Senators soundly beaten 4-1 by Canucks

by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 10, 2011 11:58 PM EST in Ottawa Senators game recaps

OTTAWA, CANADA - DECEMBER 10: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks drives to the loose puck as Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators guards the net during an NHL game at Scotiabank Place on December 10, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

[Boxscore] [Game summary] [Event summary] [Face-offs] [Play by play] [Ice time] [Corsi] [Head-to-head] [Zone starts] [Scoring Chances]

There isn't much to be surprised about after Saturday's game: The Ottawa Senators looked a lot like a team with just three wins in the last ten games, and the Vancouver Canucks looked like a team who'd won nine of their last ten. The Canucks executed their game plan well, Roberto Luongo made the saves that he had to, and they ended up with a convincing victory by the end.

Things started early for Vancouver, when they were awarded a powerplay early and made the best of it just four seconds in, when Alexander Edler scored with a seeing-eye shot from the point. Ryan Kesler scored two straight goals, one in the first and one in the second, and then Colin Greening scored Ottawa's only goal late in period number two. The Sens came on strong in the third, but Luongo stood tall for Vancouver until Dale Weise salted the game away late in the third.

Sens Killer: Ryan Kesler
Kesler had two goals and an assist in the game, plus six shots on goal. He wasn't just a physical force on the ice, but he led the way offensively in a game where the Senators managed to contain the Sedins relatively well.

Sens Zero: Penalty Kill
After a terrible start to the season, the Sens' penalty killers had really found themselves a groove. They hadn't allowed more than one powerplay goal against in a game since October 29--at least, until tonight. Vancouver (admittedly, the league's top powerplay) converted on two of five chances, which went most of the way in setting Ottawa back.

Honourable Mention: Matt Carkner
Not a bad effort for Carkner's first game of the season: He finished with 15:40 TOI, including 5:21 while short-handed, and managed two shots on net while finishing +1 overall.

No Response
I'm really getting sick of watching opposing teams take liberties with the captain of the Ottawa Senators, and seeing his teammates just cruise by as if nothing happened. Daniel Alfredsson puts his heart on the line every single shift he plays, but for some reason, even if opponents give him a shot here or there--like Kesler's light check on Alfie, or a cross-check by (I believe) Dan Hamhuis that put Alfredsson in obvious discomfort--his teammates don't respond.

It makes me think of the Mark Bell hit on Alfie a few years back, that also met no response from Ottawa. As a fan, it's really frustrating to watch.

Shot Chart:

Game Highlights:

forthcoming.

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Unfortunately, at that stage, Vancouver knew they were untouchable.

Foligno had been given a fighting major, plus a 2 and a 10 for his hits. Neil and Carkner would be tossed if they tried anything, and the Canucks had just taken two penalties and were immune from a third (not literally, but it was highly unlikely the refs would call another). The Sens couldn’t lose their 5 on 3, even if they were sucking, because the game was still within reach until we lost that high-sticking call and got scored on again.

It’s still annoying as hell, mind you. But I have no doubt that Eugene isn’t one of the governors that has been leaning on Shanahan, so we’re vulnerable to suspensions for ‘standing up for ourselves’, given all the recent evidence of hits on Alfie or injury of our players with no suspensions elsewhere.

A Goal Horn Haiku

Hoooonk hoooonk honk honk hooooonk
That's the sound the train horn makes
Suck it, Toronto

by Nightbreak on Dec 11, 2011 1:06 AM EST reply actions

Agreed.

They couldn’t retaliate because no matter what they did, they’d be penalized more then Vancouver. Foligno’s hit was PERFECTLY FINE – the Canuck was almost squatting on the ice. Neil gets grabbed by a Vancouver player WHO IS ON THE BENCH and nothing happens. Meanwhile Alfie and Greening get questionable hits and nothing happens.

Frakking referees. Doesn’t help that Vancouver is built of Olympic-calibre divers.

What. I’m bitter.

by The Tif on Dec 11, 2011 2:20 AM EST up reply actions

This game reminded me exactly of why I'm so over the Canucks.

Is there a player on that team that doesn’t whine and moan to the media?! Kesler complained after the game that the ref was showing favoritism to Neil because apparently they know each other. Right, you idiot; Neil always gets the calls go his way.
It was nice to see Furby kick ass out there. Too bad he couldn’t shut them up too.

by Pmoron on Dec 11, 2011 3:09 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I don't mean this to troll you guys.

But if you are going to hate on the Canucks, get it straight. It was Bieksa that said he "politely went to the ref ( Pollock) and told him to keep an eye on this guy running around "( 7 1st period hits), half of them at the head ( Sweatt twice and Burrows )…it was a fact. Everyone could see it was the gameplan.

Foligno, dear sir or madam above, if you mean the hit on Hodgson, yes, that was unfortunate. If you mean the second on Kesler, maybe check the rule. It specifies not going after a guy in a “vulnerable” position. After being checked by the defenseman and being down on one knee on the boards certainly qualifies. Whether he hurts the guy there is irrelevant.

I do think the 10 was for complaining to the ref, but it was bizarre seeing him say Kesler “embellished”. A hit to the head is a hit to the head. Get your friend to take a stick and skate ( or run, you can do it right now) into your head. Oww right?

Neil and the rest of that stuff was curtailed by a power play that was 2 for 5, and was dangerous every time. MacLean knew if he did not rein that stuff in the score would be out of hand.

It was good to see Foligno take up Weise on the fight though. That was an unfortunate hit as I said, but that was a code type thing, and both of them did well. your guy maybe even won the fight, for what that is worth.

Lastly, sorry, but I don’t get the diving narrative. The worst dive of the night was on Henrik Sedin’s third penalty ( smart really, going for the guy in the ref’s crosshairs on the night ) at the end of the second.

While they did not show us the replay until the beginning of the third, Gary Galley owes me a beer. I spit mine up when he said “Henrik takes him down” on a replay that clearly shows him looking up ice and not even aware of Alfie skating into him from behind and falling down. ( not the first time with Galley on the night. He tried to say Burrows dove on the Regin penalty. It was a definite call that took away a scoring chance. Gary usually does the Sens games right?;-)

I mean…what? I know he is the captain and a great guy, and I like him as a player, but even Sens fans had to see that was a dive, right?

Or am I just a crazy Canuck fan? I don’t mean to be. Its late and all. Just a viewpoint from another side. Not meant to offend of anything.

The reffing was not good, and they late the crazy stuff get out of hand before clamping down a bit after the first, but who knew that two teams that see each other twice would get so chippy?

Night.

Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Ghandi. I think he was a Canucks fan...
@Vancitydan Writer at Nucks Misconduct

by vancitydan on Dec 11, 2011 5:36 AM EST up reply actions

The reffing was not good, and they late the crazy stuff get out of hand before clamping down a bit after the first, but who knew that two teams that see each other twice would get so chippy?

We can agree on that. I know that there have been studies that show you always view refs as being against your team regardless of if they actually are or not, so that’s probably got a lot to do with it.

I don’t think Alfie dove – he did continue to skate afterwards. Did Henrik do it deliberately? Who knows.

As for the rest, it just wasn’t a good game. Both teams were dirty, it wasn’t good hockey and I didn’t find it entertaining to watch to be honest.

by The Tif on Dec 11, 2011 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

The rule says that you have to let up on a guy in a vulnerable position. If that’s as hard a hit as Foligno could have laid on Kesler then he should be playing in the Pee Wee girls league.

None of Neil’s hits were to the head; having your head down and getting hit isn’t the same thing as being hit to the head.

If Weise running over to Foligno after a clean hit and telling him to drop ‘em isn’t the instigator penalty, I have no idea what that thing is for.

The Alfie “dive” looked more like he was falling from the unexpected contact rather than the stick in the midsection, hence the call of interference instead of hooking. Could have been a dive, but it would have been a ballsy move to make a call like that in a game that had been officiated like that.

And finally, I agree that being physical was the gameplan, but I’ve never seen that punished and deterred so severely by a pair of referees. If guys don’t like getting hit, play ringette instead of trying to pander to them.

by ojc on Dec 11, 2011 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

not to make it a back and forth my friend. I don't hang around here enough to do that

but it is funny how fans of different teams see things differently. To say the least. Because ;

- The guy is in the vulnerable position, and he gets hit in the head. It hurts when that happens ( and you don’t have to drive his head through the wall for it to hurt ), but he stays there for only a minute, and then gets up to go to the bench. Whether its a PeeWee hit is irrelevant. Ref was right there. He saw he had time to let up and he did not. The 10 min was for talking…

- Wow. Thats the one thing that blows my mind. How a fan will ignore facts to argue their team’s point. I am sorry to disagree with you my friend, but just look at the hits again. You can freeze things and see, you know? Burrows one he might even get a Shannycall.

- Weise did what any one player on your team would have done in reversed circumstance. It was after they had skated a full shift, not at the time of the hit, when instigator calls are made. Sorry.

- Umm, Stick in the midsection? He did nnot even look at the guy, and his stick never moved from in front of him! Sorry bud. Again, when you freeze it, its obvious that Hank had no idea he was even there, and he was already on the ice before he did. It was a dive. It worked. Happens all over the NHL. As a fan of a team that gets accused of it every game, you get good at seeing that part of the game. The only “unexpected” was Hank feeling the contact.

- Lastly, thats hyperbole right? Or was this the 5th or 6th game you have seen? Refs reacting to that kind of play has been going on since…forever. Rather, it was obvious your coach had a talk with the guys to quit taking penalties after the first. Chris Neil had 7 hits in the first, and finished the game with the same. I’ve seen refs react like that all the time!

Oh well. Hope its a nice day there, its sunny and cold here!

Peace

by vancitydan on Dec 11, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

I’m assuming these are the instances you’re taking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShB12PyrfRI
Yeah, kind of high. Uses his arm to push Burrows over rather than throwing a shoulder up into his head. If that’s what you want to be a suspension, ok.

An instigator is called any time someone instigates a fight, not necessarily directly after something “objectionable”. That wasn’t a fight that happened from something that happened that shift, it was a premeditated, instigated fight by Weise. Sure, lots of other guys would do the same thing, but they’d also get called for a penalty.

I’ll defer to a diving expert on the Alfredsson instance. The only diving I’ve seen lately has been the highlights of Chris Neil diving like a little girl after a love tap from Ovechkin.

It is only the 8th hockey game I’ve ever watched, the previous seven being the Stanley Cup Finals last year. Sorry if that gave me the wrong impression of how hockey is meant to be refereed and that became abundantly clear in my post.

by ojc on Dec 11, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Games like the one last night are not great hockey.

I agree with Tif above. I think games like that make everyone fired up; both sets of fans are frustrated with liberties taken with their team’s players. I rooted for the Canucks last year because they seemed like guys who
had reputations for diving and jawing, but had turned it around. Last night seemed like a giant step back.

by Pmoron on Dec 11, 2011 2:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I like the Canucks

I like their style and would love for a team with that offensive flair to win the cup instead of Boston gooning it up. I was still hoping Boston would win so Chara (and Kelly) could get a cup.

You totally outclassed us on the night so well played.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 11, 2011 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't see any offensive flair from Vancouver last night.

They just seemed to be on the right side of the gooney line to me. I much preferred Boston’s hockey style. But each their own.

by The Tif on Dec 11, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

Well I mean in general, not specifically last night. But yeah they did show a lot of skill yesterday I feel. It ended up getting chippy later in the 1st though and from there onwards, but I don’t think that was Vancouver’s doing.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Dec 11, 2011 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

It's weird this year. We seem to be generating a lot more hate than usual from other teams on the ice.

Maybe it’s one of those cycle things where you’ve got that skill level that just blows past them and no one really bothers, then you get into a rebuilding phase with too much energy. Next thing you know, you’ve got angry players from Washington, Vancouver, Philly (Well, we have a history with Philly) and half the other teams you see so rarely.

A Goal Horn Haiku

Hoooonk hoooonk honk honk hooooonk
That's the sound the train horn makes
Suck it, Toronto

by Nightbreak on Dec 11, 2011 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Doesn't strike me as that weird...

Although they’ve been in and out of the lineup, we’ve got all of: Konopka, Neil, Carkner, Z. Smith, and Winchester in the lineup. I don’t think many of those guys are very popular with opponents!

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 11, 2011 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

Could maybe add Nick Foligno to that list, too

by Desario is a freak on Dec 11, 2011 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Also, what the hell is this crap?

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/calls+Senator+Neil+frustrate+Canucks/5843051/story.html

“The number of non-calls piled up. It had been frustrating the Canuck, who are the “turn the other cheek” team, the one that relies on power plays.

But what happens when they aren’t getting any?"

A Goal Horn Haiku

Hoooonk hoooonk honk honk hooooonk
That's the sound the train horn makes
Suck it, Toronto

by Nightbreak on Dec 11, 2011 1:17 AM EST reply actions

It's easy

“we” have not only the worst fans but also the worst media in hockey. Vancouver is only a “goalie graveyard” because the media drives it. It’s no wonder they have (literally) never landed a top-flight free agent (sorry Mike Samuelsson/over-the-hill Mats Sundin/Keith Ballard/Messier). The media is terrible in Vancouver and I don’t blame a player for choosing Florida/Columbus/Nashville over my gorgeous city.
An arrogant city fueled by arrogant and idiotic fans covered by paparazzi-equivilant media.
Win 10-in-a-row and they’ll find something to hate on.

Wow….that felt good.

I was born and raised in Ottawa but now call Vancouver home. Lovely town if you can deal with the riotous media/fans.

"I couldn't score in a brothel...couldn't finish a sandwich"
- Joe Corvo

by MadCash on Dec 11, 2011 1:35 AM EST up reply actions

baahahahah. Goalie Graveyard. No no no. That's our nickname in Ottawa! :D

We’ve killed more goaltenders than you have. At least you kept Luongo.

A Goal Horn Haiku

Hoooonk hoooonk honk honk hooooonk
That's the sound the train horn makes
Suck it, Toronto

by Nightbreak on Dec 11, 2011 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

Loungo

Autocorrects to “Lounge”….that’s pretty awesome and an apt description of his style.

"I couldn't score in a brothel...couldn't finish a sandwich"
- Joe Corvo

by MadCash on Dec 11, 2011 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

You can really tell the quality of that paper from this metaphor.

Neil set the tone playing like a homeless guy on a break-and-enter rampage.

My god. That is unbelievably inappropriate.

by The Tif on Dec 11, 2011 2:23 AM EST up reply actions

Jason Botchford

Is the worst of the bunch out here. He has the sports intellect of Snuffalufagus and the class of Rob Ford.

"I couldn't score in a brothel...couldn't finish a sandwich"
- Joe Corvo

by MadCash on Dec 11, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

haha i told filatov he was the fuckin man

and to keep workin hard cause he’s the shit. and he smiled and barely understood because he’s uber russian. some of the other young guns were a whole lot more confident and less enthusiastic about a random dude(or a few random dudes) telling them they were dope. apparently junxion is the new place to be.

by Caden on Dec 11, 2011 3:27 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

Awesome.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 11, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

You know he speaks English, right? :-P

by pmedow on Dec 11, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

oh i meant to say i barely understood him

it was a loud bar and he has a pretty thick accent.

by Caden on Dec 11, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah Junxion usually blasts their music pretty loud. Oddly enough, Konopka and all the Canucks came to Lobby last night

by pmedow on Dec 11, 2011 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

I'd have given a zero to all the special teams

As silly as this game was, Ottawa had their chances. No shots on a long 5-on-3? Unacceptable.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Dec 11, 2011 10:04 AM EST reply actions

Crosscheck to the arm was from Jannik Hansen.

by Kangfish on Dec 11, 2011 1:38 PM EST reply actions

the sens didnt play well, but at the same time

I don’t like the canucks and can see why they are on of the least liked teams in the league. I’m glad boston beat them.

by alfie4PM on Dec 11, 2011 4:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

To me, it seemed as if the sens tried way to hard to play a physical game to shut the Canucks down instead of just playing the way they usually do.

by SBains187 on Dec 11, 2011 6:44 PM EST reply actions

Big, big zero to the refs

This isn’t a “OMG bias” post – I think they were off in every direction. The pièce de résistance being the more than 10 seconds of Vancouver puck possession (including a defensive zone breakout, missed shot and offensive zone cycle), with a pending penalty to Vancouver at the end of the 2nd. They had the puck so long Luongo thought it was an Ottawa penalty and went to the bench to get the extra attacker out! I swear, they were making the calls by drawing cards out of a hat it was so inconsistent.

by B_T on Dec 11, 2011 8:37 PM EST reply actions

Glad I missed this one

I was down in Syracuse on Saturday. I couldn’t find the Sens-Canucks game on TV anywhere, so I went to see the Orangemen pound the George Washington Colonials on the basketball court (not literally, of course). I came away from the game thinking that maybe the Sens should reserve a section of cheap tickets for students from Carleton/UofO/Algonquin in order to inject some passion into the crowd.

As far as Sens-Canucks, it sounds like I didn’t miss much. That’s a shame because this could have been a good skating game with lots of end to end action.

by DW19 on Dec 12, 2011 9:51 AM EST reply actions