Silver Nuggets: Examining Erik's Eminence
Erik Karlsson is having a brilliant year so far. He's been touted as a candidate for the Norris Trophy. One blog even suggested Karlsson should be considered for the Hart Trophy. So how good has Karlsson been?
- He has 41 points in 43 games. That's eight more than the next closest defenceman. He's just as close to the Art Ross (league leader has 49 points) as he is to the second place defenceman.
- Karlsson needs 23 points in 39 games to break the club record for points by a defenceman and needs 12 assists in 39 games to break the club record for assists by a defenceman.
- At his current pace, Karlsson is on pace for 67 assists. That is only four assists behind Jason Spezza's club record of 71. The 67 assists would be the most by an NHL defenceman since 1995-1996.
- Zdeno Chara holds the club record for shots on goal by a defenceman at 212. Karlsson already has 152 and is on pace for 290 to obliterate the record. Only Dany Heatley and Alexei Yashin have ever had more shots on goal for Ottawa. Yashin holds the record at 337.
- Wade Redden holds the club record with 2017 minutes played in 2003-2004. Karlsson's 2096 minutes pace would break that record as well.
Tonight's game
- Game preview. (Ottawa Sun)
- Everyone but James Gordon predicts a win tonight. Peter says 3-0 Ottawa. (Senators Extra)
- After struggling (this is my opinion Mark!) in the last game, Matt Carkner will be a healthy scratch and Brian Lee will play. (Ian Mendes)
General Sens News
- The Senators play nine of the next ten on the road and Jason Spezza was full of cliches. Coming out at around .500 in this stretch should keep the Sens in the hunt. (Ottawa Sun, Ottawa Citizen)
- If Erik Karlsson is looking for something similar to Mike Green's $5.25 million a year deal, the Senators should jump at that right now. Craig Anderson feels Karlsson does ten good things for every mistake he makes. (Ottawa Sun)
- Are the Senators just overachieving with a bunch of players with career years? No, not really. But many players are producing throughout the lineup and there is good balance across the lines. (Ottawa Citizen)
- Graeme Nichols points out the different personnel management of Paul MacLean and Cory Clouston. Perhaps due to the addition of Zenon Konopka, or just because, Jason Spezza is taking far more offensive zone face-offs than he did last season. MacLean has also reduced Chris Phillips' ice time due to his struggles, while Clouston continued to play him a lot. Nichols also lays the case for trading Filip Kuba. (The 6th Sens)