything but the goaltending I guess.

Point of interest: the Grand Rapids Griffins made four goalie changes during this game.

Labels: grand rapids griffins, toronto marlies

^{(Photo: Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)}

I must apologize for the relative quietness on SI lately. You see, I had come down with a cold this past week due mostly to my stupidity as I didn't have the foresight to think to dress extra warm when standing outside in the freezing cold for an hour while taking in Wintercity festivities in Toronto. Of course, the cold came during one of my busiest days at work where I was working around 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. Yes, I know. Great timing eh?

In any case, after mounting a surprising comeback against Boston on Thursday, it started to look like maybe this team was getting its act together. Frankly, if the game is going into a shoot-out, you can forget about this team even coming out with a victory but apparently they wanted to make up for that loss tonight as they managed to come out on top against Buffalo in the very same shoot-out that had been biting them in the arse.

This was of course, after the Senators had surprisingly managed to gain a 2-0 lead, only to let the Sabres come back into it. The Senators had managed to keep a pretty steady amount of pressure this game as they out-shot the Sabres 42-30 and definitely looked like they had more bounce in their step. Mike Fisher earned the shoot-out winner and while I certainly don't want to take anything away from Brian Elliott, he was certainly lucky that Derek Roy ended up shooting over the net.

Today's victory marks Cory Clouston's first win since taking over for Craig Hartsburg behind the Ottawa bench. I hope he enjoys it because I don't know how many more of these there is to come. I don't know why we seem to play so well against Buffalo but I'd like to keep this gravy train going. It might just be the few bright spots we get out of this season. Well, that and the possibility of John Tavares?

Best not get to hopeful. I'm sure they'll find a way to screw that one up too.

Labels: brian elliott, buffalo sabres, cory clouston, mike fisher, shoot-out win

^{(Photo: Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)}

The team is defensively challenged and offensively challenged. I think this team is just plain challenged.

In Cory Clouston's debut as the interim head coach, the team played much better defensively but still couldn't muster anything on the offense. Both rookie goaltenders played well but something is wrong when you can't get anything past Jonathan Quick (Who? Exactly).

This wasn't a completely atrocious effort though. The team looked much more aggressive physically and on the forecheck. Both Mike Fisher and Dean McAmmond had some pretty good scrums and wasn't afraid to use the body and they seemed to be winning more of the little battles that previously they would have given up on. All in all, they at least looked like they had life. Which I suppose at this point is the most you can ask for.

Both teams PPs were dead tonight as both teams went 0-5. The Senators outshot the Kings 29-26 but the Kings got the goal when it mattered, with only about two and half minutes left in the game. With 77 seconds left, the Senators were on a PowerPlay but just couldn't make it happen. Story of this season it seems. And I did predict that we would lose on this week's King's World Podcast with Connie. Surprisingly, it was at a much smaller margin than I had imagined.

If you listen to my appearance on the podcast you'll notice that I am 1) extremely sick and probably hopped up on cold medication and 2) on the "Tank for Tavares" train already.

Seriously guys, there is no hope for this season. Clouston isn't the answer and neither is this blue-line. I think we would all just enjoy the remainder of the season more and not want to completely give up on this lovely team and wonderful sport if we just remind ourselves of the tasty draft pick that awaits us at the end of this dark and long tunnel and just try to enjoy the game for what it is. Take some Gravol to keep the need to puke down.

By the way, are Jesse Winchester and Clouston related? The resemblance is uncanny.

Labels: brian elliott, home loss, jonathan quick, los angeles kings, tank for tavares

Doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.

I turned this game off after Brian Elliott got pulled and it looks like it was a good call too as that was just an awful, awful second period. However, I'm trying to be optimistic so let's give that a whril, shall we?



Congrats, Brian Elliott on your first NHL yankage! You join the likes of great goaltenders such as Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo and Marty Turco who have all been pulled at some point in time! In fact, Patrick Roy doesn't get pulled even when he wants to be sometimes! Not Henrik Lundqvist though. Apparently he only chooses to leave on his own volition.

It truly is a momentous occasion, Elliott. You've joined the big leagues now!

If you'll excuse me, I need to go pop some more Cold-FX because not only am I sick already, this game didn't help any.

Labels: brian elliott, road loss, washington capitals, we suck