Format Change... and the Ignominious End of Eli Wilson in Ottawa

Okay, the big day arrived. I've become a father for the first time (all is well by the way) so that means the format change I was talking of a few posts ago will happen here at Black Aces to allow me time to do what I have to do (and what they all say is true... it's a 24 hour job but completely worth it!)

I will blog whenever I can but most likely starting 2 Sundays from now I will be doing one large column covering the events of the week in Senators land and around the NHL. This works for me because it allows me time to hang with our little guy Jake, but still lets me enjoy writing about the Senators and going back and forth with people who don't necessarily agree with my take! Starting next season I expect to be back doing my regular posts after every game day.

I hope all my readers will be patient with me and still check out the blog from week to week. I'll do my best to stay on top of things, and will always find the time to write about any major event as it happens, such as any big trade or , gasp, major firings.

As for Bryan Murray letting goalie coach Eli Wilson go, I have to agree with him. The numbers just haven't added up since Wilson was given the job and bringing in a new voice may help to turn things around, just as it worked when Murray very bravely fired his second coach in as many season and brough in Cory Clouston last year.

With that being said, I still think that Pascal Leclaire's game would have turned around regardless of who his goalie coach was. Excuses are lame, but the injuries the Senators are going through have put much more pressure on the goalies than was anticipated. When you have a guy like Leclaire who is still trying to put his game together after numerous injuries and a young goalie who is still trying to establish himself as a backup in the NHL, all the elements are in place for a teams goaltending to fall apart. Leclaire may have been able sail through some rough patches if the Senators were able to score goals, but now that the whole first line is out, Leclaire (and Elliott) essentially have had to be perfect.

Of course, they haven't been able to do that and the whole situation just snowballed into what we have today. The game is largely played between the ears and a lack of confidence has hurt the Senators goalies, not a lack of skill.

Leclaire is still a good, if not excellent goalie and time will prove that.

For Senators fans, players and management, they just hope it's not too late for this season....