FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-At some point the NHL is going to have to step in and stop putting these Sens/Devils games on National television. They are doing permanent damage to the league’s brand. That may be a slight exaggeration but this was another dreadfully boring hockey game. The Devils have that effect on teams, I suppose. Ottawa and New Jersey combined for just 39 shots on goal last night.
-Bobby Ryan has been playing some of his best hockey as a Senator lately but he’ll see that last-second open net in his nightmares for the next couple weeks. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player prevent a shot with his own skate but that’s exactly what happened to Ryan in the closing seconds last night. But if that play helped Ottawa avoid an overtime or shootout loss, then we should be thanking Bobby, I guess.
-Robin Lehner was sharp at times last night but I’m still noticing an ongoing issue where he’s sitting way too deep in his net. I had assumed that was a confidence thing for him but maybe it’s actually something he’s doing intentionally. Henrik Lundqvist does it a lot in New York and he’s one of the best goalies in the league. Either way, I don’t think it’s working for Lehner. He’s at his best when he’s aggressive and challenging the shooter.
-I want to fully believe in Corsi but I just can’t put complete trust in a number that says Patrick Wiercioch is anything more than a 6th or 7th defenceman. He ended up on the plus side of the corsi battle last night (and has most of the season) but my eyes told me another story. I’m not sure if there’s an injury of some sort that he’s playing through but his skating has deteriorated badly over the course of the season. It was never a strength for him but it seems to be getting worse. He’s not the only issue on that blueline but he’s certainly one of them. Jaromir Jagr has made many a defenceman look silly over the years. He added Wiercioch’s name to that list on the go-ahead goal.
-Lots of talk about the Chris’s before last night’s game. Both Chris Neil and Chris Phillips have been approached by Bryan Murray about the possibility of a trade and both have indicated to the GM that they’d like to stay. I’m not convinced there’s a whole lot (or any) interest in Phillips right now but Neil is another story. If multiple teams are calling, it’s reasonable to think the Senators could get a 3rd or maybe even a 2nd round pick in return. Sounds like the plan is for Murray to approach Neil again closer to the deadline with specific options for Neil to consider. Winnipeg had a couple scouts at last night’s game.
