The Sabres are coming off a tough Saturday night loss against the Leafs. Buffalo had a chance to all but close out the Leafs in their playoff push but have instead given them life. Leafs are now just four points out of the final spot.
Meanwhile, Sens fans have been watching the standings for a completely different reason. Ottawa currently sits in 29th in the NHL but are closing in on the free falling Colorado Avalanche. The Avs have lost four straight and are just one point up.
No line up changes expected for the Senators with the exception of a switch in goal. McElhinney was strong against the Bolts on Friday night but Clouston will go back to Anderson against the Sabres.
Here is how tonight's line up should look.
Greening-Spezza-Butler
Foligno-Smith-Neil
Condra-Shannon-Svatos
Potulny-Winchester-Lessard
Phillips-Lee
Kuba-Karlsson
Smith-Gonchar
Still nothing new to report on the Craig Anderson extension talks. He wants to be a part of this team moving forward but with Bryan Murray's future still somewhat in doubt, both sides have been hesitant about negotiating a new contract.
Don Brennan wrote about the situation in a piece late last week and it seems pretty clear that Anderson and his agent Justin Duberman would prefer to negotiate with Bryan Murray.
I've said it before but from the moment the trade was made for Anderson, there was an extension "ready to go". Anderson was going to be a free agent target this coming summer so the club already had a pretty good idea what they were going to offer him.
According to Brennan's article, the two sides will talk extension after the GM's meetings.
At one point thought to be a "lame duck" GM it starting to look more and more like Bryan Murray could be back with the team as GM next season.
Go Sens Go?!
Murray has basically saved his job with the moves and trades he's made this year and Clouston is showing that, given a decent team and not a bunch of lolly gagging over achievers, he is able to coach.
Listen, the guy had an amazing year last year and a brutal year this year. So he's 1-1. Why not give him a one year deal to prove his worth. I think he deserves it..call me crazy.
I'll never cheer for this team to lose.
Go sens go!!!!!!
GO SENS GO!
Watch us lose Anderson to free agency :(
Couldn't have said it better.
Go SENS Go!
Honestly, I don't think you'll get chirped that bad, most of the Murray haters have converted and I think CC should at least stay on as an Assistant....
Amazed at the number of new faces I've seen around here the past few days though. Did not expect that but I have been pleasantly surprised!
Tank at the bank! Tank at the bank!
Keep Murray, fire Clouston and bring in an experienced coach.
Could not agree more! Bring them both back!
After all the stories about poor locker room communication, I'm really not convinced he's the right guy with so many young guys in the line up.
Cory Clouston isn't a bad coach. Look at this recent turnaround: a change in coaching philosophy? I don't think so? A change in the attitude of these young players who have everything to prove and nothing to lose? I think so.
CC is showing that he can play with a group of guys who want to play good hockey. Last year's success was no "fluke". It was the result of good coaching, respect for the coach, and just good hockey.
I honestly think with the addition of some new young players that the team will be a better product next season.
And Bryan Murray deserves to stay hands down I think. He's earned another contract.
It's amazing what a little pressure on a GM, and a fresh roster for a coach, can do for a team.
3 years/3-3.5 mil seems to be where most people are guessing.
At that time , I posted a subject on Sens Talk with the title " Blame The Coach....N0 Blame The Players"
Still believe that it was a negative attitude of some core players towards Clouston, that killed the will of this team ! The 7-3 record with 6 regulars gone, says it all !!
Bring both Murray and Clouston back, with 1 year extension and monitor same !
The registration process was so easy! It converted us long time readers into posters!
Completely agree.
Now no offense to Alfie, who is obviously the face of the franchise and our beloved captain, BUT is it a coincidence that since Alfie's injury, 2-3 weeks ago; and all of the rosters moves, that this team has played its BEST hockey of the year? Of course goaltending is the biggest factor, but it has also been the skaters on the ice as well.
The difference has 100% been goaltending. They aren't giving up those weak goals early in games any more and Anderson (and McElhinney on Friday) are giving them a chance to win games.
Completely agreed Chirp. I think a few more moves /additions in the off season *should* fix that
Now the Sens aren't expected to win a cup or anything next year, so I'd like to see Clouston back for one more year and prove what he's got. Force him to show all his marbles.
This team has had so many coaching changes in the past 5 years, it's just leading me to believe that it has to be the players, and not the coaches *cough* Heatley.
No to CC - the only way this guy is allowed to coach next year is if he is wearing a clown costume. I get so confused watching a professional (line) juggler out of costume.
Just back from Florida seeing the Sens in Sunrise & Tampa.. I guess we were their 'lucky' charms. Lots of fellow Sens fans in attendance at both games. It was a blast.
New site looks great...
Anderson & McElhinney both played great.
Hoping for a win today.
Colorado had better start getting their act in gear or it's goodbye to Landeskog.
It's fun to watch, but I don't think it has much meaning for next year (other than our draft position).
Haha yeah well I was in the Dominican Republic for the last week! I missed the change over
Oh yeah, that is huge and it speaks to what I posted above: The guy does not know how to handle stars. Is Condra a star? No. But with NOTHING on the line in this game give him a shot at the hatty.
A good coach needs to have the right mix. CC is all vinegar.
Well that's a good thing. I don't have a hate-on for the guy, but having a new face behind the bench makes more sense for the reboot.
That said, Iike a lot of fans I'm getting a little sick at the thought of Clouston and Anderson forging a late season run.
Imagine Anderson signs with say...the Leafs? Can't you see Burke doing that?
Can't remember what the score was when Condra was looking for his trick, but didn't he hve Karlsson on the ice when he was going for a trick?
Even if not, a 2-1 game is definitely NOT a situation where I want Karlsson looking for a hat trick. It's probably 60% likely giveaway on the tying goal and 40% likely he gets the trick. Obviously completely arbitrary, but the last thing I want is Karlsson thinking "goal" when he should be just desperately trying to keep the opposition from scoring.
PS is there anyway I can become the sole proprietor of the name "Peter Sidorkiewicz"? There's an 8year old with retarded opinions (:D) posting 'as me'. Didn't piss me off last site but now...
As for Clouston, I predict that he will end up on another underachieving squad in the lead which might need a "tough love" coach full of young players. The Island, maybe?
Murray, I believe, will be back in some capacity, probably GM.
I have no problem with Clouston returning but it's not happening.
It appears that the posters are split 60-40 in favour of his return .
If he does not return , I could see a guy who was born in the area, as a solid replacement .
He played in the NHL for many years, and has won Stanley Cups, both as a player and as a Coach.
Will not say who he is , but some of you might try and guess who I'm thinking of !
Based on BM's success with hiring coaches he'd better get a lot of help in deciding who to hire
Also, you may want to lose "Be the first to comment!" -- especially when many already have.
Otherwise, the new site looks ok. Will take some time getting used to... I always miss the simplicity of Blogger when my favorite blogs go for a so called "upgrade".
At least you don't need an account to comment...
They're better off going with an experienced coach who is known as an excellent teacher for young players.[/quote
Hey there Tyrant,
A few posts ago, I talked about the possible Coach, and wonder if you can guess who I am thinking of ??]
Would you be talking about Bob Hartley? No thanks.
Yes the team is making a late season push when it does not matter. A lot of that can be attributed to great goaltending.
If these young guys can play the 'system' Clouston has -- then why the team prior to all the trades could not do that? That's the question I would be asking.
As far as not putting out Condra & Karlssen late in the game to get their hattricks.... the reason was I assume the games were close at the time.. one goal wins actually.
So would not the coach want to try his best to get the players on the ice to win the game or send a player out to get a hattrick. This is a team game not an individual game.
Maybe the players who would not 'play' for Clouston are gone... maybe they were the problem.
He is very good with young players and that's what this team needs going forward.
You are dead on !!
He would be the ideal type ,and is fluently bilingual.
Always liked the "Big Bird" !!
He's good with youth (debatable)
Sens go through coaches like socks
I don't think he's a bad coach like "Tryant", whoever that is (big deal if Heatley and Kovalev weren't happy), but he's certainly had his failings. I see no reason to keep Clouston just so we don't fire another coach or because we won't be competitive next year anyway. These are incidental and no real reasons.
I wouldn't be too pissed with a one year deal but it would be odd to keep him on for a rebuild. Much rather see a tabula rasa.
Accounts are quite easy to sign up for though, suggest you give it a shot!
The RSS feed should appear at the top of the page under the SensChirp blog tab.
Trying to keep an eye on this and see if there is anything I can do.
It took me a while to notice that the old feed wasn't updating.
Cheers.
For the most part, so far so good I'd say.
Not much buzz for a Sunday game against the Sabres where a large number of fans would rather see the Sens lose?
Haha go figure.
If I do this everytime a mistake that leads to a goal, will it just draw excuse makers and hatred? I think there a decent chunk of observant fans who've been on to this for a long time now.
That was a brutal call.
It's weird.. from my point of view I think Phillips has been playing better since signing his contract..
It's amazing what solid goaltending can do.
Just wanted to say that I like the new website. The design looks nice and I like the idea of having a quote button.
The biggest technical problem I have with your site is our team still sucks.
Phillips is still making brutal forced and unforced errors. He's played better, sure but he couldn't have got much worse and still has a long way to go.
When I'm saying this he sucks, but I still like his play I think he's a solid defenseman for a good price .. agree to disagree
For over 3 million a year i disagree. He is a guy who has proven that without an elite partner he is useless. He doesn't hit, doesn't score, doesn't fight. What does he do? Oh right he turns the puck over and waves his fucking stick. This is not meant to be an attack at you but I just don't get how a guy like this gets over 3 million a year to do nothing.
I dont take it as an attack at all.. But I think he'll really help Cowen, I dont think he's been that bad this year but the team really sucked when we all thought we'd do well.. he has leadership and experience that will help the kids
I had been thinking that Peter sidorkiewicz was coming up with some truly brilliant hockey insights until I learned that someone else had hi-jacked his name. Just kidding Peter, that's pretty low.
Karlsson is brutal defensively. He needs a guy like Cowen to cover for him. Too bad Cowen may be wasted covering for another defensive dman who can't play with a puck mover.
what are the chances of the puck getting caught in his back, and not bouncing off of his back and going in 9 times out of 10 as it usually does.
LOL, just no luck. wow
This team is underachieving this year. No one, not even the fans predicted this.
Bad defensive play and bad goaltending contributed a lot to where they are.
Players -- play which a lot of the older core were not doing.. hense the shake up. I don't actually see Fisher & Kelly lighting it up with their respective new teams.
I believe Colorado did the Anderson-Elliot t trade-- knowing that Anderson was not going to re-sign and with Elliott they could take aim for the bottom of the standings.. which is working out well for them.
This team's core got too comfortable and forgot the hard work ethic.
Totally disagree with that quote.
Greening plays a lot harder than Bonk ever did.
Give the kid a chance for pete's sake. How many games has he played in the NHL -- 15 or so?
Yes he was pulled after the 4th goal
As for BM im ok with him having an extension.