Uninspired Senators lose 5-0 to Maple Leafs

by PeterR on Feb 6, 2010 9:54 PM EST in Senators recaps Comment 28 comments

Ugh... (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Frank Gunn)

How a team fails to get sufficiently motivated while trying to extend a franchise-high winning streak to 12 while playing against their most hated rivals is beyond me, but that's what we saw tonight. The Ottawa Senators started slowly, took a couple stupid tripping penalties early, and the Toronto Maple Leafs scored what ended up being the game-winning goal on a powerplay less than five minutes into the game.

Once again, Matt Carkner performs an interpretive dance to demonstrate the theme of the night:

Bottom line: It wasn't pretty. In fact, the loss was just about the worst way the Senators could have ended their winning streak.

A little bit more after the jump, including (if you can believe it) a Sens hero.

Sens heroes: Jonathan Cheechoo
It seems like Cheechoo plays his best when the rest of the team is playing its worst. It was the same way during the team's California road trip, and was the case tonight. He played only 12:14, but led the team (!) with five shots on net. He might have had Ottawa's best scoring chances, a direct result of driving to the net, and looked like a pretty decent player.

Sens zeroes: Everyone else on Ottawa
Yeah, no one was good. Jason Spezza had his moments, as did Daniel Alfredsson, but their ability to generate momentum was limited by Ottawa's early penalties, and by the time there was some even strength time the game was pretty much over. Particular call-outs go to Carkner--not for his loss to Colton Orr (you've got to give him credit for getting back up afterwards), but for his two stupid penalties--plus Alex Picard, Chris Campoli, and Alex Kovalev.

Sens killers: Phil Kessel, Luke Schenn, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the rest of the Leafs.
Yeah, all of them, really.

Shot map:

Highlights:

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Comments

Okay, no biggee

Just get right back on the winning wagon against the Flames at home. If they get five points in the four games leading up to the break, I’ll be satisfied.

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2010 10:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sucks that we have to wait until Tuesday to see how they respond, doesn't it?

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 6, 2010 11:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, this hurts because Buffalo lost again.

A win today would have put us a point up on Buffalo with two games in hand. A big wasted opportunity.

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2010 10:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Plus Pittsburgh

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 6, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I want more than just home ice.

Though given our home/away splits this year, that could be a big boost to getting out of the first round.

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2010 10:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point. The Sens wreck shit at home.

by oldmonk on Feb 8, 2010 9:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That truly is the worst part

They do all this work to get themselves an opportunity and then blow it. Thankfully we’re still in playoff position, but what an absolute waste.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 6, 2010 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not blown yet

The distance they’ve made up in a couple weeks was amazing, and they’ve still got a good amount of room to catch up to and surpass the Sabres. Not to take anything away from the Sabres, but they’re slowing down, and Miller’s not going to get much rest in the Olympics.

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Feb 7, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't misunderstand me

The only thing they blew was last night’s opportunity to move into the division lead. I’m not talking about anything further down the road than that.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 7, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s the temporary goalie coach’s fault.

by Lady Gaga on Feb 7, 2010 12:14 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Honestly...

After blowing the lead to New Jersey last night and hearing the news about Brian Burke’s son immediately after the game, it would have been damn near impossible for a team to not come out fired up with piss and aplomb.

Staying driven and motivated on an 11 game winning streak is a tough task, especially when faced with a team playing with as much emotion as Toronto did tonight.

Willing to trade humour for cash, straight up.

by Archimedies on Feb 7, 2010 4:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good point, Archie

The emotion was big last night, and Ottawa just didn’t match it. When tragedies like this strike a team, you usually see them either respond as the Leafs did on Saturday, or they get taken out completely because of the incredible distraction. The Leafs responded positively to an awful circumstance.

A balanced take from a Leafs fan…

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Feb 7, 2010 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely brutal game.

I’m glad you picked up on Cheechoo, though. He was skating faster than I’ve ever seen him, and playing with more heart than anyone else on the ice. Very good game for him, just wish some other players matched his intensity.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Feb 7, 2010 12:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is it possible we just witnessed relativity?

That he played no better than usual, he just looks like a hero because everyone else sucked?

by Mike Hurley on Feb 7, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was wondering if that might have been the case

And it would explain why he looks good when the team looks terrible. But I think even objectively, he had a pretty strong game. Expecially since there is statistical evidence, in the form of shots on net. And scoring chances, because the team didn’t have many, and he probably had two of them.

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Feb 7, 2010 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I gotta pick on Spezza for being soft on the puck all night long. He refused to drive to the net. Every time he crossed the blueline he kinda floated off along the boards and tried to force bad passes into the slot.

Him getting his pocket picked by Schenn in the 3rd period pretty much summed it up. His head wasnt in it last night.

Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.

by Andrew J on Feb 7, 2010 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Spezza was among the worst Sens on the ice

Spezza played really poorly. Terrible game from him.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Feb 7, 2010 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I go to a concert and when I get home

I find the Sens lose 5-0 and the only Hero is Jonathan Cheechoo! I think someone is messing with me.

by Crooklyn Banks on Feb 7, 2010 4:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Same here!!! I was shocked. Not expecting a game like this.

But hey it may bring them down to Earth for a bit. Every team needs to lose a few games. did Cory shuffle the lines a lot? Seemed like he did…

I’m not sure what the exact reason for the loss is but it could be a combination of things… Unbalanced lines, no drive with the players (although playing Toronto should be enough motivation), Toronto really wanted to win for Burke, Karlsson missing which results in Kuba being paired with Picard (isn’t that who Kuba paired with?).

by Los Blancos Chicca on Feb 8, 2010 3:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs