Senators ups and downs: Week 11

by Mark Parisi on Dec 19, 2011 7:00 AM EST in Ottawa Senators ups and downs

Jared Cowen attempts to defy the laws of physics by trying to arrive at the place he is looking at by skating away from it. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Ups and downs is a feature that looks at the individual performances of the Ottawa Senators' players for the past week.

It was a quiet week for the Ottawa Senators. Nothing really important happened, and they played a few games.

Wait, that's not right at all? You don't say!

In fact, the Senators made a huge trade, sending defenseman David Rundblad and a second round pick to Phoenix for forward Kyle Turris. You may have heard something about that.

The team also picked up four points in three games against some top NHL competition, notching wins against Buffalo and Pittsburgh and losing to the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, but mostly just to the original Sens Killer himself, Tim Thomas. The wins will go a long way towards building team confidence, and it's great to see the team beat quality opponents. That's a good sign for the future.

Biggest gains: Jared Cowen

He's been rising for a while now, but his five points in three games this week are better than Erik Karlsson. And Cowen is the defensive half of the pairing! The kid is playing a stupid amount of minutes each game and looking strong doing it. He's a rookie, so there are going to be stumbles along the way, but his emergence as a big-time defender is an incredibly bright spot for the future of this franchise.

Biggest losses: David Rundblad

Not much choice here. His hesitant play led to numerous turnovers and eventually limited ice time this week. With Fiilp Kuba and Sergei Gonchar out of the lineup, there was an opportunity for minutes to be earned for the young defenseman. But playing important minutes while learning a new style of hockey would be a challenge for any player, and Rundblad's struggles aren't a knock on his talent. Nevertheless, it was his inability to seize an opportunity that ultimately made him expendable in the team's eyes.

(read on for the full rundown...)

Goalies	Trend	Notes
Craig Anderson		Beat Buffalo but got hammered by Boston. Not that facing three hundred breakaways is easy, but a big save would have been nice.
Alex Auld		Well, he won his start against the Penguins, so that's something. But the six goals the team scored probably helped more than his play did.
Defensmen
Matt Carkner		His third pairing with Brian Lee is solid but unspectacular. That's probably okay.
Jared Cowen		See "Biggest gains"
Sergei Gonchar		Missed the week due to injury, but might be back on Tuesday.
Erik Karlsson		Bounced back really well from a rough week. Four assists in three games helped vault him almost to the top of the leaderboard.
Filip Kuba		Missed the week due to injury, but might be back on Tuesday.
Brian Lee		Every shift he takes where he's not a liability is a win for the whole team. He's an ideal third pairing defenseman.
Chris Phillips		His play improved this week, but that was probably due to the emergence of Cowen helping reduce his minutes.
David Rundblad		See "Biggest losses." We're sorry to see him go.
Forwards
Daniel Alfredsson		A ridiculous five points (2G, 3A) in two games, as he was held pointless in the win against Buffalo. Could have easily been the week's biggest gainer.
Bobby Butler		He's not going to sniff the top six unless there's an injury.
Erik Condra		No glaring mistakes, but no standout performances, either.
Kaspars Daugavins		Might be sent down to Binghamton due to the acquisition of Kyle Turris, which would be a shame, because he doesn't deserve it.
Nick Foligno		Is there a player that's taken more of a beating this year? It's inevitable that he'll miss time with the way things are going.
Colin Greening		He must dislike playing on the fourth line. As soon as he was demoted, he started putting up points. A goal and an assist this week after getting back into the top six.
Zenon Konopka		Easily his best week as a Senator. Took a goalie interference penalty on the power play, and got another chance the next game. This time, he won the draw and scored a power play goal.
Milan Michalek		Took the league lead in goals scored before Erik Karlsson's thuggery sidelined him with a concussion.
Chris Neil		We like Neil, but we don't like two stupid penalties in the same game.
Peter Regin		Scored a goal against Buffalo, then went invisible.
Zack Smith		Z. Smith doesn't wear a mouthguard. You know why?
Jason Spezza		He had eight points (3G, 5A) in three games this week. And he was a plus-5. It was difficult not to name him the biggest gainer. Consider him the runner up. Monster week.
Jesse Winchester		Minus-2 is not okay from a fourth line player.

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Comments

First

He doesnt care

by DonnyT on Dec 19, 2011 7:28 AM EST reply actions

That answer is not correct

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 19, 2011 9:28 AM EST up reply actions

He doesn't give a crap

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 19, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

That is correct

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Dec 19, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

I know!!!!

His mom doesn’t like it :)

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Dec 19, 2011 8:21 AM EST reply actions

Ill give your question a try

Zack Smith doesn’t wear a mouth guard because his teeth don’t care about their own safety. He doesn’t give a crap to the point that he cant even be bothered to think about not caring about his teeth.

by Misellati on Dec 19, 2011 9:47 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

Now that's how you earn a rec

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 19, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

missing a few chicklets would add to his aura

it works for Chris Neil. I’d say not caring about his mouthguard could pay dividends.

by west-sider on Dec 19, 2011 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

I am so excited for Cowen! He has been so good this year, steadily improving but quietly. I am glad he made some noise!

by Los Blancos Chicca on Dec 19, 2011 10:32 AM EST reply actions

I don’t know how quiet 4 points, +4 and almost 30 minutes of ice against the Penguins is lol

Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!

by Alex Swift on Dec 19, 2011 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

He really should have been plus-5

That last goal was just bullcrap.

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 19, 2011 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

Quiet prior to last week, which is why I said I am glad he has made some noise. He deserves recongintion for being so good.

by Los Blancos Chicca on Dec 19, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

Jared Cowen is pretty much the greatest thing since defensively-minded sliced bread.

by Pmoron on Dec 19, 2011 12:51 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Mark, I think you may be the driver of the Brian Lee Bandwagon

Officially known as the, “Brian Lee Is The Ideal Sixth/Seventh Defenseman Bandwagon.”

But that doesn’t all fit on the t-shirts, which, for the record, are beige and generally unmemorable, though completely functional.

by RogerTheShrubber on Dec 19, 2011 1:25 PM EST reply actions

They're also:

Not uncomfortable,
Fit isn’t terrible,
Store well, between short/light usage.

by Pmoron on Dec 19, 2011 1:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Why is why everyone would have one...

if they didn’t retail for more than a designer dress shirt.

by RogerTheShrubber on Dec 19, 2011 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

Every owner of a Lee bandwagon t-shirt is sad that they could have gotten a Kopitar t-shirt instead

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 19, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

That's a rec, sir.

by Pmoron on Dec 19, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Ha

You should see some of my other articles about Brian Lee!

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 19, 2011 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

Seriously, though

He’s far from an ideal number six defenceman. In my mind, Carkner is the ideal number six defenceman.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 19, 2011 10:08 PM EST up reply actions

Lee is a perfect 5 then?

He’s 1/2 a Bo Derek.

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

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

Really?

I think Carkner is too slow to be an ideal anything.

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 20, 2011 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

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

by Adnan on Dec 20, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

Yet too fast to be an ideal pylon...

He knows how Mike Fisher feels now, always stuck between two worlds.

Anyway, I don’t see Carkner’s speed as a detriment. He’s capable of playing, and playing well, and he does what a bottom-pairing defenceman needs to do: Not be a liability, and offer something beyond the 12-14 minutes a night expected (namely, kill penalties and fight). Lee offers neither of those things, and his passing is so suspect that I’ve come to think of his good passes as the exception rather than the rule. He’s also got awful balance… he looks like a gangly 14-year-old out there, but you’d think he’d be used to moving his frame around the ice by now. Instead…

I’m probably being too harsh on Lee right now, because he’s been competent this season in relatively sheltered ice time. But I think he still has some developing to do to pass Carkner in the depth chart. If we’re only bringing one of the two back when this season ends, I’d much prefer that returnee to be Carkner than Lee.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 20, 2011 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

Absolutely agree.

We beat Pittsburg in game 5 with Carks in the lineup, so he obviously adds something useful. I’ve been supportive of Lee this year, but there’s no question in my mind if I’m choosing between the two.

by Pmoron on Dec 20, 2011 11:47 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Based on the lineup, MacLean seems to agree with you

I’ve got to admit that you make a strong case.

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 20, 2011 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

I am not particularly sure why a 5-6 defenceman who fights is a positive. It leaves you short one defenceman for a good 5 minutes.

The fact Lee doesn’t fight is an advantage.

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

by Adnan on Dec 20, 2011 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

You make a good point

But as much as I’m not in favour of fighting, enforcers have a place on teams in the modern-day NHL. You your enforcer can also play a regular shift, then you’re in good shape. He obviously leaves the Senators’ D-corps shorthanded when he’s fought, but what I mean is that an everyday player who can also fight is a positive.

Your opinion is that the fact that Lee doesn’t fight is an advantage.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 20, 2011 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

Also Brian Lee kills penalties too.

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

by Adnan on Dec 20, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

In my estimation, he doesn’t do it as well as Carkner.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 20, 2011 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

Here are some stats

Last season while shorthanded, Carkner was on the ice for 6.82 goals against per 60 minutes of 4 on 5, Brian Lee was on the ice for 3.49.

In terms of shots on target, Carkner was on the ice for 55.22 shots against per 60 minutes of 4 on 5. Brian Lee was on for 53.49 shots against.

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

by Adnan on Dec 20, 2011 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

AND

Brian Lee was carded on 100% more alcohol purchases than Carkner!

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by Mark Parisi on Dec 20, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

That's crucial! Certainly tips the argument for Carkner

by whatsinaname on Dec 20, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Fair enough

That is good analysis, and certainly gives Lee some credit.

But because I’m fine with superficial analysis when it backs up my argument, my opinion hasn’t changed.

I do wonder, though, can you find out the team’s SH Sv% while each player was on the ice? Is that easy to find out?

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 20, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

Lee's certainly been luckier in that

SH sv % for Lee was .935 and for Carkner it was .876

It would obviously have to be a big difference since shot counts were similar but goal counts were not.

You can’t really say Carkner is better though as even without the save %, Lee has been on the ice for slightly less shots against.

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

by Adnan on Dec 20, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

True, but...

We’re talking about a difference of less than 1.80 extrapolated over 60 minutes, and I don’t know the sample sizes. Maybe there just happened to be a couple shots tat happened to go wide with Lee on the ice, which would have equalized that measure.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Dec 20, 2011 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

I know it is pretty close

So not really saying Lee is better, but your original point was that Lee doesn’t kill penalties or not as well.

At worst, Lee is equal to Carkner is what I was saying.

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

by Adnan on Dec 20, 2011 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

Don’t we also have to look at the fact that Lee came into the lineup when the Senators were playing a lot better? He wasn’t on the ice for the terrible early stretch. He had Anderson behind him for most of those PK minutes, not Elliott.

Co-manager, Silver Seven

by DarrenM on Dec 21, 2011 6:09 PM EST up reply actions