Senators ups and downs: Week seven
by Mark Parisi on Nov 21, 2011 10:01 AM EST
in Ottawa Senators ups and downs
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Ups and downs is a feature that looks at the individual performances of the Senators for the past week.
The Senators had a very successful trip to Western Canada this week, beating the Calgary Flames 3-1 and the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 before finally losing to the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 in overtime on Sunday. It's worth noting that Edmonton won their next game 9-2 over Chicago, so for Ottawa to put together a win against such an explosive team is encouraging.
Still, it wasn't all milk and honey this week. That's why this feature is called ups and downs. Let's look at who deserves what.
Biggest Gains: Bobby Butler
With three points (2G, 1A) in three games, Butler finally showed up for the 2011-12 season. Both of his goals came against Calgary, and he notched the lone assist on Jesse Winchester's goal against Edmonton. Though he was held off the scoresheet against Vancouver, Butler also produced some quality scoring chances in that game as well. It's too early to say The Bust has turned his season around, but his play this week is certainly a promising sign.
Biggest Losses: Stephane Da Costa
On the other end of the spectrum this week was Da Costa. He was largely invisible for long stretches of games (against Vancouver it was because he was benched for a long stretch) which is generally not how you want to describe your second line center. His putrescence on faceoffs was staggering, as he went 3-for-25 in three games. While he started the season hot, it's become clear that he's overwhelmed in the role he's being asked to play. It's not a matter of talent; it's a matter of readiness, and he is a player that simply does not look ready.
(read on for the full breakdown....)
Goalies
Trend
Notes
Craig Anderson
Anderson's save percentages in his two wins this week: .974 and .917. When he plays like that, he gives his team a chance to win.
Alex Auld
Called into duty unexpectedly on Sunday when Anderson wasn't feeling healthy enough to go, Auld stole a point against a team many have picked to win the Cup. Not only that, but he only let in two goals, and both came as the result of deflections. That's the kind of performance you want from your backup.
Defensemen
Jared Cowen
Sometimes we wish he would do something interesting. Blossoming into a high quality defenseman is so boring to write about.
Sergei Gonchar
Gonchar is on a five-game points streak, and was plus-2 on the week.
Erik Karlsson
Karlsson's own point streak came to an end on Sunday, but he still had two assists and a plus-2 rating for the week. He is good.
Filip Kuba
Did you know: Kuba leads the team in blocked shots (by 10!) and plus/minus? On Sunday, he blocked a shot with his wrist and didn't even need surgery.
Brian Lee
While unremarkable, Lee has played well enough to keep Rundblad out of the lineup. That's pretty impressive.
Chris Phillps
Speaking of unremarkable... Just kidding! Phillips actually had an assist this week.
David Rundblad
Remains a healthy scratch.
Matt Carkner
Currently injured.
Forwards
Daniel Alfredsson
Scored a goal against Calgary and scored an own-goal against Calgary. Doesn't have the talent at age 39 to carry Da Costa.
Bobby Butler
See "Biggest gains."
Erik Condra
Rode Butler's coattails to a plus-3 rating this week. Valuable penalty killer.
Stephane Da Costa
See "Biggest losses."
Kaspars Daugavins
Is it just us, or has Ottawa's penalty kill looked much better since Daugavins started playing minutes on it?
Nick Foligno
Followed up his hot streak with a cold streak: Just one assist in his last three games.
Colin Greening
Two-game goal-scoring streak for Soylent now.
Zenon Konopka
Scored a goal this week. Both of his goals have come in games where he hasn't fought. We're not sayin', we're just sayin'. Also went 10-for-12 on faceoffs, which is just slightly better than Da Costa on the week.
Milan Michalek
A goal and an assist against Edmonton. We adore the way Michalek is playing now, which seems to consist of skating towards the net in a straight line as fast as humanly possible.
Chris Neil
Sidelined by an ankle injury. The team misses him a lot.
Peter Regin
Out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
Zack Smith
Notched an assist but not much else this week.
Jason Spezza
Spezza only (ha!) had three assists this week, but we're not sure any other player had more scoring chances on the week.
Jesse Winchester
A two-point (1G, 1A) week from a fourth liner who also kills penalties is an easy green arrow.
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Comments
I only wish it was
I honestly can’t begin to describe my hatred for SPAN commands. Damn garbage code.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 21, 2011 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
I hear ya
Even after just a handful of fan posts, I can sympathize with the downright horrible HTML generated by the SBNation editing software.
The SBNation tools are a dream to use compared to the custom CMS we have at work.
by modsuperstar on Nov 21, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
The SBNation UX is pretty good, and overall the tools are pretty solid
I’m just referring to the auto-generated HTML.
Though yes, I’ve seen worse than what SBNation spits out, and yes, almost any auto-generated HTML is horrible.
Yeah, typically, I love SBN
But SPAN commands (and, oftentimes, DIV commands) just seem to replicate like bacteria once you allow one of them into your coding. It makes me sick to my stomach when I see it.
If you looked at the source code of this page, you’d be disgusted, too. Each table cell has about a half-dozen SPAN commands. It’s probably resultant from continued copying-and-pasting, but I’d still love if it could be avoided.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 21, 2011 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
It's almost certainly the result of continued copy-and-pasting
But fuck, I don’t want to write this table from scratch every week.
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Absolutely not
That would be ridiculous. The SPAN commands are a necessary evil, I guess.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 21, 2011 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah changing the green around in the game day threads is really annoying. I could each go and change the html cell by cell, or do what I currently do, cut and paste some black text then overwrite, and cut and paste some existing green and edit.
It’s brutal.
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
Green means GO!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like the fact that there are alot more green arrows this week than in weeks past. If this keeps up things could get interested come springtime.
Also looking at the standings, everyone who is going crazy over the Leaves and bashing the Sens need to give their head a shake. The Leaves have 1 more win, have scored just 1 more goal, have allowed 1 less goal against than the Sens and are just 2 points ahead as we each hit the 21 game mark. I don’t know if this good for the Sens or bad for the Leaves.
An undefeated-in-regulation week will do that
The team played pretty well in western Canada.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 21, 2011 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Great ups and downs
Kuba description is outstanding:
On Sunday, he blocked a shot with his wrist and didn’t even need surgery.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 21, 2011 10:41 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I made myself giggle with that one
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by Mark Parisi on Nov 21, 2011 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
Meanwhile, Pascale Leclaire broke his arm watching the play.
by The Tif on Nov 21, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm starting to think that the Sens have the best coaches in the NHL.
They’re playing some unbelievable hockey and seem to be really clicking.
Since The Paulrus talked to Anderson and gave him a vote of confidence, Craigo’s SV% has has hovered around .940 (I haven’t actually figured out the numbers).
Dave Cameron as ass’t coach? Like the guy who coached the World Jrs is going to be Ass’t Coach for the guy who hasn’t coached in 3 months. COME ON!
by Pmoron on Nov 21, 2011 10:45 AM EST via mobile reply actions
There are a lot of good coaches in the NHL
Cory Clouston had this team playing well enough to make the playoffs for one year. I like what I’ve seen from the Paulrus (mostly), but I think 20 games into his career is too soon to call him the “best.”
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by Mark Parisi on Nov 21, 2011 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
Clouston proved that he was fantastic with youth, but not so great with veterans.
I’m just pointing out that Paulrus has done very well, and we have Cameron as an assistant coach, who I suspect has a bigger influence than we realize.
I’m obviously not saying that we know they are, just that I’ve been very impressed. If there was one area that I had my doubts in, it was Murray’s ability to find a good coach.
by Pmoron on Nov 21, 2011 12:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I find it funny this year with regards to coaches of teams I follow. The Sens are getting what I would describe as better than expected results, as many picked them to finish dead last and they are instead competitive and scrappy.
My San Francisco 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh and went from underachievers who had been picked the last couple years to rise from the mediocrity only to fail, to juggernauts in the NFL at 9-1.
The Michigan Wolverines hired Brady Hoke and I don’t think anyone had any serious expectations from this team, only to have them go 8-2 so far.
I just wish the Jays could rise up and make the playoffs and really bring back those glory days.
by modsuperstar on Nov 21, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
I really don't understand how the Niners are 9-1
Harbaugh must win Coach of the Year.
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I understand... Harbaugh.
He is such a good coach! Watching his team in college made me want the Titans to make him an offer… like that might ever happen hahaha I did dream though.
Damn you Bud Adams.
by Los Blancos Chicca on Nov 21, 2011 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
I’m more ticked they aren’t 10-0. They blew a 4th Quarter lead against Dallas and lost in OT.
by modsuperstar on Nov 21, 2011 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
It's too soon to call him the best...
… but he deserves praise. The coaches and the players are doing well but best of all, they are playing exciting hockey.
by Los Blancos Chicca on Nov 21, 2011 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
Photo Footer
Not over the cupcake incident yet, Bobby Butler and Filip Kuba pretend to be happy over Butler’s goal, but don’t actually skate towards each other to embrace.
Awesome as always.
I like all the green arrows.
I also like how spread out the team is – lots of people are stepping up, and that depth is something we haven’t had in a while.
Also, Kuba is making a pretty damn good case for himself as trade-bait.
Alfie and 'does not have the talent'
Does not compute…stupid aging. Can’t say I disagree with the comment at all, though. I would never say that Alfie is past his ability to say ‘well, fine, if you guys aren’t gonna win the game I’ll just hafta do it myself’ and do just that…see breaking two periods of scoreless hockey against Calgary. But he does need more support from his lineys than before, and le kid ain’t cutting it.
In summary: get well soon, Regin!
Scholar, Gentleman, Shameless Sens Homer with a Heart of Gold.
by Johnny_Spectacular on Nov 21, 2011 11:43 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Correction
A pretty minor one though – Da Costa was 3 for 25 on face-offs, not 3 for 24.
Corrected
Thanks… one day I’ll get this whole “stats” thing right.
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Really, it's just the FO record for the biggest losses
Solution? Stop picking centres!
I just vomitted
And then vomitted again due to the taste of said vomit.
"I couldn't score in a brothel...couldn't finish a sandwich"
- Joe Corvo
Da Costa
I really like the potentail he has for sweet offensive moves, but it’s clear he needs some time in the AHL to get better technically out of the pressure of the NHL. Problem is, I’m not sure who replaces him until Regin gets back. Will it damage him to stay until Regin gets back?
I don't know if it will damage him, per se
But I worry it will damage the team.
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Yeah I don't really see it damaging him
But I also don’t see him fixing it while he’s here. Seems to me like a good chunk of his struggle is mental, and his confidence won’t magically regrow while he stays here and struggles or ends up benched or scratched.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Agreed
I’m not sure how he can fix it up here. I think the AHL is the place for him this season, even if that means we have to bite the bullet and acquire someone else to play the position.
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I doubt it'll take the whole season
I think a good chunk of it’s in his head right now. The faceoff struggles are normal for a rookie, but I think a month or two in Bingo, assuming he’s successful down there, could help him find his confidence again and that’d go a long way towards fixing his issues. He’ll still have issues, but so does any rookie, and really there are some things you can only learn playing in the big leagues.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Condra
Watching the game live yesterday, I was really impressed with Condra. He’s just an incredibly smart player, and created a huge number of turnovers.
Co-manager, Silver Seven
Do you see Chris Kelly in him?
I definitely see a resemblance there.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 21, 2011 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
I do
I mean, they are obviously different players (Condra isn’t playing centre!), but there are some serious similarities in their role and their style.
Co-manager, Silver Seven
Brought this up a couple weeks back
To me, they are near identical players. One has better hands/wheels and the other is in Boston. Both very cerebral players….the whole “go to where the puck is going not where it is” mentality.
Love Kelly and love Condra.
Love is in the air.
"I couldn't score in a brothel...couldn't finish a sandwich"
- Joe Corvo
I take issue with the wording of the Alfie part.
I don’t think it’s a talent issue or even that much of an age one. The issue is Da Costa needing to figure some stuff out. Not saying I disagree with the rating, but it’s unfair to imply that Alfie should be carrying Da Costa when Da Costa’s issues seem to be largely mental (at least to me). That, and faceoffs.
Plus like Johnny suggested above, Alfie and “does not have the talent” do not belong in the same sentence unless there’s something in the middle to negate it…
Oh Captain, my Captain!
But the idea is that playing with veterans would help cover for our rookies' deficiencies
We did it with Zibanejad; we’re doing it with Da Costa.
You know I love Alfie as much as any Sens fan (probably more), but the Alfie of four years ago was more talented than the Alfie of today. That’s a fact we can’t ignore. That Alfie would make Da Costa look a lot better. That’s all I’m saying. Da Costa deserves almost all of the blame for his struggles, and that’s why he’s the week’s biggest loser.
I’m not so much implying that Alfie should be carrying Da Costa (he shouldn’t), as much as I’m pointing out that he’s no longer able to be that guy to carry a struggling rookie.
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Maybe a bit, but there are also problems with Da Costa's game that no linemate can fix (like faceoffs)
Still, that comment sounds like you expect that Alfie be carrying Da Costa to some extent. Regardless of the fact that it’s almost certainly based on past experience with Alfie, I think it’s totally unreasonable to fault him for Da Costa’s struggles. What you’re saying here makes sense, but the way it’s worded in your original post reads differently.
Shame on you for not paying more attention to your minor vocabulary choices early in the morning!
Oh Captain, my Captain!
I agree, that's definitely unreasonable
And not what I’m trying to say at all. My point was that a younger Alfie would mask those struggles better.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Which is true
And which is why I initially said my issue was with the wording. I had a feeling you weren’t actually calling Alfie out for failing to carry a struggling teammate.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
LOL
This made me lol HARD: “We adore the way Michalek is playing now, which seems to consist of skating towards the net in a straight line as fast as humanly possible.”
by Pirateninjabot on Nov 21, 2011 11:33 PM EST reply actions
I also liked Cowen's comment
Sometimes we wish he would do something interesting. Blossoming into a high quality defenseman is so boring to write about.
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