Archive for March 23rd, 2009
NHL GAMES & PICKS
NEW JERSEY @ FLYERS: TAKE NJD
CANES @ PANTHERS : TAKE FLORIDA
RED WINGS @ FLAMES : TAKE CALGARY
PLAYOFFS FOR SENS ?
SENATORS HEADLINES EVERYWHERE TALK ABOUT PLAYOFFS
My 11 year old son knows better than to talk about playoffs for his favorite team the Ottawa Senators with the season they have had.
Cory Clouston has done an outstanding job since taking over behind the Sens bench and deserves a contract extension from the Sens current GM Bryan Murray.
I was however one of the only people saying to give this guy a chance when he was hired by Murray, giving kudos for not recycling yet another coach from the NHL graveyard.
Clouston has held his players accountable, played solid hockey away from the puck but most of all have the Sens playing like they give a shit.
But PLAYOFFS? Are the headlines today in every paper in Ottawa where the media is as par for the course delusional when it comes to the local hockey team. Ticket off the parade route in Ottawa and map out the ceremonies the Sens have won 9 of their last 10 games. 
Sunday’s impressive (2-1 victory) in the Big Apple was an even better win because the Rangers have been so hot as of late starting to take off themselves under new coach John Tortorella.
Senators passed the Toronto Maple Leafs in the standings, who oddly for the first time their reporters have not gone GA GA over their late season win streaks. The Sens win does the Leafs a favor in the summer draft putting Toronto in a better drafting position.
BE AWARE OF HOW GOOD YOU ARE THIS TIME OF YEAR
First of all you have to be guarded how good teams play at this time of the year when technically they have nothing to lose and are playing under zero pressure other then the internal pressure from each other.
The Sens are loaded with several veterans that their jobs as players in the NHL are safe even if not with the Sens. But that’s all the more reason to get excited about what the Sens have done meaning playing so well under Clouston at this point.
Just not too excited!! Hopefully owner and the very optimistic Eugene Melnyk sees this for what it is in Ottawa with the climb in the standings. What it is is this : Sens have some strong pieces in place for next season and there is no doubt that they played poorly under coach Craig Hartsburg.
Murray also made a very solid move in acquiring defenseman Chris Campoli who will develop into a solid puck moving D as he is only 24. The other move which we will see the benefits from next season is the deal for a number 1 goaltender Pascal Leclaire who will settle things down in the Sens net. Although rookie tender Brian Elliott has been with no pressure playing much better as of late breaking a record held by Ray Emery with 8 straight wins by a Sens goalie.
The owner and Bryan Murray must resist the temptation to put to much stock in the turn around or play at this time of season. Murray being a seasoned vet, you would hope understands that there are several areas that still need to be addressed in the summer.
First off winger Chris Neil must be signed back whatever the cost in terms of trading other players to free up the salary. You can’t discount the meaning of a guy like Neil what he brings to the table in terms of heart, energy and over all grit.
Neil needs some help in this department as well as reported earlier Neil believes he cannot be the only one doing the fighting upfront for the Sens. It’s important that the Sens make some additions in the grit department on the 3-4th lines in the summer.
It is critical that the Sens continue getting better and finish strong just for if nothing else the players and coaches confidence in each other moving forward for next season.
But playoffs is a pipe dream and the reporters need to slow right down with that talk in the Nations Capital and let things develop over the summer.
For Hockey God I’m Dave Frost
