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NEXT GREAT HOCKEY BLOGGER GAME 12: Matt Jab vs.Nikhil Daljeet |
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Toskala is Not the Only One
By Matt Jab
The Maple Leafs were on the power play looking to take the lead in a tight 0-0 hockey game against the Islanders when Rob Davidson took a seemingly harmless shot 197 feet away from the opposing net; and before you knew it Toskala was lying on the ground looking at his glove wondering how in the world did that dribbler get by him? You could just feel the hearts of Leaf nation just shatter once that puck bounced over the glove of Vesa Toskala, who had played so well for them all year. But if you look at the big picture Mr. Toskala was not the only goalie in NHL history to surrender a "soft" goal in a game that was important to his team.
We all remember the goal that Dan Cloutier gave to the Red Wings during the first round of the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs against Detroit where it only took a low hard slapper from center ice and the Red Wings never looked back and won the cup. How about when Roman Chechmanek (BTW, when is the last time you heard that name?) gave up that goal against the Maple Leafs during the 2003 playoffs when he was searching for his glove and the Leafs scored from the corner? Those two horrific goals were in the playoffs but have no comparison to the goals Tommy Salo (another name we haven't heard in a while) and Martin Brodeur let in on the real stages: the Stanley Cup Finals and Olympic Games.
The goal given up by Tommy Salo will be a goal remembered for years and years to come. It was Belarus vs. the power house Sweden and everybody all but counted out the Belorussians chances until they fired a shot from center ice and it hit Salo right in the bread basket only to have it hop up in the air and land in the Swedish net. The goal broke the hearts of a nation and in the grand scheme of things was far worse than the goal Vesa Toskala gave up last Wednesday night. Martin Brodeur may not want to remember the goal he gave up against the Ducks in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals but most hockey fans who watched that game will not forget that goal for years to come. You could say that it was not Marty's best goal he ever gave up to an opposing forward but the Devils still won the cup so again it was not the end of the world for those Devils from New Jersey. Yes, the Salo goal did eliminate the Swedes from the Salt Lake Olympics but then again not too many people today are walking around asking themselves what could have been after Sweden's Olympic gold in Turino two years ago.
So Vesa Toskala, keep your chin up (AND maybe your glove a little higher to so you can catch that bouncing puck when it comes at you next time) because there are greener pastures ahead.(Well maybe not this year but sooner or later it will come)
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What’s Wrong with the Ottawa Senators?
Nikhil Daljeet
Upon reading the title of this blog, a red light undoubtedly went off in your head.
“What?!? A Leafs fan writing about the Sens?!? Hah! This will be more of a nonsense-filled diatribe than Don Cherry ranting about foreign players!”
While it’s a stereotype that any fan of the blue and white must deal with, rest assured that I am a hockey fan above all else and will provide you with an objective analysis of this situation.
Expectations
Ottawa had lofty expectations heading into this season, with very few reasons to doubt that they could fulfill them. They were fresh off a successful 2006-2007 regular season that was capped off by a magnificent run to the Stanley Cup finals. Ray Emery had another year of experience and great play under him and had apparently solidified his position as a number one goaltender. The Big Three continued their torrid scoring pace of the first 82 games and finished the playoffs with a solid lead as the top point-getters. On defense, Volchenkov established himself as such a defensive, shot-blocking force that there were rumors that the L.A. Kings were interested in his services (as a goaltender). Some grit and experience were added in the form of Richardson and Donovan. Championship predictions abounded amongst media outlets and hockey fans alike. Things looked good.
The Season Unfolds
13-1 in their first fourteen games. To call the Senators hot would be an understatement. Everything seemed to be going right. Be it matches against the Toronto Maple “Laffs” (whoever created that little moniker must be kicking themselves for not copyrighting it—they would be quite wealthy as it is horrendously overused nowadays) or tilts with the reformed Rangers, the Senators dismantled their opponents with ease. But then something happened. Namely, three wins in their next twelve games.
This Senators team was in fact human. They were neither perfect hockey machines nor attendees of “Special Sunday Dinners at the Conseco’s” as had been suggested by disgruntled fans of other franchises. However, the sky ground to a halt in its rapid descent earthwards as Ottawa went on to win nine of their next eleven. We Torontonians could almost feel the westbound wind that was the collective sigh of relief from Canada’s capital.
Then, in a back-to-back set with the then basement-dwelling Capitals, the Senators were shellacked in two losses for eight and six goals respectively. While it was not known at the time that this Washington team was secretly setting themselves up for one of the biggest Cinderella-story regular seasons in recent history, Ottawa never seemed to recover. A pre-deadline trade that saw Ottawa obtain Stillman and Commodore from Carolina seemed like a great move on paper. Yet as fans of the Senators have definitely realized, greatness on paper does not always translate onto the ice. They would go on to play sub-par hockey for the rest of the season, making it into the playoffs thanks to a win over Toronto and some key losses by other teams in the last week of the season.
They have played two games of the playoffs against their first round opponents, the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the first, they were beaten handily in all areas of the game (although Martin Gerber played excellently). Gerber put on a show once again in the second game, but Ottawa was horrendously outshot and the Penguins capitalized on their powerplay chances. While the role players and youngsters of the team put on an impressive display in a second period comeback, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza came up short in yet another big game.
The Problems
It’s almost too easy to just point to Ottawa’s defensive woes this season as the sole reason for their collapse. Nevertheless, the inflation of a team’s goals against average from third best in the conference to fifth worst simply can not be ignored.
The number one goaltending position was Ray Emery’s to lose. And lose it he did. In spectacular fashion. Was it as painful as watching Britney Spears’ career spiral endlessly downwards? No. Of course not. But close. It is in bad taste to comment on a player’s personal (read: party) life as there is simply too much hearsay and conjecture involved. On the other hand, some people do not realize the relatively small size of Ottawa. Its “nightlife” is really limited to a handful of bars and clubs, and thus it is not unheard of to catch a glimpse of certain Senator players enjoying themselves. Thus the many reports of said players’ bad habits should definitely be taken into account, especially when it has clear effects on their game. Emery’s late arrivals at practice and refusal to be a complete team player likely factored into the firing of John Paddock. Furthermore, it could not at all be conducive to a healthy locker room environment and it clearly reduced the confidence the team had in their goaltender.
While Chris Phillips supplied consistent, steady play and Anton Volchenkov seemingly absorbed more rubber than a NASCAR race track, Ottawa’s defensive unit as a whole never completely performed up to the level that they could have. Wade Redden, after refusing to be traded for the second time in as many years, has no passion or urgency in his game. The talent is there, but the psychological game is irrefutably damaged.
Finally, injuries to Daniel Alfredsson have had a momentous effect on the play of the Senators. “Alfie” is one of the game’s most complete players and a fantastic leader, but his absence has disproportionate ramifications for Ottawa. Yours truly has dubbed it the “Reverse-Sundin Conundrum”. In Toronto, when Mats Sundin is unable to play, the rest of the team pulls up their jockstraps and always seems to step it up. Yet, when he straps on his skates, his teammates are often content to float around and let somebody else do the major lifting (Sundin). Contrarily, in Ottawa, the team seems to have more drive and confidence with their captain in the lineup, especially Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley. With Alfredsson injured, it should theoretically be the time to shine for the team’s other two big stars. Yet, all too often, Senator Fans will see Spezza attempt to lazily deke through and around all of the opposing team and both referees and then turn the puck over. This problem is compounded by secondary scoring and role players who are sporadic in the nights they decide to show up.
Moving Forward
With Alfredsson, Fisher, and Kelly out of the lineup, things do not look good for Ottawa’s playoff picture. The series is far from over, but Pittsburgh and Gary “Methuselah” Roberts seem determined to not have a repeat of last year.
Changes obviously have to be made with this team. Nobody can deny that the Senators are in theory a lot better than they have shown. But when you have to toss around phrases such as “in theory” and “on paper” so many times, you realize that there is something wrong.
That being said, it wouldn’t be wise for Bryan Murray to make any drastic changes to his team. He should try to address the confidence and psychological fortitude of his team, while trying to deal with Ray Emery, Wade Redden and the lack of secondary leadership issues. It is very obvious that he realizes this, as he has given Gerber free reign and taken to mind-game strategies, such as inciting a fire under his team by implying that the Penguins purposely lost their final game so they could play the Senators.
Wade Redden’s contract is up at the end of this year and he should not be brought back. Ray Emery has to sort out his personal problems. If he can, he will be back on track as a solid NHL tender. If not, he will only continue to be a detriment to the locker room and should be shipped out as soon as possible. Finally, Dany Heatley will be paid 10 million in 2008-2009. Jason Spezza will receive 8 million. They must be held more accountable and rise out of the shadow of Daniel Alfredsson. This does not revolve solely around the score sheet, but involves giving an honest all-out effort all across the rink each and every night. A new, no-nonsense coach should be brought in, and efforts should be put out to resign Cory Stillman at a reasonable price. Brian Lee should see a bigger role next season, and a key acquisition would be some secondary scoring that plays with heart and passion. A certain superpest from the New York Rangers comes to mind.
What is wrong with the Ottawa Senators? Their streak of four straight 100-point years and regular season dominance ended in 2007-2008. After an objective analysis, there are quite a few areas that can be identified as separate cases. But, in theory only a few moves need to be made and this team should get back on track as an annual contender with the amazing core they have tied down for years to come.
In theory…
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