The Buffalo Sabres came into Scotiabank Place tonight and walked all over the Ottawa Senators. From start to finish it was all Buffalo. The Sabres wanted it more and Ottawa played with no passion or emotion. In what is becoming a common theme under John Paddock, the Sens had another slow start, something that didn't happen under Bryan Murray when he was head coach.
Ottawa has played down to the level of their competition far TOO much this year and that was the case again tonight. Give Buffalo full value for their win but Ottawa looked disinterested from start to finish. There is a motivation problem on this team and it is very plain to see. I thought this team would have showed ALOT more character tonight with their two new faces in the line-up. You would think they would want to send the rest of the league a message that the aquisitions of Stillman and Commodore are exactly what this team needed. Instead, the Sens were flat and when they decided to show a little enery it was far too late.
Emery had rebound control problems all game long and as the third period wore on he didn't step up and steal a game which is something Gerber did at the beginning of the year when the Sens would come out flat. Emery needed to make that big save tonight to keep his team in the game during the third period but he failed to do so. This is a results driven league and Emery had the benefit of Ottawa being on an emotional high on Saturday night but tonight when his team needed him most, he failed to keep them in the game. The last Sabres goal showed that he was not in the game mentally.
The Sens exceeded their shot total through two periods in the closing frame by getting 15 shots on goal. Ottawa was still outshot 39-26 on the game. Sens outhit the Sabres and won the faceoff battle but that was about the only thing the Sens did better than Buffalo tonight. There were way too many giveaways by Ottawa.
Mike Commodore led the Sens 4 blocked shots tonight and Anton Volchenkov led the Sens in shots on goal with five. When Volchenkov leads your team in an offensive category, chances are the Sens are not going to win on those type of nights.
Antoine Vermette was awful once again and his inconsistent play has to be a big concern for the coaching staff. Which leads me to my next point. No wonder Vermette is being shopped around by Murray. As reported here over the last month, the Sens have inquired about Brendan Bell in Phoenix. Well that has gone one step further as Murray has held talks with a few teams today regarding a puck moving defensemen. Nick Boynton and Derek Morris are on Murray's radar. Corvo's absence was felt tonight on the Sens PP as they went 1 for 7 and it wouldn't surprise me if Murray tries to get a replacement for Corvo heading into the playoffs. Another team that Murray has held potential trade talks with are the Tampa Bay Lightning. Don't rule the Sens in the Dan Boyle sweepstakes. Murray is big on Boyle and if Murray can't land Boyle at the deadline he will make a big push this summer when he becomes a UFA.
I assume Martin Gerber will get the start in goal tomorrow night in New Jersey. Lets see if Gerber can get on a bit of a roll. The Sens have a home and home with the Devils. New Jersey plays in Ottawa Saturday night.
Kevin
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The worst start possible by Ottawa to start the third period. An early goal by Buffalo and they have a strangle hold on this game the way they are playing.
Robitaille scores on the PP on a nice deflection. Meszaros shot it from the point and Stillman had the 2nd assist on a nice feed.
Then Buffalo comes back 33 seconds later and scores to regain their 2 goal lead. There are definitely problems on this team to allow teams over and over to grab the momentum back after getting back in a game. A nice deflection by MacArthur beats Emery.
It would be nice if Ryan Miller was challenged a bit. He hasn't had to make a big save all night!!!!!
Another great PK by the Sabres. Sens need to get pucks in deep.
Heatley gets mugged at the Sabres blueline and no call. There have been two blatant times in which the Sabres have run Emery and no call!!! Come on!!!!
Sens have to start making Buffalo pay for all these penalties in the 3rd period. They did it to Buffalo last year in the playoffs, come Paddock, make some adjustments.
Another average PP by Ottawa. What a terrible effort tonight by the home team.
Where was this energy all game long? The Sens finally bring the type of effort you would expect from the start of the game. No consistency in the Sens game.
What an awful penalty by Kelly. He should know better. Lazy penalty, he stopped moving his feet.
Third goal by Vanek, game....set.....match!
Emery was WAY too deep in his goal.....just an awful goal allowed by Ray. That goal is all mental on Ray's part.
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Sens still look flat eary in the 2nd period. Sabres clearly want it more and grab the early lead.
Emery looked awful on the goal, absolutely lost in his net, terrible play. Nice goal by Vanek.
Nice to see Commodore clear the front of the net the way he did a few minutes ago. He put Pominville on his butt.
Another solid penalty kill by Buffalo. The Sens number one line has been neutralized for the most part.
Buffalo is outshooting and outplaying Ottawa in a big way. I am not big with Alfie on the point. PP hasn't been as nearly as effective as it could be.
Heatley tends to take bad penalties when he is not moving his feet....hmmm....wonder why?
Sens have had way too many giveaways, 11 so far to the Sabres 6. Sens badly outshot again, 14 to 6 for the period and 27 to 11 on the game.
Ottawa has to put together a VERY strong third period and then maybe they can escape with 2pts.
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Strong PK by the Sabres to start the game.
Neil seems to be hitting everything in sight!
Neil again lays a huge hit by pasting Vanek into the glass. Roy hits a cross bar, he had Emery beat clean. Emery had 3 shots go off the post against Montreal and a cross bar.
Emery is very poor post to post. He was beat on that play and got lucky that the puck just sat outside the goal line.
Spacek went in hard to the boards on the icing call. Vermette actually was trying to stop his fall when you watch the replay. The NHL really needs to bring in no-touch icing.
Solid PK by the Sens. I really like McAmmond on the PK.
Big save by Emery, the puck came off the boards in a weird way.
Sabres outplayed the Sens big time in the first period and outshot them 13-5.
Sens outhit Buffalo 9-7, Neil had 3 hits and Redden had 2 hits which is very nice to see.
Ottawa has to start skating more through the neutral zone. Emery had a solid period but gave up alot of rebounds.
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I will be here all game posting comments and analysis of tonight's game.
I know many Sens fans are very excited to see the debut of Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore.
Final score tonight? Scotiabank Place has a buzz tonight, should be a great game. Back in a bit when the puck drops.
Kevin
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