Ottawa started the game in the exact same fashion as Thursday night, uninspired and sluggish. The only difference was tonight, Elliot absolutely bailed them out until they were ready.
The Sens continue to shine on the PK this season, as Alfie opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal, thanks in large part to Mike Fisher.
It's great to Michalek keep scoring, he alone continues to take the sting out of losing a 50 goal scorer. Still waiting on Cheechoo.
Tonight Clouston was able to gather his players and get them focused after a poor start, but ultimately the Sens lost focused of got to comfortable for their own good and blew the game.
Elliott had the game tying goal but just couldn't hang on to it. It's a shame he ended such a solid effort by letting the goal in, but you can't fault, because he was solid up until then.
It was very noticeable the unrest of the Sens faithful and their fading patience with Kovalev. Kovie needs to start producing or he is going to find himself in the same situation as last season with Montreal.
The Sens already have an issue with fitting in all of their NHL players, so Kovalev could realistically play himself into the press box for awhile if he doesn't pick it up. Same with Cheechoo.
So...despite the lacking efforts at times in the past two games, Ottawa still walked away with 2 points.
They now head south to sunny Florida for back-to-back games against Florida/Tampa Bay
The Sens need to right the ship over the next few days and pick up a pair off W's in Florida.
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Before I say anything on the Richards hit let me just point out that I personally think Mike Richards is the best all-around player in the NHL. Yes I feel he is a better ALL-AROUND player than Zetterberg and Datsyuk.
Now, his hit tonight was a huge hit. He levelled Booth.
But it was a dirty hit.
Richards came flying in from the side and completely took advantage of a player (Booth) who was in no position to protect himself.
It wasn't a late hit, he didn't leave his feet either, but Richards aimed for Booth's head, he wasn't lining up to hit Booth body on body, which he could have done and likely avoided this mess while still taking Booth out of the play....he aimed to injure Booth.
Can't wait for the Booby Clarke sound byte "It was a good ole hockey hit."
I find myself losing respect for Mr.Clarke every time he defends a flyer hit, than cries bloody murder on similar or lesser hits involving other players. But I'm getting off topic.
I implore you to watch for yourself if you missed it....
Now there have already been questions of whether he should be suspended or not, and I obviously differ on the hit than Eklund and Tim Pan., but I truly feel Richards deserves a couple games suspension for this hit.
Looking around at what has been a suspendable play so far this season, the Richards hit ranks right up among the top.
And this isn't a situation where Richards has never done anything of this nature before, he is known for "hitting" vulnerable players.
Here are two examples of Richards taking liberties - (most aren't illegal hits, just Richards taking advantage of a vulnerable player.)
Again I'll stress that while his cheap shots are not illegal hits, they are just in fact cheap shots, I've played hockey all my life, and the only time you throw hits of that "style" are to injury a player or to get revenge. (Which shares the same end result)
A player this good shouldn't be and doesn't need to be making these types of plays, if he threw a hit like this during the Olympics, he'd be banned for the duration of the games and cost his team, the numerous strengths he brings to the line-up.
NHL Suspension - Honestly 2 games would be more than enough.
Will he get suspended? Probably not, due to his player status.
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