This game was most notable for two obvious reasons: one, a preview of life without Jason Spezza was a gloomy scenario, especially if he was ever out of the lineup for a significant period of time (or traded like he could have been this past summer). And two, Pascal Leclaire threw off a poor training camp just like he said he would, and played a near-incredible game.
It was a loss, but the play of Leclaire made it feel like something was salvaged, or at least promised in the near future.
The Senators still have to be concerned with their play in their own end. The Sabres completely controlled the home team down low and unfortunately highlighted what life is going to be like without Anton Volchenkov and Andy Sutton. Leclaire was the only reason the Sens had a shooter's chance in the waning minutes.
The good news is the Senators are right back at it in Toronto on Saturday night.
Black Aces Senators 3 Stars
1. Pascal Leclaire
2. Daniel Alfredsson
3. Jarkko Ruutu
Honourable mentions: Milan Michalek and Sergei Gonchar.
Notes: Eugene Melnyk let it be known in a radio interview today that the Senators were finally getting a much needed new scoreboard for next season, just in time for the first ever All-Star game in Canada's capital city. Clearly the fans and a few columnists (most notably the Sun's Don Brennan) put on enough pressure to accelerate the organization's plans to purchase a new one down the road. Just this summer, the Senator's were downplaying the need for the new item, saying that fans were more concerned with the quality of food concessions in the Kanata rink, but now it looks like they've changed their tune a bit. It shows the organization is willing to listen and try to give the fans the best experience possible. But that's always been the hallmark of Melnyk's tenure here (not that it wasn't that way with Rod Bryden, but finances were more of a challenge back then and the arena was still new). And it's not just the big stuff, like scoreboards. Fans cried out when they replace the beloved Sens theme at the start of games with canned mainstream rock, and the organization reversed the move partway through the season. They even changed the ugly socks brought in under the new Reebok uniform system and brought back the real stripes. The Senators may make some mistakes off the ice from time to time, but they aren't too stubborn to bow to the fans wishes.....
....I wonder how many Rogers subscribers were in disbelief when they went to watch the game in HD and found only a baseball game for the first 10 minutes or so? They were showing the game on standard definition on channel 27, but the HD feed was nowhere to be found. Not on Sportsnet Ontario and not on Sportsnet East (blacked out!!). There was even a shot of Bryan Murray in his box next to a widescreen TV that was showing the baseball game, undoubtedly tuned into what was supposed to be the Senators match. After a while, the game was switched onto the Ontario channel, but it makes you wonder.
Would this ever happen to the Toronto Maple Leafs? Of course not. Trying to watch an Ottawa Senators game on television in Ottawa is sometimes a 50/50 proposition. Good job Sportsnet. Who was asleep at the Sportsnet controls in downtown Toronto, Bill Watters?
5 comments:
If it's true that the Sens organization listens to the fans, then someone tell them to bring back the 2-D logo, with the original white uni.
The Sens are coming up on their 20th year anniversary, and it would be a shame if those celebrations didn't include the jersey that got things going, and the jersey in which all the major accomplishments were attained in (Stanley Cup Finals, Presidents Trophy, and just general excellence).
No love for Kovalev in the three stars? I thought he had a real solid game, and was quite a bit more effective than Michalek tonight. But it doesn't really matter in a loss. And I agree with you on the frightening possibility of a life without Spezza... considering the return for him would likely have been far less than a current number-one centre (the best player I heard rumoured was Derrick Brassard, perish the thought) so out offence would have had nothing to fall back on. And his dominance in the pre-season tells me that he might just be able to turn boos into cheers, as he said was his goal.
Hey Peter, Kovalev was pretty strong, but that missed breakaway when the team really needed it somewhat disqualified him for me. But I expect a great season from him for sure.
That is great about the new jumbotron. But does Don Brennan really deserve the credit? Please.
Kovie did feed Regin like a bear at the zoo to a gaping net. PEEETER. *my Lois from Family Guy impersonation"
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