The game didn't start great for the Senators or Anderson though. A questionable pinch by Gonchar put the Panthers on an early power play and a Tomas Fleiscmann wrister beat Anderson. It was a shot the Sens goalie would love to have back.
His teammates wasted no time pulling even, as Chris Phillips one timed a knuckle puck past Theodore towards the end of an Ottawa power play. Despite getting into some penalty trouble, the first period of this game looked an awful lot like the first period on Monday night.
The Sens finished the opening twenty minutes with a 16-7 edge in shots.
The first half of the second period was fairly even until Huberdeau had a great chance to put the Panthers in the lead. He was robbed by the right leg of Anderson, keeping the game tied at 1-1.
A key stop for the Senators as moment later, Erik Karlsson added to his career highlight reel, dancing into the Panthers zone and picking the far corner on a stunned Jose Theodore. There aren't many players in the game let alone defenceman that can make that shot.
It would end being the game winner.
The third period was a battle of the goaltenders. Ottawa carried the play for long stretches but could not beat Theodore, including a penalty shot by Latendresse. While Anderson wasn't as busy, he made a couple big stops, with his best coming as he robbed Peter Mueller with the glove. Jason Spezza scored his 1st into the empty net to ice a 3-1 victory.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Senators as they are right back in action tomorrow night when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning.
GO SENS GO!
Other than that, awesome game.
Karlsson, as expected. Good effort all game by MM9 and Spezza.
Anderson, insane, once again.
I'm hearing Edmonton is interested possibly in Ben Bishop, the way Anderson is playing and the fact that he's only 31 years old, one has to wonder if maybe dangling Lehner out there could attract Edmonton on given up some of their talented depth up front and on the back end.
The likes of Hemsky and Smid sure could give the Sens added depth to make a deep playoff run possibly a last one for Alfie.
No. Just no.
We're still rebuilding. The fact that we're rebuilding and winning, just shows you how great a coach we have, and how great of a GM we have.
I've said this before, but Goalies take longer to develop, and need to play lots to continue getting better. (Kippersuff, Tim Thomas, Anderson, etc)
No need to rush Lehner, let him play, let him develop. I'm satisfied with Bishop as the backup. Besides if Edmonton wants to trade, then make Edmonton desperate, and overpay. In the meantime, keep riding the wave boys and girls.
Good game by the boys. 1st line hasn't even started clicking yet and we're still winning. Great depth, great coaching, great GMing.
In Murray I trust!
p.s. no need to make a trade...let other teams get desperate and overpay!
SHUDDER
I'd think it would be safe to say that if he won a cup, he'd retire right then and there.
if you get chances, they will come.
dont write him off yet!
just needs to work on his shot a bit
I hope Mac tries Regin up there soon.
looks like he's skating with cement skates. I agree that the goals will come but currently he's a backseat passenger on that line, Alfie is a co-pilot and Turris is the driver.
Alfies competitive nature will have him up to speed in a few weeks but not sure how easy it's going to be speeding up Latendresse in a shortened season. He may end up being a one dimensional player for them this year, trailing the play and firing the puck.
If anything, I'd rather bump Greening up to Turris' line and drop Gui down to the grind line.
Erik Karlsson - Top 5 player in the world today!
He's definitely not hurting the team in any way, and he's had some ample scoring chances and that set-up on Turris' second goal of the game on Monday was an absolute beauty.
He's getting lots of chances despite not being in mid-season form. Give him a few more games and the goals/points will start to come.
He's known for being slow as molasses but he's made a living in this league by knowing where to be and when to be there and he's a big body with good hands around the net.
Be patient people, the boys are rolling!
This is very true and boy does he love that short side.
Admittedly, I was hoping they'd move Karlsson to forward a few seasons ago due to his size, our lack of skill at forward and our depth on D.
I thought he could be an offensive force on the backend but that he's get killed defensively.
Let me say this; I don't mind be wrong when a Senators player exceeds my expectations.
He is proving to be a potential generational talent. More and more hockey people are talking about him in the same context as Paul Coffey, Ray Borque and dare I say Bobby Orr.
He changes the entire dynamic of the game and to your point, not only will he likley win another Norris, a Heart Trophey is entirely possible. When other teams entire game plan revolves around trying to mitigate Karlsson you know you have something extra special.
Fair enough. I just feel that if a move HAS to be made then it should be a size-for-size move. Putting another small(er) player on that line may get them pushed around more.
Don't get me wrong, I think Gui is one lucky bounce away from blowing it wide open.
Besides Otatwa having Bishop available and Luongo on the market look at the upcoming UFAs
N.Backstrom,T.Thomas,M.Smith,J.Howard,D.Ellis,C.Mason,J.LaBarbera,A.Montoya,E.Nabokov,J.Theodore,N.Khabibulin.
There is a reason why teams who may not make the playoffs aren't jumping at goaltending help, and if we are looking to trade deadline a few of these goalies may be available as well (Smith, Howard, Ellis, Nabokov, Theodore may all miss playoffs)
I doubt Regin gets moved to the wing on the 2nd line, Coach Mclean said yesterday that he didn't like Regin on the wing which is why he was put at centre for yesterday's game...
That's true eh. Who knows then. I wonder who will slot in on Turris' wings next year? Zibby and an UFA?
Why do you want to trade Smith? He is a perfect 3rd line C and on a very reasonable long term deal. Trading him will not get back the value he has to our team. Finding a guy that fits that role effectively and has some skill to make his linemates better is rare. We don't have any prospects in our system that will develop into that role.
Zibby is going to be a winger and will play on Turris' wing starting next season.
Last night was the sloppiest game we played in many ways but there was also plenty of positives. Anderson saved our bacon last night for sure. The skaters have great energy and nearly everyone is showing flashes of brilliance. More gaffs last night though than in previous games so hopefully that's just a blip.
I'd still go with Bishop tonight as planned with no other changes assuming nobody needs a night off. Keep the lines the same too - with no preseason you have to give time for guys to gel.
And they haven't played a Top Tier team yet. The Pens game will be a big measuring stick, as will the Rangers.
Law of averages were against Turris last year. Advanced stats showe dhow "unlucky" he was with shooting percentage as well as amount of goals scored while he was on the ice in whcih he didn't get a point. This year already shows how if those % rise, so do Turris points
The old adage is that if you keep getting chances you must be doing something right
Latendresse is getting chances, sure he is not burying them but he is generating offense. better than playing like crap and causing turnovers and the puck in the back of the net
Truth be told Turris has been the one carrying that line, Alfie hasn't had the greatest start to the year either. Latendresse has arguably done more than Alfie (blasphemy I know)
Replcaing Latendresse with someone else like Regin does not mean Regin will have all the chances Lats has had so far
Once that line stops generating offense and becomes a libiability, do I consider removing Lats
Lately these teams don;t seem to be the measuring stick, after we thump those teams.....WE will be the measuring stick.
I should extend my point, by no means is Lats playing better than Alfie cause yes Alfie is Alfie I get it We all love him so do I
But something has to be said about all the chances Lats is getting, yes Turris and Alfie are doing alot of work setting him up, but it takes a good player to constantly give himself that opportunity.
Lats has done more in ways of generating offense than Alfie has IMO
Alfie is better two way, but last night specifically, I found Alfie not as prominent as he usually is. In all 3 games you can point to at least 2 or 3 plays and say "man lats should have scored there"
Same can be said about greening. Put anyone else as Turris winger, and nothing leads me to believe they will ahev the same effect and get the same chances
If we gave Zib 9 games last year on the top 2 lines to try and find offense then lets do the same with Lats
3rd and 4th line centres are dime a dozen. Top Dman are not. I'm sure a guy named Gretzky also had "Value". Teams move on and get Better.
I actually agree with this. The highest turnover position is the 3LC because they always improve and want to be a 2LC
Think about it in terms of just the Sens the past 5 years
Cullen-Fisher-Kelly
3LC get their minutes used on PK, chip in offensively and then drive up their price, where a team lacking C depth will want to overpay
So yes Smith is the ideal 3LC and we love him, sooner or later he will pot 15-20g in 2 straight years, become a FA and a team will offer us a 1st for him or give him 4 mill a year and we will let him walk.
And then we will insert a new 3rd line C primed for extra responsibility (see:Regin-JOB- Da Costa etc)
and we will do this cycle over and over again cause no teams wnats to spend 3-5 mill on a 3LC
Don Cherry @CoachsCornerCBC
In Toronto it's the old story, the Isles had guys from Ontario kill them. Matt Moulson from North York get 2 and Tavares played great.
He had the five hole to be honest. Had theodore not carried his stick across that puck is sliding right through
I got to stop posting as I'm coming across as Latendresse #1 fan haha I just think he deserves patience
Keep rolling the 4 lines, this is some awesome Sens hockey!
GO SENS GO!!!