Game Thread vs Ottawa Senators 4-3-2012

[SoCalcaniac]

It's game day folks. We're almost there.

Coach Kirk wants to win the next 3 games, end this season on a high. I'm right there with him and have let the debacle of the weekend go.

No changes in lines, Cam is in net, and the Sens will be looking to keep things up after bulldozing the Islanders on Saturday- 5-1.

Alfredsson (flu/illness) and Spezza (birth of 2nd daughter) were out of the Sens lineup vs the Islanders, who have definitely let their season go. I'm expecting our team will fix the ills from the weekend, and play hard for their Coach.

Game is on FS Carolinas, 7pm start. I'm looking forward to lots of chatter about the Alumni game from Tripp. That'll be entertaining all by itself.

[superdave]

Isn't this a 730 game?

[nccanes]

Amazing to think only 3 left!?

We're back in the SE basement, so I'd love to see that change in the last 3 just to kind of lend some credibility to how well this team supposedly played the last half.

Oh - ch.com says puck drop at 7:30 (so that pregame thing is at 7).....if you are like me and are working long days and STILL have time to get outside before dark, that extra 30 is a blessing!

[SoCalcaniac]

Until this pollen leaves us I'm outdoors to get from point A to point B, regardless of how much daylight is left. I think allergy shots will only do so much for so long. UGH.

I meant to say pregame 7pm, Game time 7:30pm, I forget that not everyone watches the pregame.

I liked how Tampa put a little dagger in WSH last night in their final home game & that was a beauty; I'd like for us to do that these last 3 games... it's all we have left really.

[nccanes]

Originally Posted by SoCalcaniac

I liked how Tampa put a little dagger in WSH last night in their final home game & that was a beauty; I'd like for us to do that these last 3 games... it's all we have left really.

I was actually pissed about that. If WSH had won, they'd be 1 pt behind FLA ...which was going to help the chance for us to knock FLA out on game 82.

I guess there is still time, but not much. WSH has to win out (2 games left), and FLA would have to get only 1 pt in the final 3 games (I think WSH has the tiebreaker). A girl can dream.

Of course, the flip side to this dream, is that FLA clinches the division in that final game. But, their "magic #" is only 2, so odds are it'll be clinched by then.

What does that have to do with tonight's game? Not a DAMN THING!

[SoCalcaniac]

@ E --- I'm torn on who I care more about knocking out.

I completely don't get why WSH has no urgency about getting in the playoffs, you don't let that 3rd goal get scored with a minute left in the game- BUT they did. it's happened too many times in "big games". And the golf swing thing from the all of a sudden "high and mighty" Panthers, was galling IMO. I'd be fine if FLA got swept out of the playoffs & then we could go back to saying oh look at FLA; but I have disdain for both of those teams, with WSH having the edge because they're just a failure of a team.

Again nothing to do with this game, lol.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

In the nothing to do with this game vain....

I can't figure out what the hell to do. I don't want Florida, Washington, or Buffalo in it. I can't abide pulling for either of those teams. So I'm pretending it's not happening.

[DJHARLEY]

I myself would rather see the Cats in the playoffs than the Caps. I hope OV never gets a Stanley Cup! OK, well on to tonite, still hope we can get a win even though it means nothing as to the season but hopefully help for next year!

[kermelbar]

Originally Posted by SouthernHockeyChick

In the nothing to do with this game vain....

I can't figure out what the hell to do. I don't want Florida, Washington, or Buffalo in it. I can't abide pulling for either of those teams. So I'm pretending it's not happening.

(Still nothing to do with this game.)

I always pull for some kind of natural disaster to just wipe the whole place out or hope that I can bring myself to cheer whichever team they're against in the next round.

(Attempting ...)

Since we didn't waste any fuel Saturday, hopefully there's some gas in the tank to finish out the season with wins.

[MoBigRed]

Florida, Washington, and Buffalo all annoy me almost as much as Pittsburgh. None of them annoy me as much as the Winnipeg fans this season, though. As long as the Jets miss the playoffs, i'm good with anyone else making it. I can still pull for them all to exit quickly, of course...

[ontheboards]

As long as the Jets miss the playoffs, i'm good with anyone else making it.

The Jets have been eliminated.

[KaniacFever]

Originally Posted by nccanes

I was actually pissed about that. If WSH had won, they'd be 1 pt behind FLA ...which was going to help the chance for us to knock FLA out on game 82.

I am completly with you on this one. I don't like Washington but I'd rather them win the division over Florida. Mostly b/c I just want our game to mean something and I'd really like to hurt them the way they did us. And second, I want Buffalo out. So Washington winning, will help keep the slugs out.

[TheBigKahuna]

As long as the Craps miss the playoffs and Dale Hunter is fired almost as quickly as he was hired, I'll be happy. Do not like the Sabres, but also don't think they stand a donut's chance in a Weight Watcher's meeting against the Pennsylvania teams nor the Rangers.

A Florida win tonight ensures they make the playoffs. 8th place is up in the air between Washington and Buffalo. Caps have 88 points with 2 games remaining, the Sabres have 86 points with 3 games remaining. A win tonight locks Florida into 3rd. They have 91 points

[toastmasterbone]

Playoff pics will be a lot easier if the Caps make the playoffs. I mean who else is there that will be a 0-4 guarantee in the first round?

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Well, looks like Skinner is paying for his behavior with anti-goal karma. That should help alleviate the frustration. /sarcasm

[caveman]

I've been trying to watch my weight, but somebody at work thought it would be nice to leave a box of Krispy Kremes in the break room. ASDF@!#@!#%!!!%%^%^&&$$##!!!

Well, that and all the beer to self-soothe after the Canes were elimated on Friday.

Skinner has had a couple of close ones. He got a little frustrated when he was face-smashed into the corner glass, and really could have been called for a retaliatory slash.

[kermelbar]

So I don't watch enough Sens to know ... Is Neil just a general prick or is tonight special?

[freepark]

F'in goons the Sens are. What are they counting down towards 11 minutes each period?

One has to expect, and hope, that their post-season lives up to it's reputation.

[andyt]

Originally Posted by kermelbar

So I don't watch enough Sens to know ... Is Neil just a general prick or is tonight special?

Career stats: 729 games, 90 goals, 110 assists, 1,857 PIM. He has 174 PIM this year but 13 goals, 15 assists. A tough guy who can skate. I'd take those numbers on our 4th line any time. Konopka is the dirtbag on that team...55 games, 193 PIM.

And Ward loses the shutout with 11.5 seconds left.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Originally Posted by freepark

F'in goons the Sens are. What are they counting down towards 11 minutes each period?

11 is Alfredsson's number. After they get to 11, they are chanting "Alfie." Creativity that makes our building look really lame, IMO.

Still hate the Sens, though.

And yes, Neil is always a prick. An effective prick but, still a prick.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Ways you know your goalie is having a good night: when you've said "Damn, Cam!" 10 times before the half-way point of the 2nd.


So, they "redeemed" themselves from the weekend. Now they'll probably relax and get their a**es beat at home on Thursday.

[SoCalcaniac]

The better not revert to garbage play sgain on Thursday, I will scream if they do.
Plus, they owe the fans big time:-

Cam has the worst luck with shut outs. He got the win, so I'm good.

I have never liked Neil, and tonight he shows us all just what a real punk looks like. Still a jackass.

Good all around. I now really feel the end of the season is really here. It's highly depressing when it finally hits you.

[hlfnCaniac]

They redeemed themselves tonight-----hate Cam missed his shut out.
Back to .500 hockey.

They need to play with that heart Thursday----for the fans ! We will get
Mtl. on the second of a B/B.

[superdave]

Really nice bounce back game. I'm glad to see this team could gather it back up. Looking back, Saturday's game shouldn't have been a surprise. What little hope the Canes had was officially killed on Friday night and then they had to turn around and play the next night. If they had a day or so between games, they may not have laid that egg. Too bad it happened on the jersey of their back night. That thing is a disaster year after year.

[DJHARLEY]

McBain sure as heck didn't do his job with 11 seconds to go. He was right there with #19 @ the side of the goal and didn't clear him out which cost them the shoot out. Nice win, nice to see Allen standup for his team/players, and even nicer to see Neil backdown from Allen twice! GOOD WIN THATS WORTH NOTHING!!!LOL