–Robin Lehner talked about his first career NHL shutout, “Obviously, it’s not as big as last year for me (when he won the AHL MVP during the Binghamton Senators run to the Calder Cup title), there were some records for my country and the organization for being so young, but it’s up there. I think the first two periods were hard for me, too. I had to stand around for a bit. They still had pretty good chances when they got them. I think the D helped me a lot, to see the puck and take away rebounds. I think we had a real good team game today.”

-Paul MacLean didn’t like the Sens third period, but was happy with the win, “They’re still a real good team and still have a little ways to go. But we’re real pleased we were able to come in here, a tough building, and find a way to win the game. Getting a shutout just makes it better. I thought we didn’t play real great in the third period, but we found a way to stay on the inside and not give up too many second or third opportunities. Penalty killing did a good job of keeping that at bay. For the  most part, it was a pretty solid effor from our team, from start to finish.”

–Scott Burnside looks at Ottawa’s success thus far this season, but only goes skin deep in talking about the culture change under Paul MacLean and the contributions of Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza.

–TSN and Sports Illustrated‘s power rankings are out with Ottawa 12th and 15th

–Peter Raaymakers worries about Robin Lehner, fearing his mediocre pro numbers are a result of complacency.  He points to Barry Brust taking over the starters mantel last year and Mike McKenna‘s superior numbers this year.  It’s interesting food for thought, but Raaymakers is drawing the wrong conclusion from the numbers.  The reason Lehner hasn’t dominated consistently is because he’s young.  Jacob Markstrom, who is supposed to be a better prospect than Lehner, has had similar problems–and so do most young goaltenders.  I have absolutely no concerns about Lehner being a starting goaltender in the NHL if he can stay healthy.

February 29, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

The Sens dominated Boston for forty minutes and Robin Lehner preserved the win in the third period.  It was good to see Ottawa beat both Boston and Thomas.  Matt Gilroy was used sparingly, but was solid in his first game.  Here’s the box score.

First Period
The Sens played a strong opening period, largely dominating the Bruins and scoring the only goal of the period on the powerplay (Karlsson through an excellent Alfredsson screen).
Second Period
Ottawa continued to control the play, although Boston picked up its physical game.  Condra missed an empty net, continuing his lengthy scoring drought.
Third Period
Boston dominated the entire game, the Bruins enjoying three powerplays and the Sens unable to capitalise on their few chances (such as Smith‘s breakaway).  Lehner, who wasn’t very busy in the first two periods, was excellent in the third.

Here’s a look at the goal:
1. Karlsson (Michalek, Spezza) (pp)
Beats Thomas high through an Alfredsson screen

Top-performers:
Robin Lehner – was excellent when he needed to be and earned his first NHL shutout
Sergei Gonchar – despite taking a late penalty he was excellent defensively
Erik Condra – he missed an empty net, but was excellent in his own zone

Players Who Struggled:
Zenon Konopka – two brutal giveaways on the penalty kill in the third period

Ben Bishop had a stellar debut with Binghamton making 41 saves in Binghamton’s win over St. John’s.  Mike Hoffman scored twice and Corey Locke, Pat Cannone, and Derek Grant added singles.  Locke lead the with three points and both he and Eric Gryba were +2.  Here’s the box score and Joy Lindsay‘s game summary.

February 28, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

–Matt Carkner and Kaspars Daugavins are the scratches tonight.

–Joe Corvo may still be under the effects of a concussion as he’s fighting mad after Turris‘ hit, “Let’s just say I’ll be looking for him right off the bat. I’m not (happy). Two days I’ve been walking around with a headache. Just because I didn’t lay down on the ice and get carted off and miss a period … I don’t know … it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a cheapshot. In my opinion, he saw my numbers and took the opportunity to seek revenge for the game prior when we were at home. Hopefully he’s a man and he’ll step up (Tuesday) when I come after him. I’m not going to try and hurt him, but I want to fight him.”  Corvo has one NHL fight on his resume, fighting Joey Crabb in December (Turris has been in two NHL fights).

–Don Brennan jumps back onto his old hobby horse and wishes Bryan Murray traded Filip Kuba and Sergei Gonchar.  I’m never sure if it’s worth pointing out Brennan’s errors in logic, but briefly: Gonchar can’t be traded and giving up Kuba would seriously hurt the playoff push.  He didn’t like the Lee trade either, but I think if you can get an asset for a guy you waived around the league that’s something at least.

-The trade of Brian Lee provides an end to his tenure with the organisation and allows the question to be asked: what kind of asset was he?  I think the reason Lee struggled for so long is that he thought of himself as an offensive blueliner, only starting to change his game last season to what he can be (a shutdown defenseman).  The best case scenario for Lee is to be a solid 5-6 player in the league who blocks shots and plays a safe game, but the Sens are loaded with players like that who are more physical (Mark Borowiecki and Eric Gryba for example).

–Aedan Helmer writes about why Matt Gilroy wears #97, “After he passed away, I made a promise to my mom that I’d always wear that number and take it as far as [my little brother] Timmy would have.”

–ESPN and The Hockey News‘ power rankings are out, with Ottawa 14th and 11th.

–Ben Bishop was sent to Binghamton where he’s expected to start tonight (meaning Brian Stewart was returned to Elmira).  The plan is for him to play some NHL games in the near future.  Joy Lindsay reports that Stephane Da Costa will miss the game due to injury while Bobby Raymond will be the healthy scratch.

-Analysis of the winners and losers at the trade deadline are pouring in, but I think they often err in being assessed by what the writer thinks the team should do as opposed to judging the deals from the perspective of what GM’s were trying to do.  It can be a subtle difference, but (for example) those criticising Nashville for overpaying with draft picks have to understand the goal for the Predators is playoff success, not the future.  I think it’s only on that basis that you can fairly assess what’s happened.  With that in mind, here’s my view of the day’s trades:
Andrei Kostitsyn (Mtl) – 2nd (2013) and conditional 5th (2013 (Nsh) – both teams got what they wanted here, with Montreal dumping a UFA and Nashville acquiring a scorer.  There’s more risk for Nashville, but Kostitsyn was the best rental scorer traded on the day.
Mike Commodore (Det) – conditional 7th (2013 (TB) – both teams got what they wanted, with Tampa getting a body for its thin blueline and Detroit dumping a UFA
Nick Schultz (Min) – Tom Gilbert (Edm) – again, both teams got what they wanted, with the defensive-minded Schultz in a down year and puck-moving Gilbert in an average year–both are 29, both have term on their contracts (Gilbert‘s is slightly more)
Keith Aulie (Tor) – Carter Ashton (TB) – I sound like a broken record, but here again both teams got what they wanted; Aulie is an older, more experienced prospect who can help Tampa’s blueline now, whereas Carter is a big, young winger for the future
Daniel Winnik, T. J. Galiardi, and 7th (2013) (Col) – Jamie McGinn, Mike Connolly, Michael Sgarbossa (SJ) – it’s harder for me to assess this trade because I’m not as familiar with the assets involved, but the Sharks get two NHL bodies to give them depth, while the Avalanche don’t really give up much
Brian Lee (Ott) – Matt Gilroy (TB) – another hockey trade with two right-handed shots with expiring contracts getting a fresh start with new teams; Gilroy is older and more offensively accomplished
Sami Pahlsson (Clb) – Taylor Ellington, two 4th’s (Van) – I frankly don’t think Pahlsson has much in the tank, but the Canucks did not give up much to get him while the Blue Jackets at least added some assets
Johnny Oduya (Win) – 2nd and 3rd (2013) (Chi) – this is a win for the Jets, despite the Hawks getting what they want–two picks for an expiring contract is a great reward
Brian Rolston and Mike Mottau (NYI) – Yannick Riendeau and Marc Cantin (Bos) – the Islanders dump two contracts and the Bruins give up virtually nothing for depth, so another good hockey trade
Paul Gaustad and 4th (2013) (Buf) – 1st (2012) (Nsh) – this is a steep price to pay for an expiring contract so it’s a win for Buffalo
Greg Zanon (Min) – Steve Kampfer (Bos) – UFA depth for Boston for a signed prospect for Minnesota is a good deal on both sides
John Scott (Chi) – 5th (2012) (NYR) – I have no idea why the Rangers wanted the one-dimensional Scott
Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani (Buf) – Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer (Van) – the Canucks win the undercard (the blueliners swapped) while Kassian and Hodgson form different kinds of risks for each team, but on the whole I think Vancouver got more in the trade than the Sabres

February 28, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

-Today is trade deadline day and people have different reactions to it, including some who find the coverage ridiculous, but I think it’s a lot of fun for fans.  I’ll update this post if the Sens make any moves.  [Update: Brian Lee has been traded to Tampa Bay for Matt Gilroy.  Gilroy was a highly sought after NCAA free agent in 2009, but the Rangers moved him at the end of last season.  His stats this year: 53-2-15-17 +2 and is a UFA at the end of the season.]

-[My final thoughts on today’s trade deadline: it was a quiet day as teams were less likely to overpay for players.  There were far more so-called hockey-trades (transactions between teams that make sense on both sides) than are traditionally the case and I wonder how much the new CBA negotiations have to do with that conservatism.  In Bryan Murray’s press conference he referenced Ottawa’s pursuit of Gilroy three years ago and clearly the organisation still likes the potential they see in him.]

–Robin Lehner was happy about his game yesterday, “The win is huge for me and the team. I wanted to prove to the guys in here and prove to the organization that I can handle the pressure. It’s a lot of pressure for a 20-year-old coming into a Canadian team trying to get into the playoffs, that can’t really afford to lose a lot. (Then) the same day I’m going to play, they bring in a new goalie (Ben Bishop). Great. It’s all pressure. I think for myself, I went through another mental barrier. I had one last year. There was pressure all the time in the (AHL) playoffs.”

–Bruce Garrioch writes about the Ben Bishop trade, with an NHL exec offering this intriguing comment, “Good deal for the Senators. I thought they might have to give up more. I’m sure his status as a UFA meant the Blues weren’t getting offered a lot in return. If they sign him, it will be an excellent trade. Not sure where this places Robin Lehner in the organization.”  I’m also wondering what is going to happen next year, because as much as management talks about competition in camp I don’t see them burying a one-way deal  in the minors regardless of Lehner‘s camp.  It remains to be seen what kind of NHL player Bishop will be, but he’s definitely an upgrade on Alex Auld.

-The Brian Lee good luck charm stat is floating around (the Sens are 12-0-1 in his last 13 games).  If it means anything it’s bad news for Matt Carkner.

–Joy Lindsay Tweets Binghamton’s lines at practice: Grant-Locke-Bartlett, Klinkhammer-Hamilton-Petersson, Hoffman-Cannone-Dziurzynski, Downing-Parrish-Lessard; Borowiecki-Gryba, Henningson-Conboy, Wiercioch-Schira, Raymond-Godfrey.

-Prospect updates (their position in team scoring is noted in brackets, defence compared to defence; I’ve also indicated if the player’s scoring position has change (with a + for up, – for down, and = for unchanged):
CHL
Mark Stone (RW, Brandon, WHL) 58-39-66-105 (1st=)
Shane Prince (C/LW, Ottawa 67s, OHL) 50-39-41-80 (2nd=)
Stefan Noesen (C/RW, Plymouth, OHL) 54-30-39-69 (1st=)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (RW, Chicoutimi, QMJHL) 41-32-31-63 (2nd+)
Darren Kramer (C/LW, Spokane, WHL) 60-19-16-35 (6th=)
Jakub Culek (C/LW, Rimouski, QMJHL) 48-12-22-34 (5th+)
Matt Puempel (LW, Peterborough, OHL) 30-17-16-33 (injured)
Jordan Fransoo (D, Victoria, WHL) 61-2-15-17 (2nd=)
SEL
Jakob Silfverberg (C/RW, Brynas) 45-21-26-47 (1st=)
Mika Zibanejad (C/RW, Djurgarden) 22-5-5-10 (16th=)
Fredrik Claesson (D, Djurgarden) 45-1-6-7 (t-5th-)
Allsvenskan
Marcus Sorensen (RW, Boras) 26-8-8-16 (7th+)
NCAA
Ryan Dzingel (C, CCHA-Ohio State) 31-7-17-24 (t-1st+)
Max McCormick (LW, CCHA-Ohio State) 25-10-11-21 (t-3rd=)
Bryce Aneloski (D, WCHA-Nebraska-Omaha) 34-6-14-20 (1st=)
Michael Sdao (D, ECAC-Princeton) 27-8-10-18 (1st=)
Chris Wideman (D, CCHA-Miami) 36-1-16-17 (1st=)
Ben Blood (D, WCHA-North Dakota) 33-2-14-16 (t-1st+)
Jeff Costello (LW, CCHA-Notre Dame) 24-4-6-10 (9th=)
Brad Peltz (LW, ECAC-Yale) 9-1-0-1 (20th=)

February 27, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 1 Comment

The Sens played roughly 15 minutes of solid hockey tonight and still nearly stole a point from the Bruins despite weak goaltending.  The game was not particularly physical (other than a huge hit by Chris Neil) and lacked intensity throughout.  I expect a better effort tomorrow.  Here’s the box score.

First Period
The Sens scored early with a great goal from Karlsson, but they could not maintain the momentum with an Alfredsson turnover leading to Bergeron tying it.  A lifeless powerplay followed, but the kicker was a brutal goal given up by Auld to Marchant.  The Sens were guilty of a lot of turnovers (particularly by the defence, with Karlsson and Phillips leading the way).
Second Period
Ottawa was awful in the period, continuing to struggle in their own zone.  Boston scored the only goal, with Daugavins turning the puck over and then Auld deflecting the puck into his own net.  A late powerplay helped the Sens a little, but on the whole they showed little sign of coming back in the game.  Turris and Spezza gained the lead for the team in turnovers.
Third Period
The Sens continued to struggle until late in the third period (long after Neil‘s devastating hit on Boychuk), with  Krejci scoring a powerplay goal, when Alfredsson scored twice on identical plays, but the Bruins salted the game away with an empty-netter.

Here’s a look at the goals:
1. Karlsson (Spezza, Michalek)
Spezza finds Karlsson all alone in the slot
2. Boston, Bergeron
Alfredsson turns it over and Karlsson and Kuba can’t control Bergeron in front of the net who bangs home a rebound
3. Boston, Marchand
A simple shot at the net fools Auld
4. Boston, Caron
Daugavins turns it over and Auld deflects it into his own net
5. Boston, Krejci (pp)
Auld over commits to a point shot that goes wide and Smith isn’t able to collapse in time to prevent Krejci scoring on an empty net
6. Alfredsson (Spezza, Karlsson)
A great cross-ice pass from Spezza and Alfredsson beats an out of position Thomas
7. Alfredsson (Karlsson, Spezza)
Identical to the last play, except Karlsson makes the pass
8. Boston, Bergeron (en)

Top-performers:
Erik Karlsson – despite turnovers in his own end, was the engine for Ottawa’s offence
Filip Kuba – the best blueliner defensively tonight
Daniel Alfredsson – his two goals made what wasn’t a very competitive game interesting

Players Who Struggled:
Kyle Turris – other than turnovers was invisible
Alex Auld – two bad goals are unacceptable

Binghamton lost 2-1 to Adirondack tonight, with McKenna making 50 saves in the loss.  Derek Grant scored Binghamton’s only goal.  Here’s the box score and Joy Lindsay‘s game summary.

Elmira also lost tonight, with Corey Cowick picking up an assist (Louie Caporusso did not play).

February 26, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

Oftentimes fans rue the loss of assets–either players in the NHL or on the AHL roster–so I thought I’d take a look at the players who left the organisation last year and see how they are performing this season.  The losses have had very little impact in the NHL, but the loss of AHL depth has hurt Binghamton.

NHL
Forwards
Mike Fisher (Nsh) 52-18-19-37
Chris Kelly (Bos) 59-15-14-29
Ryan Shannon (TB) 37-2-7-9
Jarkko Ruutu (SM-Liiga) 51-13-17-30
Alexei Kovalev (KHL) 15-1-5-6
Marek Svatos (no team)
Defence
Chris Campoli (Mtl) 24-2-4-6
Goalies
Brian Elliott (Stl) 30-20-7-2 1.65 .937
Curtis McElhinney (Portland-AHL) 25-10-13-0 3.04 .907
Pascal Leclaire (retired)

AHL
Forwards
Ryan Potulny (Hershey) 41-20-22-42
Ryan Keller (Oklahoma) 52-17-24-41
Cody Bass (Springfield/Columbus) 17-3-5-8/14-0-1-1
Roman Wick (NLA) 32-11-10-21
Jason Bailey (retired)
Defence
Derek Smith (Calgary) 33-2-8-10
Andre Benoit (KHL) 47-5-9-14
Geoff Kinrade (Czech/NLA) 34-1-4-5/7-0-4-4
Patrick Coulombe (Norway) 42-15-35-50
David Hale (retired)
Goalies
Barry Brust (DEL) 33-19-12 2.47 .916
Mike Brodeur (no team)

February 25, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

–Alex Auld will get the start against Boston.  Robin Lehner talked about his season in Binghamton, “It’s a reflection of all of us. My stats (as well). I’ve got to take ownership of it. I had a really good percentage for a long time. Then we went on a stretch and the numbers kept falling.”  Bryan Murray didn’t express confidence in the depth beyond these two (meaning Mike McKenna), saying “We’ve got two guys who are definitely very capable. We just don’t, maybe after that, have a third guy who would be ready to call up if anything would happen.”

–Matt Carkner will play instead of Brian Lee.

-Binghamton blew a 2-0 lead to lose in the last 30 seconds in regulation.  Mike McKenna made 36 saves in the loss, with Mike Hoffman and Rob Klinkhammer scoring the goals.  Here’s the box score and Joy Lindsay‘s game summary.  Kurt Kleinendorst was understandably frustrated, “I just can’t believe it. How many ways can you find to lose a hockey game? Seriously? Obviously, I’m frustrated. At this point in time, shouldn’t happen. Unbelievable. We were 40 seconds away. Are you kidding me? With the puck on our stick, all we’ve got to do is get it deep. We throw a sloppy, lazy, flat pass at the offensive blue line, and we turn it over. And then it’s a one-on-four — five if you want to count the goalie — and we spit a rebound out that they bang in the back of the net.”

-Elmira won 3-2 last night, with Corey Cowick held off the score sheet (Louie Caporusso is still out of the lineup).

–Eric Tulsky breaks down the Jeff Carter for Jack Johnson deal, and while I think he overvalues their Corsi numbers it’s an interesting breakdown to read.  I think both players are overrated and have contracts that are far too long.

-This is a minor, petty complaint of mine, but I wish sports medias would begin and end with the cap hit of a contract rather than its total value over the term.  No one other than ownership cares what the total value is–it’s irrelevant to regular fans and fantasty fans–and yet as often as not reporters will start with the total value as if that’s the key element.

-For those interested, Tim Baines‘s writes about some of the weirder sports injuries

February 25, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 1 Comment