Monday's Links, News, and Notes: Sens Fall into Trap Week, Jagr's Number Retired, Stadium Series and More
It's been a tough couple days for the Sens, but the hockey world stops for no one.
After a humbling couple of outings against the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks, the Ottawa Senators have a busy slate of four games ahead of them this week. Here's what's going on with the team and around the league:
-Wayne Scanlan has the (correctly) disheartening write-up from the Sens' recent struggles: they fell right into "trap week".
-If you missed it on Friday, Ian Mendes published the second part of his Midseason Senators Fan Survey over at the Athletic. We're not such a cheery bunch this year. Maybe the most surprising result was nearly 30% of respondents saying they thought that the Sens should give Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg a chance as the goaltending duo next year. No comment!
-Bruce Garrioch has a piece outlining the ways the Sens are exploring upgrading the Canadian Tire Centre while they figure out where they're headed long-term. Considering some of the seats are still the originals from 1996 (!), I'm all in favour of a few updates.
-On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Penguins retired Jaromir Jagr's iconic #68. Jagr gave a heartfelt speech, surrounded by family and former teammates. For one franchise to have had Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Sidney Crosby in their primes, arguably three of the ten or so greatest players of all-time, it feels....unfair somehow.
-The New York Islanders' jerseys may have been absolutely hideous, but the Stadium Series match-up between the Isles and the New York Rangers was otherwise a fantastic affair. The Rangers prevailed 6-5 in overtime on the back of a stirring late comeback that was capped off by Artemi Panarin's OT winner ten seconds into the extra frame.
-Meanwhile, in the other Stadium Series tilt, the New Jersey Devils took down the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 on Saturday.
-It brings me no pleasure to report this but Auston Matthews is on pace for 75 (!) goals and is, for my money, the best candidate for the Hart right now. Once again, I do not like this, at all, but it cannot help but be commented upon.
-Lastly, in some good news, Lanny McDonald has been released from the hospital following a cardiac event earlier in the month.
