Sens vs. Nucks - Who will step up?

In light of the team digging real deep, pulling out a gutsy comeback vs. Atlanta on Tuesday night, we're looking to see who will take it upon themselves to shoulder a huge load tonight and carry this momentum.

My vote goes to Havlat. Seems to me he's just on the verge of being back to the real 'Marty Havlat' style, but that untimely hamstring pull had him last game. Would be awful sweet to see a repeat of the Dallas night he put together last year (only difference is we win this game).

My vote goes to Chara.

He'll be matched up against Bertuzzi tonight. I say he rises to the challenge, and shuts him down. He'll also put up a point or two in the process, but the focus will be on the physical game.

My vote goes to Havlat. Seems to me he's just on the verge of being back to the real 'Marty Havlat' style, but that untimely hamstring pull had him last game. Would be awful sweet to see a repeat of the Dallas night he put together last year (only difference is we win this game).

I heard Marty won't be in the lineup tonight?

Anyways, I voted Hoss, the cancuks like to play a wide open style so Hossa would see some free ice.

I think Schaefer would have a solid game against his former club.

The SUN is quoting Havlat saying that he's skating pain-free yesterday, and would decide today if we would play. On the other hand, I literally just read in the Citizen that he will not play. If I were a betting man, which I am, I would say he'll play tonight.

By the way, is this poll closed? If so, how come?

The SUN is quoting Havlat saying that he's skating pain-free yesterday, and would decide today if we would play. On the other hand, I literally just read in the Citizen that he will not play. If I were a betting man, which I am, I would say he'll play tonight.

By the way, is this poll closed? If so, how come?

Meaning that Havlat and Smokes are both game-time decisions.

Anyone know how Fisher is progressing?

The SUN is quoting Havlat saying that he's skating pain-free yesterday, and would decide today if we would play. On the other hand, I literally just read in the Citizen that he will not play. If I were a betting man, which I am, I would say he'll play tonight.

By the way, is this poll closed? If so, how come?


Team 1200 reported that the only guy who won't be playing tonight is Fisher.

Since Schaefer has been one of our best performers all year I hope he has a big game tonight. Anyone know if Salo is hurt again? How about Arvedson? He says he'll be back but even if he is I give him until the 8 min mark to get hurt and leave the game.

My vote goes to Chara.

He'll be matched up against Bertuzzi tonight. I say he rises to the challenge, and shuts him down. He'll also put up a point or two in the process, but the focus will be on the physical game.

Good Call. To be brutally honest, and I'll likely contrast the unanimous thinking here, I think Chara hasn't been as horrible as he's been made out to be so far. Of course he's been bumbling the puck, and his mind hasn't been razor-sharp at all times, but I almost feel as though he's becoming something of a new whipping boy. The expectations placed on the guy are about as big as he is. It's easy to point fingers at the guy, because much is expected from him, but I personally think there are bigger fish to fry. If not, he's only a fraction of the contributors involved in our slump.

Not too much mention of him shutting down Kovy all night on Tuesday. Yes Kovy had a goal, but anyone who saw the game knows what the situation was (banked off chara's skate...). Other than that, Kovy was invisible.

In light of the team digging real deep, pulling out a gutsy comeback vs. Atlanta on Tuesday night, we're looking to see who will take it upon themselves to shoulder a huge load tonight and carry this momentum.

OTHER--Bertuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzi, but for Ottawa I say Smolinski if he plays!!

OTHER--Bertuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzi, but for Ottawa I say Smolinski if he plays!!

Spezza, just a feeling.

Good Call. To be brutally honest, and I'll likely contrast the unanimous thinking here, I think Chara hasn't been as horrible as he's been made out to be so far. Of course he's been bumbling the puck, and his mind hasn't been razor-sharp at all times, but I almost feel as though he's becoming something of a new whipping boy. The expectations placed on the guy are about as big as he is. It's easy to point fingers at the guy, because much is expected from him, but I personally think there are bigger fish to fry. If not, he's only a fraction of the contributors involved in our slump.

Not too much mention of him shutting down Kovy all night on Tuesday. Yes Kovy had a goal, but anyone who saw the game knows what the situation was (banked off chara's skate...). Other than that, Kovy was invisible.

Well, I think he has been pretty inconsistent this year. Add to that the increased expectations of him. When we acquired him, he was considered a big defencemen that had decent mobility, but no real offensive instinct (career high of two goals a season). Since that point, he's become generally regarded as one of the leagues better defencemen. Those lofty praises are two-sided, and now that he's regressed a little, fans are letting him now.

I also find that in Ottawa (and probably most NHL markets with die-hard fans), once you start logging a lot of minutes as a defencemen, people will become very quick to start blaming you for every goal that you're on the ice for. With the minutes that guys like REdden and Chara play, you need to expect the odd mistake, and many fans do not give them any leeway at all. Often, they're defensive errors are the result of a forward failing to back-check, but on the replay, the only thing that fans see is the defencemen out of position. The best example are all the fans that point the blame to Redden or Rachunek for ending our season last year against NJ, when in fact, it was Havlat that made the error.

Saying that, I still believe that all of our defencemen need to make some improvements in order to get this team where it needs to be. There have been too many errors on the blueline. Yes, they often have been covering for forwards not doing their jobs, but often, I've seen a lot of our guys get too risky with their outlet passes, and it's cost us on more than one occassion. Our guys need to focus on getting the simple play out of the zone first.

My vote goes to Chara.

He'll be matched up against Bertuzzi tonight. I say he rises to the challenge, and shuts him down. He'll also put up a point or two in the process, but the focus will be on the physical game.
My thoughts exactly. Whenever a challenge is put in front of him is usually when he plays his best games.

My vote goes to Havlat. Seems to me he's just on the verge of being back to the real 'Marty Havlat' style, but that untimely hamstring pull had him last game. Would be awful sweet to see a repeat of the Dallas night he put together last year (only difference is we win this game).

Is Havlat Ice Time so low because he just got injured? Or is it part of Martin's general plan to put his second best forward on the fourth line?

Alfie stepped up big time..he did exactly what a true leader does when down by 2.

I knew Schaefer would have a solid game and he did. One player with no points to show for but played incredibly strong was Hossa, Jovo and co had a hard time containing him along the boards, and he almost set up the game winner on Phillips shot but he hit the post. Could have had two goals if not for Cloutier's strong play.

Even though the sens lost, a very gutsy effort and character game. Nucks were lucky to win this game.

sens lose! to cannuckleheads

sens lose! to cannuckleheads
I dislike the way Martin is playing Spezza...

Only 12 minutes tonight. I know that Bonk,Alfresson, Hossa and Havlat need to play... But only 12 minute. Come on... on 65 minutes of play.....

No time during the overtime.... Why?

he got a big goal... But no reward.... :mad:

For me, he need aleast 14 minutes...

Like I said I know that he is not going to have over 16-17 minutes because of the Sens depth....

But less 13 minute... I dislike that...

I dislike the way Martin is playing Spezza...

Only 12 minutes tonight. I know that Bonk,Alfresson, Hossa and Havlat need to play... But only 12 minute. Come on... on 65 minutes of play.....

No time during the overtime.... Why?

he got a big goal... But no reward.... :mad:

For me, he need aleast 14 minutes...

Like I said I know that he is not going to have over 16-17 minutes because of the Sens depth....

But less 13 minute... I dislike that...

He had 13 minutes (12:55). He was on at the end of the third period as well. He is oscilating between 10 and 17 minutes a game, so be patient, and wait. Martin is trying to prevent his head from becoming too big, I do believe, which will only help him in the future.

The Sens played a strong game, but it's still frustrating for them to continue to be on the wrong side of one-goal games. Vancouver is not a team you can expect a victory by any means. They also need to get on the scoresheet first. This streak of giving up the first one is actually getting comical now.

On the positive front, the Alfie-White-Schaefer line was incredible last night. I particulary was a big fan of White. He had a great shift in the first period, and in overtime where he fought hard in front of the net enough which gave Chara a scoring opportunity. Also, Lalime looked a lot like the goalie that we know. Yes, he let in three goals, but he looked a lot less shaky than he has in recent weeks.

As for the game itself, it was entertaining. Here's to hoping that the Sens can avenge this loss by beating the Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final.

All in all, the Sens have looked better in the last couple of games, but I think the next week or so will be a good indication if they are back to where they should be.