Binghamton at the Thirty-Game Mark

Binghamton has now played 30 games and it’s time to take a look at how they’ve done over the last 10 (for the previous review go here link). The B-Sens are 3-7-0, marginally better than their previous segment, with the team still struggling due to injuries and call-ups. They continue to be 5th in the division, 15th in the conference, and are now 30th in the league (down from 28th). They are tied for 24th in goals for (down from 23rd) and tied for 28th in goals against (down from 24th). Player’s stats (INJ=games missed due to injury, SCR= scratched, SUS=suspended, NHL=games in the NHL, ECHL=games in the ECHL):
Stephane Da Costa 9-2-6-8 -4
Pat Cannone 10-1-5-6 -1
Andre Petersson 6-4-1-5 +3 INJ 4
David Dziurzynski 7-2-3-5 Even INJ 3  
Mike Hoffman 10-3-1-4 -4
Mike Bartlett 10-2-2-4 -3
Eric Gryba 9-1-3-4 +1 INJ 1
Mark Borowiecki 10-0-4-4 +1
Corey Locke 2-0-2-2 Even INJ 8
Mark Parrish 5-1-1-2 -4 INJ 5
Josh Godfrey 5-1-1-2 Even INJ 5
Patrick Wiercioch 6-0-2-2 Even INJ 4
Brandon Svendsen 2-0-1-1 +1 (ECHL 9-1-6-7)
Derek Grant 5-1-0-1 Even INJ 5
Riley Armstrong 4-0-1-1 -1 INJ 6
Corey Cowick 10-0-1-1 -3
Nikita Filatov 1-0-0-0 Even (NHL then KHL)
Louie Caporusso 1-0-0-0 Even (ECHL 5-4-1-5)
Jack Downing 3-0-0-0 -1 (ECHL 8-4-4-8)
Mike Ratchuk 4-0-0-0 -2 (ECHL 7-0-3-3)
Tim Conboy 4-0-0-0 -3 INJ 6
Maxime Gratchev 7-0-0-0 -3 INJ 3  
Francis Lessard 9-0-0-0 -1 INJ 1
Craig Schira 9-0-0-0 -9 SCR 1
Wacey Hamilton 10-0-0-0 -4
Bobby Raymond 10-0-0-0 -5
Jim O’Brien DNP (injured)
Robin Lehner 2-4-0 2.93 .914 INJ 2 GAA improved
Mike McKenna 1-3-0 2.86 .919 GAA and SV improved
Brian Stewart 0-0-0 ECHL (6-2-0 3.16 .906, GAA and SV declined)

A few thoughts: the team continued to struggle to score due to key injuries. Andre Petersson was just rounding into form when he was knocked out of the lineup, but Stephane Da Costa is an addition who has provided regular offence.  Other positives include unexpected production from Borowiecki and Gryba; Borowiecki, along with Petersson, were the only plus players on the team; both goaltenders have goals against under 3.00.  On the negative side of the ledger is Craig Schira‘s -9 and the continued lack of offence from depth players.  Overall, with the team starting to get healthy their results should improve.  I’ll be curious to see if the organisation trades veterans like Locke and Conboy to give them a chance to go on a playoff run elsewhere.

December 18, 2011
Categories: Binghamton Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 2 Comments

Senators News: December 18th; Binghamtom 2, Worcester 5

-A lot has been written about the Turris–Rundblad trade and I’ll start with The Ottawa Sun‘s Bruce Garrioch (link) who talks about the process and how Murray had been pursuing him since the fall and that Sportsnet‘s Nick Kypreos likes the deal for Ottawa .  Senators Extra‘s James Gordon (link) muses that Murray’s rhapsodic waxings are essentially the same he made in 2009 when he traded for Rundblad in the first place.  The Team 1200‘s Steve Lloyd (link) talks about the risk of trading for potential but adds “you can live with giving up Rundblad as it has become apparent that the big money on the blue-line will be going to Karlsson and eventually Cowen for the foreseeable future.”  The implication being that a successful Rundblad would be too expensive is an odd argument to make (I certainly don’t agree with it).  Senshot‘s Jared Crozier (link) doesn’t like the trade at all, “Rundblad has had some growing pains, but his pedigree shows that once he makes the transition to the North American game, he could be a star.  Turris is by no means in his prime yet, but in 4 years as a pro he has yet to make a real impact in the NHL.  I don’t believe for a minute based on what I have seen (admittedly limited exposure) or heard that he just needs a change in venue to suddenly become a breakout star.”  Finally, The Silver Seven‘s Mark Parisi tries to argue that Rundblad became expendable because of Brian Lee (link) because of the crowded.  This lack of space is short term (Kuba isn’t staying and Gonchar isn’t long term either) and ignores the possibility of sending him to Binghamton, but I can’t criticise Parisi too much because Bryan Murray made very similar comments when discussing the trade.

So what’s my opinion of the trade?  It can’t fully be judged for years, but in the short-term I give the edge to Phoenix.  David Rundblad has fantastic pedigree and only a short history in the pro game–there’s plenty of room to grow and develop.  The Coyotes also got a 2nd round pick from the Senators, which will be a mid-to early pick who has a decent chance to turning into an NHL player down the line.  For Ottawa, they get a well-scouted and known quantity in Kyle Turris who can dominate in the AHL but has yet to establish himself in the NHL.  Many argue that Turris wasn’t given the opportunity to grow, but I don’t think Dave Tippett would deny him ice time if he thought Turris would help him win.  The acquisition makes it clear the Sens don’t see either Peter Regin, Nick Foligno, or Stephane Da Costa as near-term solutions and that may not go down well with any of them.  The silver-lining for the Sens is that should the lightbulb go on for Turris his upside is better than Rundblad‘s, but that’s a big “if”.

-Binghamton lost 5-2 to Worcester last night, with Mike McKenna taking the loss and Mark Parrish and Mike Bartlett scoring.  For the box score go here link and for Joy Lindsay’s game summary go here link.  In Joy’s post-game report (link) she reports “Patrick Wiercioch, who suffered a throat injury when he was struck by a puck last Friday, was at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena to watch the game.”  On the loss Kurt Kleinendorst said, “We made too many mistakes, and when we make mistakes, the puck’s ending up in the back of our net. That’s just the way it is right now.”  He liked the play of Mike Ratchuk, Mark Borowiecki, Corey Cowick, and Tim Conboy.

-Elmira won 4-3 last night and Louie Caporusso had a huge game with a hat-trick and an assist; Jack Downing added a goal and an assist.

-ISS has released their latest 2012 draft rankings (for the previous rankings go here link; I’ve listed their previous rank in brackets if it’s changed):
1. Grigorenko, Mikhail, RW 5/16/94 L 6.03.25 200 Québec QMJHL
2. Yakupov, Nail, LW 10/6/93 L 5.10.5 189 Sarnia OHL
3. Forsberg, Filip, RW 8/13/94 R 6.01 176 Leksands SweAl
4. Murray, Ryan, LD 9/27/93 L 6.00.5 201 Everett WHL
5. Dumba, Matt, RD 7/25/94 R 5.11.75 183 Red Deer WHL
6. Trouba, Jacob, RD 2/26/94 R 6.02 196 USA Under-18 NTDP
7. Gaunce, Brendan, C 3/25/94 L 6.02 215 Belleville OHL (9)
8. Aberg, Pontus, LW 9/23/93 R 5.11 187 Djurgarden SweE
9. Rielly, Morgan, LD 3/9/94 L 5.11.5 190 Moose Jaw WHL (10)
10. Ceci, Cody, RD 12/21/93 R 6.02.5 207 Ottawa OHL (11)
11. Maatta, Olli, LD 8/22/94 L 6.01.5 202 London OHL (13)
12. Reinhart, Griffin, LD 1/24/94 L 6.03.75 207 Edmonton WHL
13. Koekkoek, Slater, LD 2/18/94 L 6.02 184 Peterborough OHL (7)
14. Maidens, Jarrod, C 3/4/94 L 6.00.5 178 Owen Sound OHL
15. Collberg, Sebastian, RW 2/23/94 R 5.11 Vastra SweJE (16)
16. Athanasiou, Andreas, C 8/6/94 L 6.00 179 London OHL (23)
17. Frk, Martin, RW 10/5/93 L 5.11.5 204 Halifax QMJHL (15)
18. Galchenyuk, Alexander, RW 2/12/94 L 6.00.5 198 Sarnia OHL (17)
19. Girgensons, Zemgus, F 1/5/94 L 6.01.25 201 Dubuque USHL (20)
20. Pouliot, Derrick, D 1/16/94 L 5.11.25 186 Portland WHL (18)
21. Kerdiles, Nicholas, C/L 1/11/94 L, 6.01.5 200 USA Under-18 NTDP (19)
22. Slepyshev, Anton, LW 5/13/94 R 6.02 187 Novokuznetsk KHL (25)
23. Matheson, Mike, LD 2/27/94 L 6.01.25 180 Dubuque USHL (21)
 24. Finn, Matthew, LD 2/24/94 L 6.00.25 195 Guelph OHL (29)
25. Sissons, Colton, C/R 11/5/93 L 6.01 189 Kelowna WHL (24)
26. Bystrom, Ludvig, LD 7/29/94 L 6.00.75 208 Modo SweE (NR)
27. Wilson, Thomas, RW 3/29/94 R 6.03.5 203 Plymouth OHL (26)
28. Faksa, Radek, LW 1/9/94 L 6.03 202 Kitchener OHL (NR)
29. Matteau, Stefan, LW 2/23/94 L 6.01 210 USA Under-18 NTDP (NR)
30. Skjei, Brady, LD 3/26/1994 L 6.03 203 USA Under-18 NTDP (28)
Falling out of the top-thirty: Nick Ebert (22), Gianluca Curcuruto (27), and Dalton Thrower (30).

December 18, 2011
Categories: Binghamton Senators, NHL Draft, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 1 Comment

Senators News: December 17th

-The Ottawa Senators have traded David Rundblad and a second-round pick to Phoenix for Kyle Turris (link). The Ottawa Sun‘s Bruce Garrioch had reported earlier that the Sens “don’t mind giving up a roster player, but indications are they don’t want to part with the pick Coyotes GM Don Maloney wants“, but apparently they were willing to part with a pick.  I have to admit that I’m shocked the Sens gave up on Rundblad in such a short period of time, although I agree with Ian Mendes (link) that the offensive emergence of Jared Cowen is what made him expendable.  This is going to leave the media in something of a bind–Filatov is gone, Rundblad is gone, both Gonchar and Kuba are playing better–who is the new whipping boy?

-Bruce Garrioch Tweets (link) that both Filip Kuba and Sergei Gonchar are fully participating in practice today

–The Ottawa Citizen‘s Wayne Scalan writes about Paul MacLean coaching Dan Bylsma when he played for him in Anaheim (link), with Bylsma saying, “One of the things I do remember about Paul [MacLean] the coaching staff there (in Anaheim) is that they had a good interaction with the players. Mike Babcock’s a demanding coach, and certainly has a great ability to set a foundation on how a team plays, but they also had a willingness to talk wth the players.”

-Joy Lindsay Tweets (link) that Brian Stewart has been recalled from Elmira due to Robin Lehner‘s injury/illness

-Joy has also Tweeted the Filatov was returning to Binghamton but Bruce Garrioch corrects that by saying it’s simply paperwork saying he’s been assigned there (link)

December 17, 2011
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators, Ottawa trades . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

Ottawa 6, Pittsburgh 4; Binghamton 3, Adirondack 1

I was at tonight’s game against the Penguins which featured abysmal goaltending on both sides.  A slow and non-descript first period was followed by an eight goal bonanza in the second that ultimately chased Brent Johnson from the net.  Despite the win (Alex Auld earning his first), the Sens Nick Foligno was the victim of another knee (this time from Simon Despres) and his status has yet to be updated.  For the box score go here link.  Tonight’s goals:
1. Greening (Spezza, Cowen)
A great deflection in front
2. Pittsburgh, Sullivan
Beats Auld far side in close; a shot Auld should have had
3. Spezza (Alfredsson, Karlsson)
Fires it home from between the circles
4. Alfredsson (Spezza, Lee)
Slides the puck under Johnson from the faceoff dot
5. Pittsbugh, Niskanen (pp)
Beats Auld short side from the point; another bad goal
6. Pittsburgh, Malkin (pp)
Beats Auld exactly the same way
7. Cowen (Foligno, Karlsson)
Bounces the puck in off of Orpik
8. Konopka (Karlsson, Cowen) (pp)
A great deflection in front
9. Spezza (Alfredsson, Cowen)
Goes 5-hole on Fleury
10. Pittsburgh, Kunitz
A great deflection in front

Top-performers:
Jared Cowen – had a four-point night and was strong in his own zone
Jason Spezza – also had a four-point night, the most he’s had this season
Daniel Alfredsson – three-points and tied with the two above at +4

Players who struggled:
Alex Auld – three bad goals does not inspire confidence
David Rundblad – he was benched after a Karlsson turnover and was only out again on powerplays; it’s pretty clear that his dangling at the offensive blueline is what’s driving Paul MacLean nuts

The Binghamton Senators won in the return of Corey Locke, breaking their four-game losing streak.  Mike McKenna got the win while David Dziurzynski, Rob Klinkhammer, and Stephan Da Costa scored.  For the box score go here link and for Joy Lindsay’s game summary go here link.

Elmira lost 5-3 to Chicago, with Brian Stewart pulled in the loss, Jack Downing having a goal and an assist, and Louie Caporusso with no points and a -3.

December 17, 2011
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

Senators News: December 16th

-Looking for his first win of the season, Alex Auld will start against the Penguins.

–The Ottawa Sun‘s Bruce Garrioch writes about Craig Anderson‘s problems (link), with the goaltender saying, “Obviously, I can be a little better. You hate to get scored on and you hate losing games. At the same time, you need help. You need everyone working together and everyone on the same page. If everyone does a little bit more, everyone gets rewarded. You can’t win one game, lose two and then win one. That’s inconsistent hockey. The good teams, the ones that make the playoffs, string a few wins together. They consistently play the same way regardless of the outcome.”  Paul MacLean said nothing about his goaltending, instead talking about puck-movement, “To me, one of the biggest issues we have at Game 32, that’s affecting our growth, is execution with the puck. We have to move the puck quicker and get going. Our transition game from defence to offence and offence to defence is almost like it has a pause button. That slows us down and causes us to either take penalties or turn over the puck that end up to be fatal. We just need to have a more natural progression (for both areas).”

–The Ottawa Citizen‘s Wayne Scanlan wonders if fighting has any impact on the outcome of games (link).  It’s a difficult argument to make, since whatever the result of the game is proponents can say the fight was a key.

–The Ottawa Citizen‘s Ken Warren talks about the issues Ottawa’s young blueline has (link), with the best quote comes from Jason Spezza, “We’ve played well lately, but we’ve just made too many glaring errors that  have cost us and ended up in the back of the net. I made a couple  of mistakes on the power play in the New Jersey game (a 5-4 shootout loss on  Dec. 8) and in the (Boston) game there (were) a couple of mistakes made by guys.  We’re doing a lot of good things. We just have to make sure we stick to the  system the whole time. The good teams have been real patient and found a way to capitalize against us.”  This is the way to look at it, because despite the recent criticism about “youthful errors” the veterans have been just as guilty, making the problem a team issue.

-Pierre LeBrun Tweets that the Sens have talked to Phoenix about Kyle Turris, but he doesn’t believe they are the front-runners (link).  This isn’t really news except that it dynamites those who bought into the idea that Phoenix would refuse to trade him.

-Joy Lindsay provides Binghamton’s lines for tonight (link): Rob Klinkhammer-Corey Locke-Brandon Svendsen, Mike Hoffman-Stephane Da Costa-Mark Parrish, David Dziurzynski-Pat Cannone-Mike Bartlett, Corey Cowick-Wacey Hamilton-Francis Lessard; Mark Borowiecki-Eric Gryba, Bobby Raymond-Tim Conboy, Mike Ratchuk-Craig Schira.  Lehner gets the start.

December 16, 2011
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 1 Comment

Senators News: December 15th

–Nick Foligno doesn’t think Adam McQuaid intentionally kneed him nor does he think he warrants a suspension

–The Ottawa Sun‘s Bruce Garrioch looks at last night’s loss (link) and Paul MacLean put the blame on the two turnovers that lead to breakaways, “We made two fatal mistakes with turnovers by not executing with the puck and it ends up with two breakaways that were the difference in the game. That keeps happening continually and we’ve got to continue to work at having it stop.”  I understand what he’s saying, but Craig Anderson was the biggest part of the loss.

-Joy Lindsay Tweets (link) that Binghamton has signed Brandon Svendsen to a PTO; Svendsen has been playing for Kalamazoo in the ECHL (10-7-7-14), but was a full-time player in Binghamton during the 2009-10 season.  Jack Downing was returned to Elmira.

-Joy provides the lines at practice: Klinkhammer-Locke-Svendsen, Hoffman-Da Costa-Parrish/Armstrong, Dziurzynski-Cannone-Bartlett, Cowick-Hamilton-Lessard; Borowiecki-Gryba, Ratchuk-Conboy, Raymond-Schira.

-Besides Mark Stone, Sens prospects Mika Zibanejad and Fredrik Claesson will play for Sweden while Jakub Culek will play for the Czechs.  Shane Prince‘s fate for USA is still up the air.

–SenShot‘s Jared Crozier writes an interesting piece on why Canadians love the World Junior Championship so much (link).  I recommend reading the article as I agree with most of it (TSN, the timing, nationalism, and winning).  I’d add the following point: in addition to the general when of the event, it’s also mid-season in the NHL which is the least interesting point of the regular season.  The one thing the tournament is not is a best-on-best.  The last junior age tournament that features all the best players available to each nation is the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, which is the IIHF’s under-18 tourney (Canada has won 16 out of 21 tournaments overall and 14 of the last 16).  Ivan Hlinka takes place in August however, so has no chance of becoming a popular event for viewers.

December 15, 2011
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

Ottawa 2, Boston 5

Tonight was an ugly loss for the Senators and Craig Anderson wears the goat horns.  The game itself had some flow until the Bruins took the lead.  The Sens were fortunate not to lose Nick Foligno to injury (he was kneed by Adam McQuaid).  For the box score go here link.  Here’s a look at the goals:
1. Boston, Peverley
Simply beats Anderson on a routine shoot
2. Alfredsson (Spezza)
Alfredsson gets lost in coverage and Spezza feeds him a great pass
3. Boston, Kelly
Carkner redirects a shot right in front of his net where it gets banged in; Rundblad looks bad on this play until you realise he was moving away from the net to go after the puck on its original trajectory
4. Boston, Bergeron
Alfredsson sends a hard pass to the last man back (Karlsson) and it bounces off his skate and Bergeron easily dekes Anderson on a mini-breakaway
5. Boston, Paille
Rundblad comes down the wall and while Winchester covers for him Phillips has no idea Paille is well behind him–he scores on the breakaway
6. Spezza (Phillips, Alfredsson)
A great shot from the top of the faceoff dot
7. Boston, Paille
Simply beats Anderson with a routine shot

Top-performers:
Jason Spezza – a goal, an assist, no turnovers and he wasn’t a minus
Daniel Alfredsson – despite the giveaway on Boston’s third goal he lead the team in scoring chances and had a goal and an assist

Players who struggled:
Craig Anderson – let in two bad goals and was hopeless on two breakaways
Nick Foligno – invisible offensively and lead the team at -3

December 14, 2011
Categories: Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

Ottawa at the Thirty Game Mark

The Sens are now through thirty-one games in the season, so I’m a game late in posting my ten-game segment (for the previous segment go here link).  Ottawa went 3-4-3, earning 9 points (virtually the same clip they’ve had all season).  They are 5th in the division (from 3rd), 11th in the conference (down from 8th), and 20th in the overall standings (down from 16th).  They are 6th in goals for (down from 3rd), 29th in goals against (up from 20th), 14th in powerplay percentage (down from 3rd), 22nd on the penalty kill (up from 24th).  They are 21st in 5-on-5 goals for/against ratio (0.74), up from 26th; they remain 16th in the league in facoffs; they are 24th in shots allowed (down from 15th) and 11th in shots-for (up from 16th).

Here’s a quick snapshot of player’s stats over the last ten games, although with TOI and faceoffs I’ve simply indicated if the numbers have changed significantly (INJ=games missed due to injury, SCR=scratched):
Nick Foligno 10-4-5-9 +4 TOI 15:08
Jason Spezza 10-3-6-9 -6 TOI 19:38 FO% 55.1 (FO declining)
Daniel Alfredsson 10-2-6-8 -1 TOI 17:31
Erik Karlsson 10-1-6-7 -4 TOI 25:27
Milan Michalek 10-6-0-6 -2 TOI 19:01
Zack Smith 10-5-1-6 +2 TOI 15:12 FO% 48.6 (TOI up by 0:36; FO declining)
Erik Condra 10-3-3-6 +4 TOI 14:21 (TOI up by 0:33)
Sergei Gonchar 9-0-6-6 +1 TOI 21:54 (TOI up by 0:31) INJ 1
Colin Greening 10-2-3-5 Even TOI 16:21 (TOI down by 0:40)
Jared Cowen 10-2-3-5 -1 TOI 18:31 (TOI up 2:09)
Kaspars Daugavins 10-1-3-4 +3 TOI 14:52
Chris Phillips 10-0-4-4 +1 TOI 20:13 (TOI up by 0:43)  
Jesse Winchester 10-1-2-3 +1 TOI 10:52 FO% 53.2 (FO declining)
Brian Lee 8-0-2-2 Even TOI 14:28 (TOI down by 1:40) SCR 2
Filip Kuba 4-0-1-1 -1 TOI 22:13 (TOI down by 0:29) INJ 6
David Rundblad 8-1-0-1 -1 TOI 15:37 (TOI down 1:14) SCR 2
Zenon Konopka 9-0-1-1 -2 TOI 7:13 FO% 59.8 (FO increasing) SCR 1
Bobby Butler 10-0-1-1 +1 TOI 11:29
Chris Neil 5-0-0-0 -5 TOI 13:31 INJ 5
Nikita Filatov 3-0-0-0 Even TOI 9:49 (TOI up 0:39)  SCR 5 (sent to KHL)
Stephane Da Costa 2-0-0-0 -1 TOI 12:09 FO% 36.7 (sent to Binghamton)
Peter Regin 1-0-0-0 Even TOI 12:29 INJ 9
Matt Carkner 1-0-0-0 +1 TOI 15:40 INJ 4 (spent time on assignment in Binghamton)
Craig Anderson 3-3-1 3.36 .897 (pulled once) GAA has declined
Alex Auld 0-1-2 3.43 .875 GAA and SV have improved

A few things stand out: a great stretch for Nick Foligno and Daniel Alfredsson has returned to form.  Jason Spezza was a team worst -6, while Foligno and Erik Condra lead the way at +4.  Alex Auld has yet to win a game yet this season (including earning a loss in relief), while Craig Anderson seems unable to get his GAA down.  Jared Cowen‘s production has rocketed up, accompanied by his ice time.

December 14, 2011
Categories: Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 2 Comments

Senators News: December 14th

–Milan Michalek suffered a concussion last night, but the Sens don’t believe the injury will keep him out long term.  With Michalek out, Bobby Butler slides back into the lineup

–The Ottawa Sun‘s Don Brennan looks at the troubles Butler has had this season (link), with Paul MacLean’s concern that he isn’t shooting the puck enough.  As Brennan points out, Butler has scored in only one game this season.  It’s great that MacLean likes his work ethic, but he wasn’t signed to be an energy player.  Butler says his problem is “I’m just not getting the puck … not shooting enough. I’ve been trying to do all the little things … if I’m not getting the puck I can’t shoot it … a little bit of everything.”  Unpacking that a little, Butler is saying he isn’t being set-up enough to get shots.

-Rob Brodie writes for the Sens website about Sergei Gonchar (link), who said “When you’re young, you want to have everything right away. During the game, you want to do things right away. Sometimes, when you’re a defenceman, you’re trying for the big hit or you’re trying to jump (up in the play) and your timing is not always good. So when you’re patient and you’re waiting for that moment to come, you’ll have that chance. But being patient when you’re young is probably the toughest thing to do.”

–Sports Illustrated‘s power rankings are out with Ottawa 24th (link), with Adrian Dater adding, “The slow fade in Canada’s capital has begun. Coach Paul MacLean’s team is 3-4-3  in its last 10. Having veteran defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Filip Kuba would  help turn things the other way, but each remains out a few more days with injuries. It would also help if Craig Anderson? who signed a pretty expensive four-year deal last year? could get his saves percentage over 90 percent and goals-against under 3.40.”

-As expected, Sens prospect Mark Stone made the World Junior roster

–Hockey Futures‘ named Stone their prospect of the month (link), saying in part, “During this past November, he supplanted Emerson Etem (ANA) of the Medicine Hat Tigers atop the WHL scoring derby. On two occasions this season, Stone has been named the WHL Player of the Week. Stone has scored 11 power play goals and added a pair of shorthanded markers. Five of his tallies have been game winners. The 19-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba was a beast during November with 14 goals and 15 assists in 14 games. On the season, Stone has compiled 65 points in 33 games. The 6’3, 195-pounder played in one of the Subway Super Series games against Russia, skating with Wheaties teammate Michael Ferland (CGY) and Mark McNeill (CHI) of the Prince Albert Raiders to produce perhaps Team WHL’s most effective forward line. The trio earned invitations to Team Canada’s Selection Camp for the upcoming WJC, although McNeill and Ferland were among the first group of players to be released.”

-I don’t normally include rumours here, but I remember all the chatter in the 2009 draft when the Leafs took Nazem Kadri and the Sens taking Jared Cowen about who fleaced whom.  Opinions about Kadri in Toronto were very high last year, but this season he’s hit the rumour mill (link).  Cowen has been better than I expected when he was drafted and I certainly prefer having him to Kadri.

–Red Line Report‘s latest issue is out with an updated list of 2012′s top prospects (with the position changes noted; for the previous report go here link).
1. Nail Yakupov (Sarnia, OHL)
2. Filip Forsberg (Leksand, Sweden) (+1)
3. Mikhail Grigorenko (Quebec, QMJHL) (+2)
4. Ryan Murray (Everett, WHL) (-2)
5. Matt Dumba (Red Deer, WHL) (+2)
6. Zemgus Girgensons (Dubuque, USHL) (+2)
7. Morgan Rielly (Moose Jaw, WHL) (-1)
8. Pontus Aberg (Djurgarden, Sweden) (+6)
9. Alex Galchenyuk (Sarnia, OHL) (-2)
10. Jacob Trouba (US NTDP, USHL) (+7)
11. Sebastian Collberg (Frolunda, Sweden)
12. Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton, WHL) (-2)
13. Henrik Samuelsson (US NTDP, USHL) (-9)
14. Olli Maatta (London, OHL) (-2)
15. Damon Severson (Kelowna, WHL)
16. Nick Ebert (Windsor, OHL) (-3)
17. Slater Koekkoek (Peterborough, OHL) (-1)
18. Gianluca Curcuruto (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
19. Jordan Schmaltz (Sioux City, USHL)
20. Derrick Pouliot (Portland, WHL)
21. Cody Ceci (Ottawa 67s, OHL)
22. Matt Finn (Guelph, OHL) (+60)
23. Brendan Gaunce (Belleville, OHL)
24. Andrey Vasilevski (Salavat, KHL)
25. Oscar Dansk (Brynas, SEL)
26. Radek Faksa (Kitchener, OHL) (+2)
27. Martin Frk (Halifax, QMJHL) (-5)
28. Scott Kosmachuk (Guelph, OHL) (-2)
29. Teuvo Teravainen (Jokerit, Finland) (-2)
30. Colton Sissons (Kelowna, WHL) (-1)
One player fell out of the top-30 this month: Eric Locke (#33, -3).  Here’s the movement among former top-30 players: Chandler Stephenson (#41, -4), Calle Andersson (#52, -17), Patrik Machac (#53, -2), Jarrod Maidens (#55, -2), Matia Marcantuoni (#56, -25), Troy Bourke (#59, -5), Scott Laughton (#62, -4),  Ryan Olsen (#75, -16) and Luca Ciampini (#115, -65).

-TSN’s Craig Button has a top-60 2012 prospect list posted (link)

December 14, 2011
Categories: NHL Draft, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 1 Comment

Ottawa 3, Buffalo 2 (OT); Binghamton 2, Wilkes-Barre 4

The Ottawa Senators enjoyed yet another third period comeback to win 3-2 in overtime, although I suspect for many fans the biggest news was the injury suffered by Milan Michalek in a collision with Erik Karlsson.  I thought Buffalo helped defeat themselves by sitting back on their lead.  In regards to the Sens,  watching tonight I have no idea why Paul MacLean would ever break up the Bingo line (Daugavins-Smith-Condra) or the Michalek-Spezza-Greening line.  For the box score go here link.  Here’s a look at the goals:
1. Michalek (Spezza, Greening)
Ryan Miller over commits to Spezza whose pass gives Michalek a wide open net
2. Buffalo, Szczechura
Foligno strips Karlsson of the puck in front of the net and falls, leaving Buffalo with a 2-on-0 on the doorstep
3. Buffalo, Ennis
Rundblad tries to pass through Derek Roy who picks it off–the puck gets to Ennis whom Greening can’t catch and he dekes Anderson
4. Regin (Lee)
A seeing-eye shot through a crowd
5. Cowen (Karlsson, Spezza)
Great pass into the slot for Cowen to bang in

Top-performers:
Jason Spezza – two assists and no turnovers is a good night
Colin Greening – he had nine shots on goal along with an assist and solid physical play
Peter Regin – he was fantastic defensively and he scored
Jared Cowen – a great night that included the game-winner

Players who struggled: despite some mistakes I don’t think anyone stood out as particularly bad.  Paul MacLean was clearly ticked off by David Rundblad‘s turnover, but his overall play was fine.  Chris Phillips lead the team in turnovers, but by his standards his play was fine.

Binghamton lost their fourth game in a row despite leading twice (both goals, one by Da Costa and the other by Hoffman, were scored 5-on-3).  Robin Lehner took the loss.  For the box score go here link and for Joy Lindsay’s game summary go here link.

December 13, 2011
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

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