Senators ups and downs: Week 13

by Mark Parisi on Jan 2, 2012 7:00 AM EST in Ottawa Senators ups and downs

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

And, we're back! We took Christmas off because we were lazy, but the Senators still played some games. This stretch will have a major impact on their playoff hopes, so in a sense, all their games this month are "must-wins."

So, how'd they do? All things considered, pretty well--they got four of six possible points. After getting hammered by Montreal, they responded by staging comeback wins against Calgary and Buffalo on back-to-back nights. It's nice to see that level of determination in such a young team.

Still, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows: The team managed to lead their opponents for just 3:26 of 170 minutes played. In fact, you'd have to go all the way back to the first period of the game against the Florida Panthers (which also wound up going to overtime) more than a week ago to find any kind of sustained lead from the team.

It's great to know the Senators have it in them to gut out a win when they're losing. But are the kind of team that can get a lead consistently? 2012 will tell us one way or another.

Biggest gains: Daniel Alfredsson
Come on. Did you see the way he got his 400th goal? Laser slap shot one-timer in overtime for the game winner? Alfie is awesome. Enough said.

Biggest losses: Alex Auld
Coming to relieve Craig Anderson against Montreal last Monday, Auld allowed the goal that made it 5-1 Canadiens a little less than four minutes after he started playing. Coming in to relieve Auld against Thursday against Calgary, Anderson allowed no goals, and the Senators rallied to win the game in overtime. See how that works? We know that taking over in a 4-1 game is a tall order, but Auld did his teammates no favors this week. He was supposed to give Anderson a breather in advance of a crucial stretch of conference games and he couldn't even do that.

(read on for the complete rundown...)

Ok, I believe you

Goalies	Trend	Notes
Alex Auld		See "Biggest losses"
Craig Anderson		He bombed against Montreal, but helped his team win the next two games, which balances out such a bad performance.
Defensemen
Matt Carkner		Scored a great goal against Buffalo. Not much else you can ask of him, as he was even on the week.
Jared Cowen		Fell back to Earth a little bit this week. Though it's not all his fault -- the return of Gonchar and Kuba has limited his minutes -- we'd still like to see him do more with those minutes. Life is supposed to be easier on the second pairing.
Sergei Gonchar		Had two assists in two games before Turris gave him the old Mike Fisher treatment in the warm ups of the Sabres game.
Erik Karlsson		Probably would have been the week's biggest gainer if not for Alfie's historic goal: 20 shots on goal in three games, an assist, an outstanding individual effort for a goal, and some great defensive plays -- though it is worth noting that he was not particularly good in the loss to Montreal.
Filip Kuba		It may not be a coincidence that the uptick in Karlsson's play coincides with the return of Kuba, though he had a quiet week himself.
Brian Lee		Brian Lee is not awful. That's about all there is to it. Kudos for his fight in against Montreal!
Chris Phillips		He had an assist against Calgary, like Brian Lee. But the difference is that the team looked lost when he wasn't in the lineup against Montreal.
Forwards
Daniel Alfredsson		See "Biggest gains."
Bobby Butler		Two posts and the shootout winner against Buffalo. But nothing else on the week.
Erik Condra		Like Butler, Condra had a great game against Buffalo but didn't have much of an impact the rest of the week.
Kaspars Daugavins		Playing fourth line minutes, he's not going to get a chance to make much of an impact.
Nick Foligno		Scored a goal against Calgary and hit a post against Buffalo.
Colin Greening		Needs another demotion to get going again.
Zenon Konopka		We said it for Winchester last week: Minus-2 is not okay for a fourth-line player. And he picked up two game misconduct penalties in the same game against Buffalo.
Milan Michalek		Hasn't found his groove since returning from a concussion.
Chris Neil		Two points (a sweet breakaway goal and an assist) in three games from Neil. He had a good week.
Peter Regin		Out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.
Zack Smith		Three points (two goals, one assist) in three games. That's worth a stupid penalty or two.
Jason Spezza		Just one point (a goal) in three games, and two uncharacteristic penalties against Buffalo. He played well against Calgary, but overall Spezza wasn't helping his team much this week.
Kyle Turris		Just one assist this week.
Jesse Winchester		Out indefinitely with a concussion.

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Comments

Phillips

It might be a gross exaggeration to say that the reason Ottawa looked so bad against Montreal was because Phillips was out of the line-up. However, Phillips is definitely one of those guys whose value doesn’t always show up in the box score. Calming veteran prescense is not a total urban myth.

by DW19 on Jan 2, 2012 9:09 AM EST reply actions

I don't think I'm saying Phillips was the only reason they looked bad

Just that his absence was noticeable.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jan 2, 2012 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

Turris

I find he’s very good at creating space for others. He forces defenses to pay attention to him, which creates space for others, as evidence by Butler’s OT goal vs. Florida and Carkner’s goal vs. Buffalo. I also find he’s had some pretty good chances on the weekend. I think once the first one goes it for him, he’ll be a pretty regular scorer. The Alfie, Turris, Condra line is looking like a good one, hope McLean keeps them together for a bit.

I also think Butler has been doing pretty good in recent games, he’s very often one of the first ones back on the backcheck (Mtl game not included). I would put him back with Spezza and Michalek, give him a chance on the top line again. I think he’s earned it.

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Jan 2, 2012 11:11 AM EST reply actions

I wonder if you put two of Foligno/Condra/Butler with Turris how that would go.

Leaving Michalek/Spezza/Alfie as the de facto top line.

by The Tif on Jan 2, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm

Maybe Foligno or Condra, they do good dirty work, and Butler would get some good openings. I would let him benefit from the space created by Turris and Foligno/Condra

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Jan 2, 2012 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

That's my preference

But the lines have to produce to make it worth doing.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jan 2, 2012 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

What do you do with Greening??

by gwplant on Jan 2, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

I totally agree with your assessment of the week, Mark.

I’m still in awe of how good Karlsson was; I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that good. I keep going back to watch his celebration of getting Alfie his 400th.

by Pmoron on Jan 2, 2012 11:17 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Awww me too. I love Alfie so much.

by Los Blancos Chicca on Jan 2, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

HE'S TIGGER

Seriously. He BOUNCES after he scores or someone else scores. It’s almost a Foligno jump, but more bouncy!

by The Tif on Jan 2, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

Sing him, NOW!!!

I say why wait! He’s more likely to take a lower salary than at the end of the season, and he loves the organization. Just lock him up for the next 5-10 yrs, 5 mil per (underpayment I think, but he would probably take it)

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Jan 2, 2012 12:27 PM EST up reply actions

I meant SIGN him, not sing

Although, you can sing about him too if that’s your fancy!!!

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Jan 2, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

We need a Karlsson tribute song.

Adnan, get on it.

by The Tif on Jan 2, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

I sang it at the game!

And it’s Karlssssssssssssssssson!
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrikkkkkkkk Karlsssssssssssssson!
He’s by far the greeeeeeeeeatest player!
The world has ever seen!

(repeat over and over)

Maybe next time I’ll send a YouTube video of original song so people can sing in tune. ;)

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

by Adnan on Jan 2, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Please do!

I want to hear the melody!

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Jan 2, 2012 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

Here you go!

Link

Not that I am an Arsenal supporter, but I find it catchy:

And it is is Arsenal!
Arsenal FC!
We’re by far the greatest team!
The world has ever seen!

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

by Adnan on Jan 2, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

I actually think he's been better

He was great against Calgary and had some good moments against Buffalo, but he was pretty weak against Montreal. It’s good that he bounced back so strongly, though.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jan 2, 2012 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

Obviously I disagree with the Konopka assessment...

As discussed in previous blogs the 2 10 min misconducts were irrelevant in assessing the game against Buffalo and in actual fact could be argued rather than costing his team for sitting 10 mins he showed his team he is willing to stand up for a teammate i.e Winchester in taking said 10 min misconduct against the offender i.e Gaustad…as for the second 10 min misconduct taken at the end of overtime?? Non starter and totally irrelevant.

Agreed that a -2 was not great however putting things in context he took a -1 vs MTL where a zero was the highest plus/minus in that game and was only achieved by 5 players.

Some positives that were not pointed out on the week….he was 71%, 100% and the only player above 50% vs BUF on faceoff draws many of which were specific late game def zone faceoffs..had his highest amount of ice time of the year 11:14 mins vs CGY…no fights(of which should appease many on here)…and 2 shots in back to back games vs CGY and BUF, something he hasn’t done all year.

Just balancing out your point of view on this public forum…..

by gwplant on Jan 2, 2012 12:50 PM EST reply actions

Auld

Can we please talk about how bad Alex Auld is? Is there any other option? I don’t think the guys have any faith in him when he’s in net

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Jan 2, 2012 1:09 PM EST reply actions

I don't know if he's THAT bad

I mean, sure, he ate it hard against Calgary, but Anderson has had performances equally as bad — I thought his performance against Montreal was even worse — and the team seems to still have faith in him.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jan 2, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

Ya he sure didn’t look good at all….waivers upcoming??

by gwplant on Jan 2, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

And do what? Lehner's going to be suspended. And you can't empty Binghamton.

Do we still have a Matt Spezza? A (Not Martin) Brodeur? Like it or not, Auld is it. Another goalie trade now will just reinforce the perception that Murray has no marbles, either above or below the neck.

A Goal Horn Haiku

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

by Nightbreak on Jan 2, 2012 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

I guess you're right!

Maybe he’s just been bad the last few times I"ve seen him. I dunno, just seems like the goals he’s let in recently are so bad. We need more depth goalie wise too, cause even Lehner is struggling this year (although 916% is pretty good on a losing team)

by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Jan 2, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I'm actually surprised at how good his numbers are.

The team around him was completely terrible. No depth with all the callups, and an incredible amount of injuries. McKenna has better numbers, but I personally, think that’s because Lehner got injured and then they started getting key guys back. That’s my theory anyway…

by Pmoron on Jan 2, 2012 4:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Daugevins...

Any opinions on whether he stays or gets sent down when Winchester gets back into the lineup?? Seems his stock has been dropping…

by gwplant on Jan 2, 2012 1:38 PM EST reply actions

I think he'll probably be sent back...

But he doesn’t really deserve it. He’s played very well for the team (especially on the PK) and hasn’t looked out of place on any of the lines he’s been put on, but being sent down is just the nature of things when you have so many forwards with one way contracts. If Butler doesn’t show any improvement over the season I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ottawa let him go to free agency and give the Daug-man/Rooster a real opportunity to crack the lineup along with guys like Silfverberg and Zibanejad next year.

by Bridges16 on Jan 2, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

I think MacLean likes him

He could be used as a 13th forward, I think. There are three guys who could alternate being scratched, in my mind: Daugavins, Konopka, and Winchester. I think Rooster will stick around.

Also, there could very well be another injury before Winchester returns.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 2, 2012 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I'd rather see Rooster stick around, even if sometimes it means he's scratched.

The Marginal Virtues

by JonathanA on Jan 2, 2012 7:00 PM EST up reply actions

Well, he probably will

Teams usually carry an extra forward, so it makes sense that even when Winchester comes back, Rooster will stick around—at least until Regin returns, if that even happens this season.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 4, 2012 9:03 AM EST up reply actions