With the improved health of MIke Lundin and Sergei Gonchar, the Ottawa Senators blue line was suddenly looking pretty crowded.
The team addressed that this morning, returning Mark Borowiecki to Binghamton of the American Hockey League. While Borowiecki showed flashes if that physical game the team wants to see from him, he'll benefit from playing bigger minutes down in Bingo.
The move leaves the Senators with 7 healthy defenceman, which is the number the club plans to stick with moving forward.
The Sens are on the ice for practice at noon today at Scotiabank Place. Will pass along any updates after that skate.
Anyone who was at the game last night: Did the chant just start at 11:11? Should we all get on board with that or is the countdown starting to sink in?
It was most noticeable in the 3rd period, and as I recall, the countdown started at 11:11 and the chant began at 11:00. It was pretty cool when they showed Alfie on the big screen.
1st Period: barely registers, confusion reigns, lame
2nd Period: people clue in, pretty good
3rd Period - primed and ready, good job folks
Noticeable on the 3rd period on TV. It seemed that the chant started at 11:11, and by 10:58 everyone was very loud, and you can hear the "ALFIE" chant loud and clear.
Good going guys to whoever was there...
Dissapointing ending last night though. You can't win them all, but that was one that had our name writen on in :(
Some toronto reporter suggests Ott and Tor are looking into Weiss.
Is Murray still waiting to see what he has before making a move?
I hope they try DaCosta on that 2nd line, he has shown great chemistry with Silfver and Michalek needs a playnaker like Costa to be effective plus he could have had 3 assists yesterday if the people he set up could hit the net (condra, lundin etc) put him with the skilled players and see what happens, he really improved his game from last season, looks much faster and more defensivly aware.
Countdown are for 3rd grade kids.
11:11 feels right rather then start at 11:00. IMO.
Sending Boro down was in the works, he seems a bit overwhelmed by the speed and skill of the NHL, he would go out of his way to hit guys and get out of position.
He will refine his game back in the A.
I'm all for giving him a chance on the 2nd line. I was always a fan of his skills, but he was way to soft and easy to push over last year.
Regin seems to have found his game on the bottom lines, I say let him spend some time there since he is adding "some" skill there.
Countdowns are for 3rd graders...drunk people at new years, and astronauts. I don't agree nor disagree on if the countdown is necessary BUT:
1) It makes it somewhat unique
2) People are used to the countdown now. By changing it, you will divide the crowd causing more confusion than anything. Better to leave it as is.
period, the Sens should have been ahead by 4-1 ??
Cam Ward played one of his trademark games, and we were not lucky in front of his net.
Final count was 47-26, and we lost in overtime, when Anderson was out of position, on a goalmouth scramble goal by Harrison !
Bring on the Jets on Saturday at 2 PM !!
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !
I don't understand why people think we need to change something that worked so well last year.
Just leave it alone
How does it "discourage" people? Just curious...
Let me clarify my curiosity...you mean some sens fans would sit down and be quiet during an alfie chant because of a countdown?
Agree with Chirp. We can chant Alfie at any time during the game. The point of this one is that it is unique, and the countdown is what makes it unique....adds anticipation and makes it more of a spectable imo. Also syncs everybody at the same time and as the season goes on it will only improve
I remember they started the Ovie chants in Washington in the playoffs at 8:00, do they still do it now in the season?
I don't know what the score will be but I bet they set the record for Power Play opportunities given.
Montreal 16 PP chances
Toronto 22 PP chances
If the game is tied with less than 5 minutes left, Toronto gets 11 5 on 3's.
Haha.. I had to laugh at that too...
Greening had a tough game, but as was mentioned here yesterday, he was a good player for making time and space for Spezza.
I would suggest that he join a line with DaCosta and Michalek.
It's just a theory that's all. It doesn't discourage me from joining in. I always participate in the full chant. When I go to the games with my buddies we like to do whatever we can to add a little life to a sometimes dull crowd.
I have heard lots of people at games mention that they think the countdown is lame or that it turns the chant into a bigger production than it should be.
Like I said, it was just a theory as to why most people don't get involved in the chant. It may have worked very well last year but in the 3 games I've been to so far this season it just doesn't seem like many people are into it.
For those that think it worked great and this includes you chirp, that's because you were part of the group doing it. the people that arent part of it dont nessessarily agree.
Either way, any noise at SBP is good i suppose. louder the better.
Moneymike:
don't michalek and greening usually play the same wing? I know michalek can play both wings fairly well...but woulnd't that create a shortage (weak-side) of wingers? I haven't really looked at our lineups again to draw a full conclusion.
I would like to see costa play with more skill than greening. Michalek would be good at giving him space...and I'm thinking maybe Silfver (costa sets-up silfver...and silfer releases) instead of greening.
There was another pair of sens forwards last night who fumbled a 2-on-1..forget who they were but reminded me of Paul MacLean's johnny comment.
The Leafs have eleven 5 on 3's in the last 5 min of a game this season? That's unbelievable. It really makes you think about things doesn't it. How that team has so little PK time & so much PP time. Some fans complain about game fixing something like this really makes you wonder. I would like to see the stats on penalties called in the last 5 min of a game to see how many other NHL teams this affects.
Really enjoyed the game last night even though the Sens lost. The difference was Cam Ward and lack of Spezza.
Take the point. Sens are 1 pt behind Boston for the NE division and 2 pts behind Pitts for the conference lead.
Tough loss last night, but as we all know, a point is a point. Carolina sure do seem to play the Sens well though....
As per the Alifie chant ... I have to agree with Tookie and Patrick.
The countdown is pre-school, small market - garbage.
Fans in Ottawa always have this 'complex' when it comes to more storied franchises and this only adds brick to the mortar.
We're a team in it's 20th modern day season .... we're not in diapers anymore. Let's put the trust in Senator Fans to be intelligent enough to cheer for the Swedish Jesus when the god dam clock hits 11.
That's it that's all. Oh BTW, if you find yourself in T-town this Saturday at around 2pm and need a place to take in the Sens-Jets smackdown .... go to Real Sports - I'll be the clown in the Karlsson jersey and incase you're wondering, yes I do enjoy pints of keiths.
Dean Brown also read a Yost tweet during his play by play. It is nice to see some recognition for the work you guys do to add to the dialogue.
There is nothing worse than going to TSN, ESPN, HOckey News, SPortsnet and reading the exact same post game write up. Bloggers definitely keep the conversation interesting, relevant and varied.
Yeah according to Boo Boo -- it's a maintenance day. He may or may not play tomorrow.. which means Bishop will. Don't like those odds.
I thought Lundin played a decent game considering his first for a new team in a new system and with a new partner.
He is at the hospital today with his wife for the birth of their twins.
Since it started as a countdown then it should stay that way IMO. But if the majority are already just chanting Alfie at 11:11 then maybe everyone should just to be on the same page.
I'm going Saturday so will hopefully see where it's trending.
Agree it's silly to debate this etc, but if we can make this a legit tradition that nearly every fan knows (properly) then I think it's amazing.
1. Most fans have a hard time sustaining a chant for 11 seconds, let alone a count down followed by a chant.
2. there is a good chance something will happen during those 11 seconds to disrupt the countdown and ruin the whole thing.
3. simply chanting Alfie at 11:11 makes more sense than a countdown.
The fact that we spend so much time discussing how to get the chant to work says it all about a complication factor. If you want 20,000 to join in on something,
simplify maaaaaaaaaannnn nn.
don't michalek and greening usually play the same wing? I know michalek can play both wings fairly well...but woulnd't that create a shortage (weak-side) of wingers? I haven't really looked at our lineups again to draw a full conclusion.
I would like to see costa play with more skill than greening. Michalek would be good at giving him space...and I'm thinking maybe Silfver (costa sets-up silfver...and silfer releases) instead of greening.
Well I was thinking about when Greening and Michalek played with Spezza. That trio had some chemistry last year. But I could see Silfver being effective with Da Costa too.
I believe that Zibby and Silfver should be split between Turris' and Smith's lines. Smith is doing well in faceoffs, and the resulting pock pocession should be utilized by a skilled finisher, which both Zibby and Silfver have the potential to be.
I LOVE watching Karlsson play. Would love to see Kar-l-sson chants take off. Almost like goalie chants after a big save we could chant for EK when he breaks some defender's ankles.
Get better soon!
Hope he's back soon (no pun intended)
Go Sens Go
"Giggles...giggles....oh crap!!! I'm doing that giggle thing" [switches to stone cold stare and answers next question seriously]
LOL...seriously, I think Spezza is awesome. Hope to see him back on the ice soon. I think we all knew something was up with his play when he was way too quiet.
Thanks!
Sign overseas??
First of all he's still an RFA. Second, he has had a great showing so far. He creates some of the best scoring opportunities out there while playing the least minutes on the team.
It's obvious he'll have a tough time making the roster because of Spezza, Turris and Smith but he clearly is an NHL player. Not many people can step in to the league and create offense the way he does. His vision/passing skills are off the charts.
At the very least he's shown enough to interest other gm's who are still looking for a 2nd line C. I think Maclean will start giving him more minutes like he did with Zibanejad and he'll really impress.
He's either gonna be traded in a package with some of our other tradeable assets like Bishop or Gonchar or earn a regular spot in the lineup.
Top of this post
The Sens are 21-15 in even strenght scoring chances but 10-2 when King Karl is on the ice and 11-13 when he's not
How about we start an "E - K, E - K, E - K". YOu can yell the letters E and K much louder than Kar-l-sson. Booyah
Spezza does look very optimistic on the rehab part of his back, which he thinks will be better sooner than later.
He had a similar setback 6-7 years ago, and he will consult with his surgery doctor, as well as the team doctor, on
ensuring his return to the lineup.
He was operated in Toronto on Friday Feb 1st, and should he recover in say 4 weeks, he could return in early March to say mid - March, or at worst early April.
We all hope that Spezza has a speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing him as healthy as ever !!
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get well Jason.. Want to see you healthy especially for next season. Take what time you need, don't rush back.
How is this guy still reffing?
If you ask me, it took even more guts to admit he needed the surgery and to commit to getting it done.
j/k Spezz, you're a beauty. Not like your wife is a beauty....but in a different way.
How good would this team be with Cowen and Spezza, pretty scary I think.
As far as starting goalies Pavelec (flu) is with the Jets but did not practice Friday, according to the Winnipeg Free Press, meaning Al Montoya will likely start today. No word on how long Pavelec could be out for but Montoya is due for a challenge in Ottawa if he ends up starting.
For our Senators it's looking like Ben Bishop may get the start for the Senators since Craig Anderson didn't practice yesturday. It may of just been a maintenance day. Nothing is confirmed.
4 - 2 Sens
closer to a return, but is not expected to
play against the Senators. Dustin
Byfuglien (undisclosed) remains sidelined.
… Spezza remains out indefinitely and
Guillaume Latendresse (whiplash) is on
injured reserve. Anderson didn't skate at
Friday's practice