The Ottawa Equation
There is a simple equation - a universal truth if you will, especially for a Canadian NHL franchise - that if you lose a lot, like seven of eight games, questions are going to be asked.
Hard questions.
Like, is someone going to be fired? No, make that is everyone is going to be fired?
And so it was with the Ottawa Senators as they headed into Wednesday night's game in Buffalo against the Sabres. After losing seven of eight games, and generally falling well below of expectations for this season, speculation was rampant that jobs were on the line.
No one was immune from the rumours. Not team president Roy Mlakar or general manager John Muckler or head coach Bryan Murray. Or, for that matter, the players, many of whom have been subject of trade rumours as people wondered how the Sens might emerge from their season-long funk.
Now, no one suggested for a moment that owner Eugene Melnyk had decided anyone's fate. Not even close.
But what was clear was that Melnyk's lieutenants - guys like Toronto lawyer Sheldon Plener or trusted associate Darryl Boyce - are on a heightened sense of awareness of what's going with Melnyk's hockey team. And why wouldn't they be?
Plener was in attendance at Buffalo, when the Senators scored an impressive and gritty come-from-behind 4-2 win over the Sabres, but his presence could be rationalized that he and other Sens' executives have business with the NHL in New York City. And that's accurate.
That said, sources have also told TSN that Melnyk's people are getting input from other people in the NHL community on options if the Sens' slide into the abyss continues.
That should come as no surprise. No owner worth his salt would ever just sit on his hands and let the losses mount without doing some of the leg work should a change become necessary. And it's not like there isn't a pool of qualified talent sitting on the sidelines waiting for phone calls. In pro sports, one man's misery is another man's employment opportunity.
But if the Senators can string together a few more wins like the one over Buffalo, the speculation on job security evaporates.
The win over Buffalo was just what the doctor ordered for the ailing Sens.
Netminder Ray Emery, coming off a wrist injury, made the saves he needed to make to keep Ottawa in the game. His effort was a stark contrast to the lack of confidence recently displayed by Sens' goalie Martin Gerber.
The much-maligned Sens' power play stepped up when Jason Spezza scored to make it 2-2 in the third period.
And after a couple of weeks where it seemed the Senators were hell-bent on giving away games in the third period while leading, they reversed that trend by actually coming back from the 2-1 deficit against Buffalo to win it in the third period.
They showed heart and basically reversed most every negative trend they had been exhibiting this season. Well, almost every negative trend. The team was still guilty of too many turnovers, but the bottom line is they gutted out a win against a terrific team in a tough building.
Certainly, there is a lot there for the Senators to build on. If nothing else, the victory, and how it was obtained, and who it was obtained over (arguably the best team in the NHL), should go a long way towards helping to mend the battered and fragile psyche of a talented but underachieving team that looked to be coming apart at the seams.
But it was just one game. It's vital the Senators continue to move forward, Friday night against New Jersey and Saturday night back home against Buffalo again.
A few more wins and there won't be any more questions or speculation about job security or anything else. Another few losses…well, all bets are off.
It's a simple equation, after all.
NHL Tape Check: Back in MVP form
Martin St. Louis is a threat once again, Leafs blueliners are making a difference offensively, a Kings winger is dynamic with the puck and the Canucks need better from Luongo in this edition of TSN.ca's NHL Tape Check.
- Lightning RW Martin St. Louis stole the puck from Thrashers RW Ilya Kovalchuk to go in on a breakaway against Atlanta and got chopped down by Thrashers D Andy Sutton, which resulted in Sutton getting a five-minute major and St. Louis getting a penalty shot. Vincent Lecavalier jumped to St. Louis' defence by plowing into Sutton as the play continued.
- St. Louis also made a spectacular pass to spring Vincent Lecavalier for the overtime winner against Philadelphia. St. Louis, in one motion, received a breakout pass then whipped it from the hash marks in Tampa's zone to a streak Lecavalier at the red line on the opposite side of the rink.
- Leafs D Tomas Kaberle made a deft touch pass to set up Bryan McCabe for the Leafs' opening goal Saturday night, but then Kaberle and McCabe both rushed out to the point -- yes, they are both defencemen -- later in the game on the play that resulted in Montreal's first goal.
- Kings LW Mike Cammalleri eluded Wild D Martin Skoula in front of the net to grab the rebound and score the tying goal midway through the third period. Cammalleri also left Kim Johnsson's jock in the stands in overtime, after a one-on-one move between the defenceman's skates, but Manny Fernandez stopped Cammalleri's shot.
- When he gets a head of steam going down the ice, Rangers RW Jaromir Jagr is really tough to slow down. He stormed to the net to take a pass from Marcel Hossa on the Rangers' first goal Tuesday.
- On the game's final goal, McCabe made a quick adjustment. Cocked for the one-time slapper, he ended up just wristing it quickly past Cristobal Huet.
- Canucks LW Matt Cooke crunched Flames RW Jarome Iginla with an open-ice hit following an Iginla slapshot.
- Rangers D Michal Rozsival made a terrific pass up the middle to Brendan Shanahan on the counter attack to set up the Rangers' go-ahead goal Tuesday.
- Capitals RW Matt Pettinger made a confident tuck-and-drag move, turning Rangers D Marek Malik inside-out, for a nifty goal Friday night.
- Red Wings rookie Valtteri Filppula outbattled Canucks C Henrik Sedin behind the Canucks net before scoring Detroit's first goal Tuesday night. Sedin redeemed himself not long after, burying a rebound that Red Wings G Dominik Hasek mishandled.
- In an effort to shake their out of their struggles, the Oilers were taking a more physical approach, having a lot of physical battles against Montreal and Detroit in back-to-back road games.
- Canucks G Roberto Luongo let in a softy to Red Wings LW Johan Franzen on what proved to be the game-winner Tuesday night. Franzen's wrist shot from the circle, while shorthanded, may have been partially screened, but it was definitely one Luongo should have stopped. It was a smart play, however, that sent Franzen in -- a smart delay in the neutral zone by Dan Cleary who hit Franzen coming off the bench.
- Penguins D Sergei Gonchar was just a hair too late in his attempts to deflect the puck away on both of Senators LW Dany Heatley's goals Friday night.
- Rangers D Sandis Ozolinsh made a terribly casual backhand pass right in front of his own net and Capitals C Boyd Gordon knocked in the loose puck in front of the net.
- Flames C Matthew Lombardi has excellent speed, and used it to set up the Flames' winning goal Saturday night, carrying the puck coast-to-coast.
- Ducks C Samuel Pahlsson blasted Canucks LW Taylor Pyatt with an open-ice check at the Canucks blueline.
- Bruins D Paul Mara was really soft against Leafs C Mike Peca on Toronto's second goal.
- Flyers D Mike Rathje and Joni Pitkanen backed in way too deep on an Islanders 2-on-2 attack, leaving too much room for Alexei Yashin to snap home a drop pass from Jason Blake.
- Penguins checking C Maxime Talbot made a nice 1-on-1 move around Senators D Tom Preissing, driving to the net on his off-wing, for a shorthanded goal.
- Bruins D Andrew Alberts made an outstanding diving pokecheck to strip the puck from Leafs C John Pohl, taking away a late scoring chance.
- Canucks D Kevin Bieksa did a nice job jumping into the play offensively, catching Red Wings RW Mikael Samuelsson snoozing in the defensive zone, to score the Canucks' second goal Tuesday.
- Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury didn't look very good early against the Senators Friday night, kicking out a huge rebound into the slot on the first goal and getting beat from a wide angle by Senators C Jason Spezza. Over the rest of the game, Fleury played well, but the Sens simply outgunned the Penguins.
- Red Wings D Brett Lebda, listed at 5-foot-10, delivered a punishing hit on 6-foot-5 Oilers winger Brad Winchester.
- Penguins D Rob Scuderi turned the puck over in the inside his own blueline and Senators C Mike Fisher's sweep check sent LW Peter Schaefer in alone for the goal.
- Bruins rookie Phil Kessel stripped Leafs D Bryan McCabe behind the net to set up Boston's fourth goal against Toronto. Kessel's quickness really seems to pay off on the forecheck.
NHL Tape Check: Immobile Objects
The Coyotes and Sharks could have the pieces to make a blockbuster deal, the Bruins have some quality names circulating on the rumour mill and the Canucks might be inclined to deal a centre. Hot n' Not, Farm Report, Junior Report, Varsity Report and the best in quotes, Chirping, in this week's edition of TSN.ca's Backchecking.
AROUND THE RINKS
- The Boston Globe reports on a rumoured deal involving Phoenix and San Jose that would have Sharks G Evgeni Nabokov going to the Coyotes and D Ed Jovanovski headed to the Sharks. Since the Coyotes actually have depth on defence, it might be best to improve the situation in goal at similar cost to Jovanovski's price tag. From the Sharks perspective, they are looking for a franchise-type defenceman, but it remains to be seen if Jovo is deemed enough value in return for Nabokov.
- The Boston Herald says that trade rumours are swirling around Bruins D Brad Stuart, whose contract is up at season's end, as well as Paul Mara. The Boston Globe mentioned that Brad Boyes has had his name pop up in rumours as well.
- The Vancouver Province indicates that C Brendan Morrison has been the subject of persistent trade rumours and LW Jan Bulis has found himself in coach Alain Vigneault's doghouse. The paper notes that Morrison might have been dealt for Phoenix C Mike Comrie, but the Comrie broke his foot, halting any talks.
- With the heat still on in Ottawa, the names of young C Antoine Vermette and D Anton Volchenkov continue to be mentioned in trade rumours, writes the Ottawa Sun, but the paper also notes that head coach Bryan Murray recognizes, in a cap world, how difficult it is to get value in return for inexpensive players.
- According to the St. Petersburg Times, the Edmonton Oilers have interest in Lightning D Dan Boyle, who does have a no-trade clause.
- Philadelphia ie either trying to boost Petr Nedved's value or they're resigned to him being part of the solution. The veteran pivot has six assists in five games in November, but is also logging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game in November.
- The Chicago Tribune suggests that, with Nikolai Khabibulin getting healthy, the Blachawks should investigate dealing Khabibulin for a capable first-line centre, which could be easier said than done when considering Khabibulin's massive contract.
- While noting that the Colorado Avalanche would like to make a major deal (perhaps for Peter Forsberg?), the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the Flyers might have interest in Avalanche D Ossie Vaananen, though that kind of deal would be decidedly not major.
- Though Anaheim has been considered a potential trading partner for teams in search of a starting goalie, Ducks GM Brian Burke told the Boston Globe that he he has no intention of dealing G Ilya Bryzgalov.
- The Buffalo News reports that Hurricanes C Kevyn Adams, who seen his ice time dwindle in Carolina, has been mentioned in trade rumours recently.
- Boston's acquisition of Stanislav Chistov isn't a blockbuster, but it's a worthwhile chance to take for a team that needs more skill. Chistov has played on a line with Petr Tenkrat and rookie Phil Kessel, giving the Bruins an intriguing speed/skill line.
- Hurricanes LW Andrew Ladd is having a hard time earning playing time in Carolina since coming off the injured list. He's averaging less than 10 minutes per game in November and has just one assist in eight games.
- Brian Pothier continues to log major ice time in Washington, ranking fourth among NHL defencemen -- sandwiched between Toronto's pairing of Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle and the Ducks duo of Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer.
