FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Okay okay, now they’re done. It seems like every time I convince myself this team may have one last burst, they find a way to prove me wrong in spectacular fashion. This was a poorly played, uninspired, incredibly disappointing effort from a team that should have been desperate for two points. They started slow (again) and just never seemed to find their legs the rest of the way.
-Last night, I foolishly tried to comment on the overwhelming negativity that has engulfed all Sens communities recently. I say foolishly because the timing probably wasn’t the best considering the team was turning in one of their most disappointing efforts of the season at the time. But I stand by what I said- it’s unfortunate that there’s so much negativity in the fan base right now. But I don’t want it to come across as though I’m somehow immune to being disappointed about the team. Because I’m not. And at the same time, I recognize that fans have every reason to be down on this organization. I do think some fans have been a tad over-dramatic about how bad things are but a year like this can make people say crazy things. It’s just unfortunate that we, the most die hard supporters of the team, have become their harshest critics.
-Being more optimistic about the team does not necessarily mean being a better fan just as being more critical about the team does not equal being a smarter fan. These two segments of the same fan base keeping getting measured up and compared against each other and it’s unnecessary. And I know I’ve been guilty of it too. In the end, we’re all cheering for the same team. Just going about it in different ways. No matter how you look at it, this has been a terribly disappointing season and we all want to see this team get back on track next year.
-The lone highlight in this one ended up coming from Alex Chiasson. Which says something about the kind of game the Senators had. Chiasson’s first period goal was a glimpse of what the Senators thought they were getting when they traded for Chiasson last summer. He’s a big guy that can be effective when he gets to the front of the net. Unfortunately he just hasn’t been able to do that often enough during his time in Ottawa. Chiasson is an RFA at the end of the season. Qualifying him would probably be a mistake.
-Just as I have resigned myself to the fact that the Ottawa Senators will not make the plays, I’m starting to feel that same sense of defeat over Erik Karlsson’s bid for a third Norris Trophy. In my mind, he should be a run away winner but you can sort of sense this groundswell of support for Drew Doughty and unfortunately, it’s mostly driven by the media members that will ultimately have the final say. The fact that Karlsson is having such an incredible season on a terrible team only strengthens his bid really but for the people that vote on the Award- no playoffs, no Norris. And it’s a damn shame.
