The Senators got a great performance from surprise starter Alex Auld tonight, but were unable to beat the Canucks. The game featured an ugly incident where Alex Burrows deliberately unlocked the bench door so that Jesse Winchester fell through it (there was no call on the play). Ottawa played well overall, although their powerplay was ineffective. For the box score go here link. Here’s a look at the goals:
1. Vancouver, H. Sedin (pp)
Winchester follows Kesler over to Daugavins side of the ice and the latter doesn’t adjust, leaving Sedin wide open in the slot for the shot
2. Greening (Spezza, Gonchar)
Left alone in front Greening fires home Spezza pass from the corner
3. Vancouver, Higgins
I thought the point shot from Hamhuis deflected off Kuba‘s skate and in, but regardless, Auld had no chance
Top-performers:
Alex Auld – by far his best game this year
Colin Greening – scored and was tied for the most scoring chances; worked hard in all zones
Zack Smith – continues his strong defensive play as well as generating chances offensively
Chris Phillips – a strong game all around and he cut down on the turnovers
Players who struggled:
Brian Lee – yes, he did play tonight
Nick Foligno – that consistency you keep hoping for just wasn’t there tonight
Daniel Alfredsson wasn’t terrible tonight, but his line has been ineffective the last two games and his inability to produce continues after returning from injury.
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eyeonthesens 
[…] “There is no question in my mind that Burrows opened the door.” “The game featured an ugly incident where Alex Burrows deliberately unlocked the bench door so that….” “I [was] quick to grow skeptic of the ‘door latch’ defense even before it […]
Alfie needs to be on the top PP unit, not this second unit B.S., it’s just stupid to have him buried on the second PP unit, he still has the best shot on our team and is our best forward overall, and especially on the PP.
Brian Lee will be a healthy scratch next game, anything he was doing well all disapeared last night, there was a play last night where it looked like he was handling a puck for the first time, his mind was completely blank and it was like he was a zombie with no brain, as if it was the first time he was ever on the ice with a stick and puck and he was just trying to figure it all out.
The worst thing about Lee is he can’t even put 3 games of 14 minutes/game together where he does not do something really bad every game where you are thinking “this is going to cost us a goal against”. If he could just not do those things (which he never will because he just doesn’t have it) we could trade him, but no GM will trade for a guy who will make a huge mistake in his first game in a new uniform and lose his teammates and coaches confidence.
I say he goes on waivers again, and hopefully someone claims him. If Murray can trade him for any draft choice at this point it will be a major bonus.
The powerplay has issues–they need to simplify. I feel for Alfie because his recent linemates (Foligno and Da Costa) have gone ice cold. I agree about Brian Lee–I think waivers is probably the only way to move him (either that or the always fun “future considerations”)–that’s how the team had to move Christoph Schubert awhile ago, who (while a different kind of player) was in the same situation that Lee was.