Sens Repeat No Done Deal

Sure, the Ottawa Senators look like a formidable team again this season, and out of all the NHL clubs that now have these new "uniform systems," they came out looking the best, which kind of means the least ugly.

I mean, look at the Leafs. They're in a fight just to make the playoffs and their white road jerseys look like aprons. Or boring white t-shirts. They look like overworked Bay St. types with their shirt tails hanging out.

But back to the Sens. Yes, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson are off to crackerjack starts, and Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov look like they could play together for years. And is it just me or does Antoine Vermette look even faster this season?

But two wins over the Leafs does not a juggernaut necessarily make, particularly when the Leafs played the Sens evenly in the season opener on Wednesday and outplayed them handily on Thursday in Ottawa.

The last time we saw these Ottawa fellows, they were being flattened by Anaheim in the Stanley Cup final and Jason Spezza was nowhere to be seen. Well, Spezza spent the two games against the Leafs mostly turning the puck over again and again, which made his line with Alfredsson and Heatley looked oddly out of synch at times.

Martin Gerber made lots of saves, but his rebound control was very shaky and nobody seems to know when Ray Emery's coming back.

And what about Wade Redden? A new six-year, $45 million deal for Heatley on Wednesday again brought into sharp relief how hard it will be for the Sens to continue to pay Redden $6.5 million per season, and that's if they want to.

The Ducks pounded Redden at will in the Cup final, and the Leafs seemed to have a lot of success getting under his skin in the first two games of the season. First, two fourth line grinders, Bates Battaglia and Kris Newbury, somehow lured Redden into fights on opening night. Then last night, the classy Sens blueliner took a minor, lipped off and then found himself serving an extra two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Finally, the Sens were looking a lot like a one-line team, with non-Spezza line forwards contributing only one of the seven goals against the Leafs.

Is all this nitpicking? Maybe, and the Sens may be the best Canadian team. But there were warts exposed in the Cup final loss to Anaheim, and don't think other clubs failed to notice.

Beating the Leafs twice to open the season didn't change that.

Comments

[Jim Boyd]

Didn't change another fact - Leafs are going nowhere........

[Fake Peddie]

Hey big D,

What do you mean beating my Leafs does not a juggernaut make? They just beat Leafs Nation...twice! Bunch of trojan loving civil servants if you ask me, not the high priced class of the ACC. And don't think I didn't notice that quip about Bay Street types with our shirts out...I always look good. Anyways, please stop acting like we're not going to win the Cup, because I don't want you to feel silly this June when it happens. Or next June. Either way it's coming.
Thanks,
Fake Peddie

[chris]

The Sens have the best "uniform system"? Not compared to the Pittsburgh Penguins they don't, Damien! Sid the Kid & Company look mighty classy in the Pens new unis.

[Ben]

You are definitely right, the Sens looked terrible the first 2 games. But the way I see it is the Leafs probably can't play much better, and still lost. Another long season in the big smoke looms...

Ottawa will recover, just wait until Forsberg joins them for a solution to their secondary scoring woes.

[Kevin Fauth]

The Sens really are a one line team and it really showed in these 2 games. However, shutting that one line down is easier said than done.

[Andy]

I'm not sure why you're so down on the Leafs uniforms. I'm an Ottawa fan and I hate the new uniforms, especially away. Oh yes, the updated "Senator" is soooo much more menacing. It's like a junior league logo...why not have a puck with big teeth?!?

I like the classic, simple designs and I still think the Leafs and Red Wings have the best jerseys in the league especially the solid colour home jerseys.

[Matt]

Hey Damien, aren't you always saying it's a great team that can find a way to win even when they don't deserve it? Stop trashing the Sens and start to give them some credit. I don't feel like reading another season's worth of articles saying how bad the Sens are while they keep racking up wins. It makes you look stupid and petty.

[Tree]

This blog is hilarious, and sadly changes my opinion of Cox. Toronto media goes overborad at every beck and call with the Leafs (lost the first 2, now the sky is falling). But now doing the same thing to a Sens team that is 2-0, got outplayed but still found a way to win (as good teams do)? Give me a break! The Cup isn't won in October Damien. If you recall these same Sens last October, no one would have siad they'd play in the FInals. It's all about how you finish, not how you start. If the Sens came out and played flawless (like 2 years ago), then they'd fail to see the need to step up their play as the season goes along.

[Bill]

I think you are right Damien.
Ottawa sailed through the skating teams like Buffaloe and Pittsburgh but once they ran into the physical Ducks they couldn't handle it.
Chris (cheapshot) Neal completely disappeared.
Every team in the league knows this and if you can take Alfredson and Heatly out of the play they don't have a lot more than any other team.Look for them to come back to the pack this year.

[Mike P]

I have to disagree with your view on the Sens' uniforms. The Habs have the best by far....You can't compete with Tradition

[Rob J]

Aren't you reading a tad too much into 2 games where the Sens played nowhere near their best? They sleep walk for the first two games but pull out wins.
Gerber may have been good but remember he's not the number one goalie. A healthy Emery who is able to play the puck properly would be a great asset for the Sens. You are right that they need more offensive depth, but Murray has stated he will bring in another top 6 forward. As well, once this group of games over not a ton of days is over, Alfredsson will drop down to the second line and although, Vermette-Fisher-Alfredsson isn't perfect, it is a better second line than a few teams 1st.
The Sens also have some pretty decent offensive defensmen, in Redden and Meszaros (if Meszaros can start playing like he can.) The O from the D will help.
It should also be noted that the Sens barely played D last night which although concerning, isn't that big of a deal when you consider it is only the very start. When they play D first, they actually seem to generate more chances as they have an exceptionally fast team who can nab loose pucks for breaks. McAmmond and Vermette in particular make the team very dangerous, especially on the PK.
Now, of course nobody knows WHO Murray will be able to bring in. It's far too early to speculate who is going to be in or out of the playoffs with so many teams on pretty much the same level. However, the Senators with 2 good scoring lines, and an extremely solid defensive corps are a different monster.
Give it time though, as unfortunately the East is an exeptionally weak conference. New Jersey can play D, but can't really score (and it remains to be seen if they can even play D this year.) The Penguins are talented offensively, but Darryl Sydor as your only defensive d-man is asking for trouble. Whitney, Gonchar and Letang are all good offensively, but liabilities in their own end. The Rangers are in the same boat with probably better goaltending. They some decent offensive depth, but they don't have 1 defenseman up to the level of Volchenkov/Phillips/Redden (good Redden, not bad.) Bufallo may be the best shot at unseating the Sens from the top of the conference, but it was shown last year that they have some issues with size, and cannot play well enough in their own end to keep up with elite offensive players.
Now of course, I'm only talking about the East here. Anaheim, Detroit and San Jose look to be extremely good teams and each team could win the up if they got the breaks. Same with Vancouver if they add a goal scorer. However, a lot can happen between now and June. If Murray can grab 1 or 2 players for a solid run (which he has been able to do in the past) the Sens would be a very difficult team to play against.

[Dave]

What's your point Damien? That the Sens on two bad nights can handle the Leafs when they're sharp? I particular enjoy how you constantly reference the cup final in your blogs, and how the Sens were 'flattened'.... somehow implying it was a really disappointing playoff run. Your article is petty, and sounds like more sour grapes from another Toronto homer.

[mamie]

I had to laugh at your blog entry today. Says more about the Leafs than the Senators don't you think? If the Leafs can "play the Senators evenly" one game and outplay them "handily" in the second game and STILL lose both games, how does that bode for their chances of making the playoffs? Ottawa may have lost to Anaheim in the finals last season, but at least they made it to the finals. When was the last time Toronto was there?

[jpm]

- The Sens strength is their depth, ie the quality of their second and third lines. They've brought a couple of new wingers. Schaefer and Comrie are gone and Donovan and Foligno are in. I'd expect it will take a few games to find some chemistry but I wouldn't be worried.
- Agreed on Redden. He did get pounded vs. Anaheim.

[Adam C]

Cox's point, which the die-hard fans missed as usual, is that Ottawa has flaws that cast doubt on whether it's the best team in the league. How people translate that as "Ottawa sucks" or "the Leafs are better" is beyond me.

And Ottawa's strength is not its depth, at least, not at forward. Fisher was the only player not on the first line to get 20 goals last year - better than the Leafs, of course, but as Cox notes that's hardly a standard of excellence. Some of those players are good - and getting better - but they don't provide the same depth that the Ducks or Sharks or Rangers or Red Wings have.

Ottawa's strength is the best line in the league, plus good depth on D and in goal.

[Roberto]

Your dislike of Raycroft has you blinded in favour of Toskala.

You must see what's there, not what you wish to see.

1) Raycroft is NOT a GOOD goaltender.

2) Toskala ALSO is NOT a good goaltender.

Watch how Toskola always drops to his knees before the shot is taken.

It's only a matter of time before the shooters see this and start shooting up high over his shoulder. Infact, I believe ottawa has already done this.

Further, everytime Toskola drops to his knees, he lifts his stick. Shooters just put it along the ice between his legs. Easy goals.

3) Paul Maurice is NOT a good coach.

I said it last year. I say it again this year.

I played in the National Hockey League. I played goal. I also coached and won. I know what I'm talking about.

I wish I can tell you who I am but that would make it a little bit uncomfortable for me....afterall...you're the media. It's your job to get good quotes.

Next time....pay better attention to how the goals are going in.

Finally....a good save is when the goaltender moves specifically with the direction of the puck and makes a good stop.

A lucky save is when the goaltender flops before a shot is even taken.....most times closing their eyes and most times the puck hitting them by pure luck.

Please note the difference.

Curtis Joseph in his prime was great.....so was Fuhr, so was Moog, so was Worsley, so was Belfour.

Compared to these guys, Toskala and Raycroft are Minor League.

Nothing personal......I keep my feelings out of it. JUST THE FACTS.

[Remi]

It's the Senators and not the Sens.Sens sounds awful.I always say the Senators.You should all do the same.