Kevin Francis: Sens Gameday! Sens see very few number one goaltenders on current streak!

I will be around in the blog comment section all game long tonight!

Good blog.

I could see teams gearing up for a playoff run and no longer resting starters anyhow. They need the points.

And while I agree with what SHOULD happen on defense. Lets play advocate - not devil's advocate...just......AD-VO-CATE what the coach will do. Which is the opposite of what everyone thinks he should.

Lassi Thompson will NOT get called up.
Josh Brown will likely see top 4 minutes...
Branstrom will be sent down and NOT traded.
White and Pinto might be available late, expect White to be sent to the minors. Pinto in the 2C returning to Stu to the wing or 3rd line C or god knows where. Sanderson will arrive and need minutes only because someone else says so.

Good blog.

I could see teams gearing up for a playoff run and no longer resting starters anyhow. They need the points.

And while I agree with what SHOULD happen on defense. Lets play advocate - not devil's advocate...just......AD-VO-CATE what the coach will do. Which is the opposite of what everyone thinks he should.

Lassi Thompson will NOT get called up.
Josh Brown will likely see top 4 minutes...
Branstrom will be sent down and NOT traded.
White and Pinto might be available late, expect White to be sent to the minors. Pinto in the 2C returning to Stu to the wing or 3rd line C or god knows where. Sanderson will arrive and need minutes only because someone else says so.
- Octavarium

There are some green shoots coming up through the snow.

The Calgary and Edmonton games showed us some real character.

But, still far too much focus on standings, making the playoffs and winning individual games.

Watch these kids on a shift by shift bases. This has the makings of very good team. Just a few years ago I remember going to Sunrise and watching the Florida Panthers. As a team they looked like a massive fail. Lots of good young players but they could not win squat. Same for Colorado not that long ago.

I do not think Matt Murray is the goaltender that will bring the Sens to the promised land. But, I would like to see him stay hot, get lots of ice time and be a serious trade candidate come the deadline. Multiple teams need help in goal and Murray has proven he can handle Stanley Cup pressure.

Sens will be seeing our 6th goalie tonight..

There are some green shoots coming up through the snow.

The Calgary and Edmonton games showed us some real character.

But, still far too much focus on standings, making the playoffs and winning individual games.

Watch these kids on a shift by shift bases. This has the makings of very good team. Just a few years ago I remember going to Sunrise and watching the Florida Panthers. As a team they looked like a massive fail. Lots of good young players but they could not win squat. Same for Colorado not that long ago.

I do not think Matt Murray is the goaltender that will bring the Sens to the promised land. But, I would like to see him stay hot, get lots of ice time and be a serious trade candidate come the deadline. Multiple teams need help in goal and Murray has proven he can handle Stanley Cup pressure.
- spatso

They absolutely need to make this asset with Murray, like do everything possible to make him look good for other teams, like you said others teams are going to help down the stretch, so why not increase his value and not have to pay his last 2 years on his deal.
The other guy is MDZ, he is averaging a point a game down in Belleville, they need to make him possibly appealing to a team so they don't need to use any buyout on him. I still cant believe they signed MDZ after getting Holden. But it has come out on a few different podcasts that DJ Smith promised MDZ top 4 minutes on defense and he didn't even start in the top 6 when the season started. So there definitely is numerous issues with this coach and players arent dumb, they see it and don't forget it. As do other UFA's they see the MDZ and Murray fiasco's, players around the league have a long memory.

Sens will be seeing our 6th goalie tonight..
- hehateme

If Ottawa doesn't jump on your Sabres early and often, man.....fans here wont tolerate a loss to a Sabres team without their leading scorer and on their 6th goalie plus you guys played yesterday, an OT game too boot and then had to travel here all while Ottawa sat rested!

Good blog.

I could see teams gearing up for a playoff run and no longer resting starters anyhow. They need the points.

And while I agree with what SHOULD happen on defense. Lets play advocate - not devil's advocate...just......AD-VO-CATE what the coach will do. Which is the opposite of what everyone thinks he should.

Lassi Thompson will NOT get called up.
Josh Brown will likely see top 4 minutes...
Branstrom will be sent down and NOT traded.
White and Pinto might be available late, expect White to be sent to the minors. Pinto in the 2C returning to Stu to the wing or 3rd line C or god knows where. Sanderson will arrive and need minutes only because someone else says so.
- Octavarium

Great point, eventually Ottawa is going to get the other teams number one more and more!

I think JBD gets sent down soon as the last 2 games DJ hasn't put him out there much, but in the Philly game before the break he played him so much in that 3rd period and said how he was one of their top 4 defensemen, now he is barely seeing the ice again. Thomson should get called up soon, but like you said, who knows?!
I hope they just let Pinto rest and get stronger/healthy....no need to rush him back.
But your point is funny and well taken at the same time! Brannstrom and JBrown man....they need to fix both of these guys, Branny get him playing well, JB out of town!

Sens recalled Filip Gustavsson! Let this guy play games in the AHL.....OMG!

Matt Murray injured again!

Murray is sick, Gustavsson is still not in Ottawa to back up Forsberg.

Bring in the Zamboni driver!

Bring in the Zamboni driver!
- PogBoi

Andre Tourigny's son is the back up for now, wearing #1, he plays for U of O they were saying.

Josh Brown thinks he's playing for Buffalo, my goodness, he put the puck on the tape of the Sabres for a glorious chance from 15 feet out! This guy should NOT be dressing!

Come on.....such a soft goal. The longer you keep the Sabres around, the more they draw energy from it! Ugh!

WHAT A HIT!!

WHAT A HIT!!
- Octavarium

Dynamite, perfectly timed!

WHAT A HIT!!
- Octavarium

Dynamite, perfectly timed!

TSN beat me to it, Brannstrom looked good in that first period. Lets hope he continues to seize the opportunities given.

TSN beat me to it, Brannstrom looked good in that first period. Lets hope he continues to seize the opportunities given.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Yes, I love how he presses things, really pushes the puck up the ice, through the neutral zone so quick, great transition game!

Nice goal by Batherson!!!! Tie game!!!

TSN beat me to it, Brannstrom looked good in that first period. Lets hope he continues to seize the opportunities given.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I didn't have a chance to reply in my last blog to today's comments, could you re-post the last thing you posted over there about the 7 player thing of PM?!

I didn't have a chance to reply in my last blog to today's comments, could you re-post the last thing you posted over there about the 7 player thing of PM?!
- Kevin Francis

For sure!

The positivity is nice by spatso and Whatisavailable. There are players that are progressing very nicely. One has to think of the 7-player profile Pirerre McGuire is undoubtedly pushing on Dorion. Here is the profile and Senator players that could fill the roles with the current roster:

1. #1 all star center – Norris
2. #2 all star center - Stutzle
3. Top power forward - Tkachuk
4. Specialist/Utility Player/Agitator/Shutdown center – Pinto/Batherson
5. All star offensive d-man - Chabot
6. Top shutdown d-man - Zub
7. All star goalie – Murray

Now obviously, some of these are massive reaches, some are bang on, and some warrant some discussion. In my mind, only Tkachuk and Chabot fill their roles.

If Stu remains at centre and him and Norris keep improving, there could be something there for a solid 1-2 combo.

The specialist category is a bit all over the place. Batherson would be a scoring specialist. Pinto could potentially be that effective 3rd line centre.

Sanderson is probably slated to be the future shutdown d-man, but it’s an area that is very unclear right now.

This team doesn’t have an all-star caliber goalie yet. Goalies are unpredictable, so this may work itself out in time.

There is lots of work to do to take the next step. You have to be careful with time. Waiting is fine, but you have to hit being a contender when everyone is in their prime and not all on their big contracts. Next couple of seasons are incredibly important.

Grain of salt tonight. Everyone looks like world beaters against Buffalo

Grain of salt tonight. Everyone looks like world beaters against Buffalo
- Octavarium

It would be nice if they could finish a few of there chances! They have let Buff hang around.