Losing streak extends to seven as Senators lose 3-1 to Blues
by DarrenM on Feb 7, 2012 10:49 PM EST
in Ottawa Senators game recaps
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PrintThe Senators faced a familiar face in net tonight as they looked for a win after six straight losses, but Brian Elliott and the St. Louis Blues closed the door on the Sens, winning Chris Phillips' 999th game by a 3-1 score.
Ottawa appeared to come out of the gate strong, getting two good chances within the opening minute. Unfortunately, the wheels started falling off shortly afterward, with the Blues getting two quick goals in the game's first five minutes. The first was a Roman Polak point shot that was tipped in by Chris Porter less than two minutes in, while the second came as David Perron was allowed to walk right in front of Craig Anderson and bury it. After letting in two goals on four shots, Anderson was pulled.
After getting down by two, the Senators started to improve. Daniel Alfredsson got the team on the board with a powerplay goal less than a minute into the second period, bringing the Senators within one. The team started to control the play a bit, and a comeback seemed possible. Unfortunately, the Blues played terrific defense -- the team is simply relentless within their own zone -- and managed to capitalize on an Erik Karlsson giveaway as David Perron scored his second of the game to give his team another two-goal lead.
Unforunately, that 3-1 score would remain for the rest of the game. Ottawa had their chances, but simply couldn't bury them. They finished ahead in the shots department 29-18, something that they've been surprisingly good at as of late (during this losing streak, they've outshot their opponents in 5 of 7 games).
Sens Zero: Craig Anderson
Neither of Anderson's goals against were particularly egregious -- the first was a nice tipped shot, while the second was more on the defense for allowing David Perron to walk out in front -- but 2 goals on 4 shots is a clear zero performance. We all knew that Anderson couldn't keep up his incredible performance during the team's winning streak, but he has to be better than he has recently.
Sens Killer: Brian Elliott/Ken Hitchcock's defensive system
It's hard to disconnect the two, so I'll lump them together. Elliott had a fantastic game tonight, making several key saves when he had to. The Blues kept the Senators to the perimeter, and on any rare rebounds given up by Elliott, the Blues quickly cleared the front of the net. Textbook defensive play tonight from the Blues.
Sens Hero: Daniel Alfredsson
Alfie has been the team's best player through pretty much every game of the slump, and tonight was no exception. He had the team's only goal, was not on the ice for a goal against, and even won the only faceoff he took. Bless that man.
Sens Thumbs Up: Chris Phillips
Phillips, whose #4 was painted on the ice in recognition of his impending 1000th game, showed an unusual amount of confidence in the offensive zone tonight. He made crisp passes, pinched in at appropriate times, and had 3 shots on net.
Sens Zero: Lack of goal scoring
As much as people would like to blame this loss (and many others) on Craig Anderson, the Senators' offense simply needs to be better. They had four powerplays tonight, and only had a single goal. As Travis Yost points out, the team hasn't had an even strength goal in ten periods. Yikes.
Shot Chart:
Highlights:
Forthcoming
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I'm Sad :(
But I’ve figured it out. Ever since I lost my name tag, Sens have been on a losing streak. The name tag has Sens stickers all over it. But today I found it! So now that I have it they can’t lose the next game so no worries guys. I gotcha covered.
Thanks Tyler
I knew something was disturbing the force. I thought it was that I accidentally said the word “playoffs”. This name name tag find should get things back on track.
How is anyone supposed to top Sterling Snakehouse?
by worsteverything on Feb 8, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
Phillips was a beast tonight
Hopefully this continues on to thursday!
Scholar, Gentleman, Shameless Sens Homer with a Heart of Gold.
by Johnny_Spectacular on Feb 8, 2012 12:01 AM EST reply actions
The Dutch Treat says:
9 goals in 9 games means that no matter how great the goaltending is, you’re not going to win too many, if any, hockey games. Unless you think winning games 1-0 (which is what the Sens tried to do on Friday) is a good way to play hockey.
You forgot to give a zero to Matt Carkner. It seems as though he hasn’t recovered from his knee injury but his decision-making ability has been horrendous lately. I think he broke a record for the shortest shift this season with his boneheaded move that lead to the first goal. Rimming the puck to no one as the team is changing was sad.
I give Paul Maclean a zero too. I love the Stache Man™ but he made two critical errors. One was not gauging what condition Anderson is in and running him into the ground. Even the best goalies in the world can’t play 18 straight games at a high level, yet that is what he expected of Anderson. And two was not putting Brian Lee in. He was active and there is no world in which Carkner is a better defenseman than Brian Lee. Lee also makes Phillips game better.
Also, the “Condra in the Top 6” experiment needs to end. NOW. This team can’t score goals so for the love of Jiminy, call up Andre Petersson and stick him with Spezza and see what happens.
Lastly, Michalek has become a black hole of offense. Plays are now actually dying on his stick. His torrent pace and subsequent torrent cooling-off is going to give me night terrors comparing him to Fisher.
If Pekke Rinne starts, we might as well chalk up #8. Sigh…
by The Dutch Treat on Feb 8, 2012 12:30 AM EST reply actions
why does the dutch treat refer to himself in 3rd person? is he like the rock? gunna lay the smack down…
by AussieSensFan on Feb 8, 2012 4:28 AM EST up reply actions
He has claimed it as a gimmick
He kept filling out the title section like it was the login section out of habit.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
RogerTheShrubber
Agrees with The Dutch Treat on all points.
On the note of calling up Petersson, I think it may be a good idea to call up some young guys now, just to get a different feel in the team. Also, it is unquestionnably Auld who starts the next game.
He was once called the worst participant Cirque du Soleil ever had.
by RogerTheShrubber on Feb 8, 2012 7:21 AM EST up reply actions
As does BigSlice
I really liked the hustle that Petersson showed in his brief stint with the big club, and believe that with a few shifts to the left of Spezza, he should be able to snap home his first NHL goal, followed closely by his second and third.
And yeah… Auld vs. Nashville is a no-brainer. The Paulrus doesn’t make many mistakes, but running Andy like he has is a BIG one. I don’t know if he’s seen something in Lee during practise that he doesn’t like or what… but give the kid a chance. From what I could see (in his limited playing time) he seems to be rounding into a slightly more offensive, slightly less defensive Chris Phillips. He could prove to be a VERY solid d-man, if given half a chance.
ALFIE! ALFIE! ALFIE!
What condition IS Anderson in?
He’s played 4 games in the last 17 days. If that “runs him into the ground,” he has mono.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Huh...interesting point
Never thought of it that way.
How is anyone supposed to top Sterling Snakehouse?
by worsteverything on Feb 8, 2012 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
almost in total agreement with the Dutch Treat
but – despite believe that Auld should have been in for a few games a long time ago – Mark’s point is right on. Anderson should have been well rested coming out of the AS Break. Otherwise, Dutch Treat said what i was going to say: 1-0 wins or racking up loser points… don’t think so.
I keep waiting for the Paulrus to show why he’s ‘Our Guy’ and not the latest for the slag-heap of BMurr-hired coaches.
We're starting to pile on Paulrus a bit
We would have eaten the nits out of his moustache two weeks ago.
Let’s give him more of a chance to overcome the latest hurdle before we decide he’s not getting it done.
He was once called the worst participant Cirque du Soleil ever had.
by RogerTheShrubber on Feb 8, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
I still think he's 'our guy'
But we have to remember… like many of the skaters on this team, he’s also a rookie (coach) and we should give him some more credit. We’re lightyears ahead of where we should be right now.
My only worry is Andy starting 20 in a row, which is starting to look like a reality. I mean, Paulrus is likely to start Anderson against Nashville, given that they’re a good team, and Edmonton is in a situation similar to ours… a TON of goals, but a few more against, so he might want to try and limit their goals for with Andy between the pipes. Auld was fairly solid last night, even if he was fighting the puck a bit. I say we let Andy bounce back against the Preds, but give Auld a shot against the Oilers.
Just my $0.02
ALFIE! ALFIE! ALFIE!
i lean more towards 'our guy' than against
but i’m not willing to give him a total pass on the rookie coach business. the only thing i wonder is whether there is enough of the “hard ass” in our coaching squad. if i recall MacLean was billed as a great communicator and i never got the impression that Cameron had an angry streak. who’s in there who can crack some eggs?
Begging to Differ
Lee is on injured reserve status, accoridng to THN, with an LBI.
Anderson hasn’t played that much lately, in terms of gamedays over time.
In short, I think the only shortcoming is in the reality of our expectations. 20 games ago, we were pointing like crazy for a team that was at elite scoring levels but dregs GAA levels. Of the two realities – elite scoring and dregs GAA – which was more improbable? In fact, both. Our GAA should have been and should be better than it was last year, but it is not, despite a better defense, better team play, and arguably better goaltender compared to the BE of last year. Our scoring was miles ahead of where it shoud have been, based on expectations for the team at the bweginning of the year and the pedigree of players involved.
In the last several games, we started getting better in GAA, but poorer in goals for. Now the wheels have fallen off.
Personally, I think we have a combination of unrealistic expectations as fans, players starting to believe a little too much in their ability to overcome deficits, younger players reaching a mental fatigue level that is costing them (yes, Cowen, I’m looking at you), and a point in the season where nobody is taking anyone, let alone a contending team take them by surprise and everyone is getting that much more competitive in their play.
defensively we suck.
Anyone who is anyone in the hockey world will tell you that when all the shots come from in the slot there is no way in hell that the goalie will stop all.
I give paulrus a zero cuz a good coach figures out how to get his team out of a slump and he just hasn’t been able to kick the player’s butts into gear for a whole game and realize our defensive lapses are the pain in our game. Switch something up on defense. PLEASE!!!
by Canuck Abroad on Feb 8, 2012 3:00 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Yeah, what’s up with that shot chart?
The Blues took only 4 or 5 shots from the perimeter? They really know how to feed it down low to their big men (and Perron).
by Spezzal Teams Playa on Feb 8, 2012 5:02 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah
It doesn’t seem like we’ve adjusted to the way ppl are playing us now. We just try to force the issue.
by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Feb 8, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions
I think it is unrealistic to expect a coach to be able to take such a team with as little time under his tutelage an immediately turn it around. He’s had what, 56 games with them? It takes alot of time for a systm to become so automatic that everyone can anticipate what each other is going to do, in a variety of game situations. During the Boston game one of the colour guys commented on the B’s ability to capitalize on their team game. It’s one thing to work in one or two guys to a team, versus an entire team to a system. Then they need to add elements in response to the other teams’ gameplans.
To be fair to Paulrus and the lads
They had 0 luck last night. That was an unlucky first goal, and either or both of the two posts they hit going the other way in the first period would have made a big difference.
While I despair for the playoffs, I think we’re actually playing better hockey than we were for the last 5 games of our road trip, and that if we can win a few it may not be too late to right the ship.
Also, looking for the silver lining, getting through something like this (if they do!) could be good for the young team, and it should also have the nice effect of getting Murray to chill out on the trades.
He was once called the worst participant Cirque du Soleil ever had.
by RogerTheShrubber on Feb 8, 2012 7:25 AM EST reply actions
They did play well
It was a tough team to be in a early hole against. Defensively, the Blues are too good. But notice where the Blues’ goals came? Right in the slot. Too many one shot and done for us. We need garbage goals!
by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Feb 8, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions
on luck
frankly, a 7-game losing streak is not the product of bad luck. bad calls, goal posts, goalie lets in a couple that he shouldn’t, etc. The goals for average of 1/game during this spell says all that needs to be said, imo. a lot of perimeter play, poor break-outs from our own end, etc. In spurts it’s looked okay but we owe Anderson a few games after the December and early January he gave us. Scoring at a goal/game average is hanging him out to dry.
Not sure if it was during a shift change...
But I noticed Z. Smith with Spezza a couple times last night. I would imagine that was probably more of a promotion for The One Who Cares Not than it was a demotion for Spezza. I’ll admit, I got a little excited at the idea of Smith crashing and banging around the net with Spezz out there, working his magic.
ALFIE! ALFIE! ALFIE!
Where we are lacking
The Blues are the perfect team to show us what we have lacked all year and what we are lacking now. They have several young dmen, and they have a defensive system that protects the goalies forcing the opposition’s play to the outside even if they get across the blueline.
On the other hand we have a four forward offence and virtually no defensive system to back it up except the hope that even though we will get outshot every night and give up countless 2 on 1 and 3 on 1s, that somehow the forwards will cover up. How is that working? We are at the bottom of the league in the NHL and AHL in GAA. And BM only talks about acquiring more forwards.
I’m not saying we have to abandon our offence, but there needs to be a happy medium that doesn’t leave the goalies hung out to dry so often. We need a defensive system to switch to when we are ahead late in the game like the Blues did.
We won our games when Anderson stood on his head, and lost when he didn’t. We need some personnel on the defensive side that can and will play DEFENCE. The pickings at the trade deadline are slim and will predictably be hugely overpriced.
Our defence needs to be rebuilt mostly through the draft, and this is the year to do that. The only guy I might go after now is Hal Gill if the price is right. This is a short term thing while we develop others.
You're right
Our defensive shortcomings are obvious now, because we’re not scoring as much. And teams are focusing on Karlsson a lot more, they’re not worried about Gonchar or Kuba to an extent because they won’t outskate anybody.
I honestly wouldn’t mind giving up a prospect or two for a solid young D-man
by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Feb 8, 2012 8:44 AM EST up reply actions
Nope...
He means like a solid young D-man that can play D. Like a Shea Weber or a Ryan Suter.
Rundblad wouldn’t help this team now or in the immediate future because the defense can move the puck just fine, they just can’t get it when the opposing team has it and teams are taking advantage of that.
Also, you gotta give Karlsson a zero for the momentum killing turnover that lead directly to the 3rd goal. The Sens were so close to tying it up and that did them in.
A big old ZERO to the trap. For sucking the life out of hockey.
by The Dutch Treat on Feb 8, 2012 9:43 AM EST up reply actions
Yes Exactly
But that’s on every team’s wish list. What are the odds we would end up with one.
Dutch Treat, you hit the nail right on the head with this one. Teams like the Blues, Predators, Lightning( even if it doesn’t work very well for them, lol) suck the fun out of hockey. Bring back Olympics hockey!!!!!! lol
by I Still Miss Hossa!!! on Feb 8, 2012 9:49 AM EST up reply actions
Building around Karlsson
Rundblad for now was more of the same kind of dman we alreadly have, and we did fine getting Turris. We need to build a defensive system around Karlsson and let Karlsson do what he does. And he should be paired with a clone of Chris Phillips or somebody scarier like Volchenkov when they were 27 years old.
Yeah, yeah I know… They don’t grow on trees.
And you don’t trade for a Shea Weber, you find him in the draft by drafting lots of prospects and building them and introducing one per year into the league.
we have the skills for trap breaking, etc.
but managing our own end has been a bloody nightmare. We have one of the best collections of puck moving defensement in the league right now. it’s just a shame we don’t have any capable mean bastard d-men to pair with ’em.
It was the same story with Winnipeg.
Any time we come up against a team that plays a trap or defence first hockey, we get smothered.
Hilarious stat
Sens outchanced the Blues 19-13 according to The 6th Sens. The Blues outchanced the Sens 8-1 when Chris Neil was on the ice.
This means the Sens outchanced the Blues 18-5 when Chris Neil was kept off the ice.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
by Adnan on Feb 8, 2012 8:56 AM EST via mobile reply actions
So Garrioch who else
was on the ice when we were outchances…if you pick any other player you could totally come up with another stat like that
My Jason Spezza Obsession is Perfectly Healthy!
Playing Time Says A Lot
Erik Karlson played over 30 minutes.
Matt Carkner played 7 minutes.
Why is Matt Carkner still playing? He doesn’t hit, he doesn’t fight (anymore) and during this stretch, despite his sheltered minutes, he’s a negative.
There is seriously no need for Matt Carkner anymore. I officially gave up on him during the Boston game when he was the only guy in the “sandpaper crew” to not engage in a fight. Neil, Konopka and even Smith got dirty. Carkner didn’t. If you can’t fight and you can’t play defense, you need to be off the roster.
Feel good story
Carkner was a “feel good story” for a while (you know the career AHLer who worked his ass off and finally got his chance) while we were in transition and needed some toughness.
He’s a good AHL dman, and doesn’t have the wheels or the savvy to be an NHL player.
Hopefully we let him go, and then get him back for Bingo.
Our offence could learn a thing or two from JaVale McGee
http://deadspin.com/5882974/this-is-why-javale-mcgee-is-the-best-thing-in-the-nba?tag=lowlight-reel
The guy plays defence even when they’re on offence!
The noon number today is 347
Which is the consecutive number of shots that Jason Spezza has put over the crossbar.
He was once called the worst participant Cirque du Soleil ever had.
by RogerTheShrubber on Feb 8, 2012 1:55 PM EST reply actions
Actually, it's six
But you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out why.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Don't toy with us like that Mark!
He was once called the worst participant Cirque du Soleil ever had.
by RogerTheShrubber on Feb 8, 2012 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
Our stars aren't playing like stars
Spezza kept missing the net in good shooting areas, karlsson kept trying to pass the puck through people as if they weren’t there, michalek was a non factor most of the game and alfie (blasphemy, I know),other than the goal which was a good bounce for us, looked like he was trying to do too much and at times looked indecisive. I thought turris and daugavins were two of our better forwards that game. This is of course my own personal opinion from watching the game.
by John_9664 on Feb 8, 2012 6:35 PM EST via Android app reply actions
in keeping with the theme of lacking defense d-men i bring you...
Ladislav Smid, http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/44675-Kennedy-Ladislav-Smid-a-bright-spot-on-Edmontons-thin-blueline.html
Leading the Oil in blocked shots and hits… oh what could have been.
(is it possible to hate Dany Heatley more?)
Edmonton...
Is sixth from the bottom in gaa so those might not be very telling stats lol. Personally, i’m over hating heatley, he’s terrible now for his price tag and he’s on a team that’s floundering as much as we are. Karma
by John_9664 on Feb 9, 2012 12:16 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
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