So This Is What Blogging Looks Like... I Almost Forgot!
1 Comments Published by Dany Heatley Speedwagon on Monday, February 08, 2010 at 5:30 PM.
I could sit here and spew to you any number of reasons for my lack of work around this place but none of them are very good. I'll just say this, since I've discovered twitter I've been noticably absent from this corner of the interweb series of tubes. Instant thoughts and reaction with people as well as numerous comedy pyramids are very distracting. That said I don't want to forget the blog from where I came.
A lot has happened since the last time I've put pen to paper here, so to speak. The Senators went on an 11 game winning streak that inevitably came to a crashing halt when they laid a playoff level heap of shit of a performance at the hands of none other than the hated Leafs. Those very same Leafs apparently in an effort to deny Peter Chiarelli a lottery draft pick have gone out and got themselves a goaltender, in the form of J.S. Giguire and another truculent defenceman, Dion Phaneuf. Those very same Bruins have decided if the Leafs aren't going to help them maybe they'll have to get a lottery pick all on their own and tailspinned themselves into a 10 game losing streak. While all this was happening of course the Senators have somehow, miraculously, pulled themselves to within 1 point of the division leading Buffalo Sabres who now have the suddenly human Ryan Miller starting in net. Add this all up and really I don't see how there is anyway I can deny you my creative genius any longer.
Now, let's talk about playoffs. When the season started I think you would be hard pressed to find many Senators fans willing to bet significant sums of money the Sens would find themselves playing beyond the second week of April. While making the playoffs was, at best, a possibility in October it would appear now it is almost a certainty. That said being a Senators fan too, of course I want more.
A lot has happened since the last time I've put pen to paper here, so to speak. The Senators went on an 11 game winning streak that inevitably came to a crashing halt when they laid a playoff level heap of shit of a performance at the hands of none other than the hated Leafs. Those very same Leafs apparently in an effort to deny Peter Chiarelli a lottery draft pick have gone out and got themselves a goaltender, in the form of J.S. Giguire and another truculent defenceman, Dion Phaneuf. Those very same Bruins have decided if the Leafs aren't going to help them maybe they'll have to get a lottery pick all on their own and tailspinned themselves into a 10 game losing streak. While all this was happening of course the Senators have somehow, miraculously, pulled themselves to within 1 point of the division leading Buffalo Sabres who now have the suddenly human Ryan Miller starting in net. Add this all up and really I don't see how there is anyway I can deny you my creative genius any longer.
Now, let's talk about playoffs. When the season started I think you would be hard pressed to find many Senators fans willing to bet significant sums of money the Sens would find themselves playing beyond the second week of April. While making the playoffs was, at best, a possibility in October it would appear now it is almost a certainty. That said being a Senators fan too, of course I want more.
When it comes to playoffs I'm going to assume here there are 3 benchmarks to aim for.
1) playoffs - 8th spot
2) home ice advantage - 4th place
3) conference champs - 1st place
I think it's safe to say the first benchmark is acheived and the third is a pipe dream. Washington is a team possessed and a Juggernaut in 1st with an 18 point lead on 5th place Ottawa. It took 11 W's in a row to get the Sens where they are now. First is not happening. Not now. Not in April. The Senators appear to be firmly entrenched in the 5 spot. 8 points up on 6th place Montreal, 2 back of 4th place Pittsburgh and as I mentioned only 1 behind Buffalo. This is where things get interesting. While I mentioned that getting into the playoffs would have put most people over the moon in October part of me is starting to play the what-if game about the division lead. At the change of the calendar I was ready to concede the division to the Sabres. They had a double digit lead in wins and points in the Northeast and Ryan Miller was playing like a man possessed to win the Vezina and give the US a chance to compete for a medal in Vancouver. Now their is doubt in Sabres land. The window has been opened.
The east currently looks like such:
Capitals- 88
Devils - 74
Sabres - 71
Penguins - 72
Senators - 70
Canadiens - 62
Lightning - 61
Flyers - 59
Bruins - 59
Rangers - 59
Thrashers - 58
Panthers - 57
Leafs - Sorry Leafs no playoffs for you. But hey, enjoy that saturday victory.
I'm going to say if nothing changes in the top 5 as of today the Senators do not look like they would have any chance of beating the Penguins in a 7 game series. I'm convinced Pittsburgh is keeping plenty in reserve just waiting to turn it on in April. This team knows what it's like to lose. They know what it's like to win. They are merely waiting, going through the motions until the games really start to count. Must avoid playoff games in Pittsburgh. So even if the Sens are able to leapfrog the Pens the advance in the standings is moot. After all that's been said about the fans at SBP this season and the "dwindling" ticket sales numbers that have been bandied about, home ice advantage will be no advantage if it means an extra home game (if it even goes to seven) against the cup champs. This is where the dream to overtake Buffalo really becomes enticing. Sitting as a division leader in 3rd or even 2nd (longer shot I know) would go a long way to helping the Senators move beyond the first round. I think the Senators have a realistic chance of advancing against any of the teams that currently sit in 6th - 12th. While I think some teams (Philly) would be harder to play in the first round than others (Atlanta/Florida) all are much more favorable matchups than any of the teams currently sitting above the Senators in the East.
Perhaps I'm just selling crazy here. After all, I'm sure there is nothing wrong with a division powerhouse over relying on a goalie who is going to be worked like a dog over the next two weeks trying to help his country win a medal at the Olympics? What's the worst thing that could happen?
I'm Not Dead I Promise
2 Comments Published by Miss. Scarlett on Tuesday, February 02, 2010 at 6:33 PM.
Although the recent lack of activity might make you believe otherwise. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's been about month since this place has seen any action and for that I sincerely apologize. A while back I made a renewed effort to get this place up and running again and as you can see--I am obviously not a woman of my word. Real life has gotten in the way too many times and for that I sincerely apologize.
However, there's nothing like a 9-game winning streak to get me out of my slumber! I wish I had something constructive to say about this but like our friend TUC...I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.
If you look at the make-up of this team, we're not as bad as we are when we were bad (if that makes sense) but I don't think we're as good as we are playing now. Our secondary scoring is still an issue but at least having competent goaltending is a nice change. It's funny, the morning after our latest horrid losing streak I proposed we register the domain www.FireEliWilson.com on my Twitter and sure enough, that afternoon, Wilson was canned. I suppose I shouldn't make light of the power I hold.
In any case, the other reason why I haven't been posting is because there hasn't much to post about. This team isn't nearly as melodramatic as it has been in season's past and I suppose I should thank it for helping me keep most of my hair and not causing me to go into fits. This post really isn't of any substance except to reiterate that I'M NOT DEAD and neither is this blog. I suppose one day sooner or later I'm going to have to come to a decision on what to do with this place. But until then, I'm going to keep it around so our loyal readers (however many of you are left) can enjoy our greatest hits and perhaps give me some motivation to restore it to its former glory.
Thanks for sticking around.
However, there's nothing like a 9-game winning streak to get me out of my slumber! I wish I had something constructive to say about this but like our friend TUC...I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.
If you look at the make-up of this team, we're not as bad as we are when we were bad (if that makes sense) but I don't think we're as good as we are playing now. Our secondary scoring is still an issue but at least having competent goaltending is a nice change. It's funny, the morning after our latest horrid losing streak I proposed we register the domain www.FireEliWilson.com on my Twitter and sure enough, that afternoon, Wilson was canned. I suppose I shouldn't make light of the power I hold.
In any case, the other reason why I haven't been posting is because there hasn't much to post about. This team isn't nearly as melodramatic as it has been in season's past and I suppose I should thank it for helping me keep most of my hair and not causing me to go into fits. This post really isn't of any substance except to reiterate that I'M NOT DEAD and neither is this blog. I suppose one day sooner or later I'm going to have to come to a decision on what to do with this place. But until then, I'm going to keep it around so our loyal readers (however many of you are left) can enjoy our greatest hits and perhaps give me some motivation to restore it to its former glory.
Thanks for sticking around.
