Comment on the Dackell Hit?! Oh, all right...
By now you must have seen Big E's (as in Big E-diot) hit on
Andreas Dackell in the October 29th Sens-Flyers matchup through
dozens of replays from dozens of angles. Round here, it seems
Sens fans can talk about nothing but 'The Hit.' So here's our two
cents worth.
Was it a cheapshot? You bet. Lindros was frustrated and decided
to take out his anger on a little guy like Dackell. Was it called
for? Certainly not. A simple bodycheck would have sufficed.
But was it illegal? No. Did Eric deserve a suspension? Definitely
not. He should have gotten two minutes for boarding, but the fact
that the zebra in charge missed the call shouldn't surprise
anyone with a knowledge of NHL refereeing.
Nope, the simple fact is this: Dackell was going to get hit, so
he should have braced himself properly, as any professional
hockey player should do. Instead he ducked, and thus the
concussion and war-like atrocity he once called his face. Lindros
is a coward for hitting such a small guy so hard, but Dackell's
reaction to the oncoming freight train made the aftermath look
worse than it ought to.
So there you have it. Now let's move on, shall we?
One Last Thing About the Dackell Hit
Okay, one more thing THEN we'll move on. We're beginning to sound
like a broken record here, but when are the Sens going to wake up
and realize they need an enforcer? After Lindros turned Dackell
into a board advertisement, not one Senator rushed to his
defense. In fact, supposed tough guy Phil Crowe was seen chatting
up a storm with Eric in the hallway during intermission ("So
how's the kids? Good, good. Wanna see some photos?"). You may
argue that Ottawa responded with goals rather than fists, and for
that argument we give you a doff of the cap. However, using this
approach still means 'open season' on our stars.
Suddenly ... A Game Broke Out!
Spurred on by the vicious hit on Dackell, the Senators responded
with three quick goals in the second period en route to a
convincing 3-1 victory over Philadelphia before 15,478 shaken
fans.
The win not only snapped a three-game losing streak for the Sens,
it also marked the team's first victory against the Flyers in 13
attempts, dating back to April 26, 1995.
Hey, Oldtimer
Wonder why the Flyers always seem to fall short of the Stanley
Cup championship everybody expects of them? Defense...or lack
thereof. One look at the Flyers depth chart reveals a certain
Dave Babych anchoring the line. Babych, for those of you who do
not know, recently turned 127. Seriously, how old is Mr. Babych?
He was teammates in Winnipeg (remember the Jets?) with current
Sens' GM Rick Dudley, who retired in the mid-80s.
Ouch.
Can We Repick the 1993 Draft? Please?
Before the Dackell hit hogged headlines, Bytown scribes were all
abuzz with the imminent return of Alexandre Daigle to the
Nation's Capital. And to nobody's surprise, Daigle came and went
without so much as a whimper.
Although Daigle's doggish performance to date as a Flyer brings a
smile to many Sens fans, it also serves a bitter reminder of the
organization's boneheaded decision to draft him in the first
place. Can you believe Paul Kariya could have been a Senator
today if it weren't for Daigle?
Ouch, part II.
Trivia Time
Which current NHL tough guy has amassed the most career penalty
minutes against the Ottawa Senators? Answer at the end of this
column.
Bonk-ers for Radek? We Think Not
Although Mr. Bonk appears to have turned his game around this
season, there still seems to be no takers in the Sens Bonk
sweepstakes. Bruins GM Harry Sinden, for instance, recently
informed Ottawa media that, contrary to rumors, the Bruins have
no interest in acquiring Bonk. "If I went out and got Bonk, Pat
(Burns, Bruins head coach) would strangle me." Hmm, wonder if Mr.
Sinden realizes that Bonk would be tied for the goal-scoring lead
on the Bruins?
417 Rivalry, Advantage: Ottawa
Renewing their classic rivalry along Highway 417, the Ottawa
Senators exploded for three goals in the first period and then
cruised to an easy 5-1 Halloween victory over the Montreal
Canadiens.
Despite the Habs' unorganized, undisciplined play, full kudos
should go out to the Sens, who got key performances from the
likes of Andreas Johansson, Radek Bonk, Chris Murray and recent
callup, the feisty and pesky Steve Martins of Gatineau.
The Weight Has Been Lifted
Star center and team captain Alexei Yashin managed to pop home
his first goal of the season, much to the relief of Sens fans
coast to coast. Although it was a garbage goal, we're sure Alexei
will take it, please and thank you.
Blame it on the Candy
For the first time in team history, the Sens-Habs game was not
sold out. Team officials blamed it on Halloween and the fact that
the game was nationally televised. Well, who in their right minds
would pass up the chance for free rocket candy and Cheetos?
Things You Hear in the Dressing Room
Here's a classic for ya. Habs Shayne Corson was overheard telling
a reporter "We're paid good money, we've got to go out and play.
(Bleep) the money." Very noble of you, Shayne, but aren't you the
same guy who missed most of training camp because of a contract
dispute?
Payback, Part II
If witnessing the shmucking of one of their teammates is what the
Senators need to win the big games, then by all means, schmuck
away, peoples.
Seemingly still charged over the hit by you-know-who on
yadda-yadda-yadda, the Sens waltzed into The City of Brotherly
Love and stole a convincing 5-4 victory over the Flyers.
We Hate it When We're Wrong
All right, all right... we'll admit it. Radek Bonk is...
(gasp)... playing really well. It seems Bonk has finally realized
that throwing his big frame around can result in more scoring
opportunities. And sure enough, who gets the game-winner? Radek
Bonk, esquire.
Take That, Mr. Clarke
Vaclav Prospal - acquired in the Daigle trade - notched three
assists against his former team to power the Sens to victory. Mr.
Daigle, meanwhile, spent a relaxing evening in the Flyers'
doghouse, complaining of a mild headache.
End of a Drought
Feisty Steve Martins' goal not only broke a 3-3 tie, but it was
also his first NHL goal since 1995, when he was a member of the
Hartford Whalers.
Pop Goes the Winning Streak
With key wins over Philly and Montreal, the Senators seemed
invincible against the bankrupt Pittsburgh Penguins... at least
for the first 40 minutes. In a rare third-period letdown, Ottawa
gave up three goals on seven shots - compliments of Jaromir Jagr,
Jan Hrdina and Robert Lang - dropping a 4-2 decision before a
sparse crowd of 13,686 at the Corel Centre.
Some Consolation
Although Sens brass were shaking their heads at the bitter loss,
they nevertheless felt a little joy in the much-anticipated
return of star winger Daniel Alfredsson. Alfie, out since
training camp with a knee injury, looked rusty and seemed a step
behind, but his knee held up, and that's all that matters. The
surprise early season performances of Andreas Johansson and Radek
Bonk no doubt eased the pain of Alfie's absence. But as the real
heart and soul of the club, his return has paved the way for a
brighter November.
A Matter of Perspective
The win marked Pens coach Kevin Constantine's 100th career NHL
victory. "I'll be 783 years old by the time I catch Scotty
Bowman," he quipped. "I have to work a bit on the pace."
A Matter of Perspective, Part II
Why are the Penguins such a lousy draw in Ottawa? In the five
games last season, Ottawa outscored Pittsburgh 7-6. Firewagon
hockey... we think not.
Down On the Farm
The Senators announced that they have received serious inquiries
into establishing an AHL farm team in Quebec City. They will have
some competition, however, as the Montreal Canadiens have made it
known that they intend to investigate Quebec as a possible
location for the Baby Habs once their lease in Fredericton, New
Brunswick is up at the end of the year.
Should Ottawa establish a farm team, it will be their third such
organization since 1992. Previous attempts were made in New
Haven, Connecticut and Charlottetown, PEI. Currently, Sens
prospects are spread throughout the minors, particularly with
Detroit of the IHL and Adirondack of the AHL.
Eight Is More Than Enough
Go out to an NHL game, and the only guarantee you'll get is that
nothing is guaranteed. Case in point - Ottawa vs. Washington.
Both teams are known for their tight checking style of play and,
in Washington's case at least, great goaltending. So what happens
when you pit these two teams together? Thirteen goals. Go figure.
With ears pinned back, the normally offensively-challenged
Washington Capitals blasted eight goals past the Sens goaltending
duo en route to an 8-5 win at the Corel Centre. Peter Bondra led
the way with a hat trick.
What a Difference Five Months Make
The last time these two teams played, Washington eliminated the
Sens in five games to clinch the Eastern Conference semi-final.
In that whole playoff series, Ottawa managed to score just seven
goals, making their five-goal effort even more mind-boggling.
Better Late Than Never
Although the Sens were able to chase star goalie Olaf Kolzig,
they could not solve backup goalie Mike Rosati. The win was
Rosati's first ever in the NHL, which is impressive considering
the 30-year-old spent the past eight years chasing rubber disks
in Europe.
Perfect Timing
With Bruce Gardiner and Andreas Dackell set to return to the Sens
lineup for Tuesday against Buffalo, free agent pickup David
Oliver knew he had to come up big against the Caps or risk an
elevator ride to the bleachers. With that in mind, Oliver
proceeded to notch his first two goals of the season. Prior to
that, Oliver had only mustered three NHL goals in total since the
1995-96 season. The ball is now in your court, Jacques.
Drumroll Please
Sens bench boss Jacques Martin scratched Stephen Leach in the
Caps game in favor of Phil Crowe in order to offset the presence
of Craig Berube, the man with more penalty minutes against the
Sens (97) than any other NHLer.
