Silver Nuggets: Senators back in action; Spezza nears return; Murray wants to stay
The Ottawa Senators return to action tonight and host the suddenly surging Buffalo Sabres. The Sens play again! Who is excited? Anyone? No? Well I am!
The last time the two teams met, Brian Elliott shut out the Sabres but the Senators still lost 1-0 in a shootout. A Senators win tonight, coupled with a Toronto loss in Tampa Bay, will see the Senators vault into a tie for the all important 12th place in the Eastern Conference. That's right, I am cheering for wins! With that said, here are some serious and hilarious (Murray wants to stay!) links.
Tonight's Game
- Game preview for tonight. (NHL.com, Sens Extra)
- The Senators may be struggling, but six out of the seven panelists predict a win tonight. Well done boys! Which reminds me, there are no female prediction panelists? How outdated! (Sens Extra)/
More Sens and hockey news after the jump.
General Sens News
- Bryan Murray wants to stay. He also discusses why he did not pick up Evgeni Nabokov (to give Robin Lehner and Pascal Leclaire some games). If he offers a new contract to Leclaire, may Karlsson help us all. He also thinks we can be good again in one year; I sure hope he is right. (Sun, Citizen)
- Bryan Murray is also feeling the pressure from Crooklyn Banks' prospect reports and releases his own views on the Senators' prospects. (Sun)
- Finally some good news, Jason Spezza is nearing return. As our resident cartoonist said in this week's Senators Ups and Downs, you have to respect a guy aching to get back into the lineup to help in a lost cause. The next captain of your Ottawa Senators, ladies and gentlemen. (Sun)
- Yet another article on the Senators' options for the future, this time via James Gordon. (Sens Extra)
- A look at what players the Sens should keep going forward. Note, Chris Phillips bashers like myself will find this shocking but the "Don't do what Chris Phillips does" line saved it for me. (Cory Clouston Fashion Review)
- Mike Fisher apparently only has a limited no movement clause to save himself from Edmonton, New York (of the Island variety), Columbus, Florida and Phoenix. Note: these aren't the actual five teams on his no-trade-list. (Sens Town)
- A few bright spots about the Senators season. Warning: It's satire! (Down Goes Brown)
General Hockey News
- Dustin Byfuglien is second in the NHL in shots on goal, behind only the Great 8 (who is finally beginning his surge to score 40 goals in the last 32 games to reclaim his rightful Rocket Richard Trophy). (Yahoo!)
- Marc Savard has another concussion. (Yahoo!)
- Chris Pronger is putting his stolen puck(s) up for auction. (Yahoo!)