Look out, Philadelphia. Look out, Toronto. Here they come. The
Senators extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive nine
games, the longest such string in franchise history. The team is
yet to lose in 1999. With Captain Alexei Yashin at the helm of a
solid first line, the cast of Senator forwards, defensemen and
job sharing goalies has come together as a unit to put together
this record breaking streak.
So far this seven-victory-two-tie streak includes knocking off
some of the league's top teams like the Devils (twice), Red Wings
(twice) and Sabres. The team recorded two shutouts, 34 goals,
allowed a mere 15 against, and has outshot opponents in all but
one game in the streak.
In the books the key line behind the team success would seem to
be the Yashin, McEachern, and Dackell line but the team has two
potent lines that help share the offensive load. When combined
with the young but solid defensive core and the goaltending duo
of Tugnutt and Rhodes, the team may be on to something.
At the 40-game mark, looking down the stats shows us that the
Senators may end the season with more than ten 20 goal-scorers.
Those on target include: McEachern already at 20, Yashin
with 18, Johansson with 16, Dackell with 10, and Arvedson with
10. One could possibly add the resurrected Radek Bonk with 8,
Hossa, Alfredsson, and one or two others.
Although the Nosebleeders are not yet ready to say that the team
is for real, we are ready to say... "for real this time, you may
be hearing us say that the team is for real". Someone willing to
drop the gloves when required may help the team as the season
progresses. One thing is for sure - the team should use this
time to advertise the heck out of season tickets - it almost
makes us Nosebleeders want to run out and get some for all our
friends.
It may be premature to look too far forward but just think about:
- coach Martin as coach of the year.
- Marian Hossa as rookie of the year.
- Alexei Yashin as League MVP.
- Vezina trophies all around.
- the Senators with a late playoff round matchup against either
Buffalo or New Jersey, who they seem to own lately, or better yet
a chance to face Lindros and the Flyers.
- Alexei Yashin's paycheck for next season. The top players in
the league each are making over 10 million per year.
Quiz Time
Which team holds the longest winning streak in NHL history ?
Rhodes Gets a Goal!!!!
In a 6-0 victory against the New Jersey Devils, Damian Rhodes was
credited with a goal. Rhodes was the last Senator to touch the
puck before the Devils inadvertently shot it into their own net
during a delayed penalty. For the record - and a future quiz -
Jason York was on the way to the penalty box for holding when New
Jersey pulled Martin Brodeur for the extra attacker.
When asked about the goal Rhodes said that he knew all along that
that would be the way he would score an NHL goal. "I probably
couldn't even shoot it the length of the ice if I tried, so I
knew if I was going to ever score it would have to happen like
that."
Goaltender goals in any league are rare and although we have
nothing to back this up, we think that Damian Rhodes leads all
goaltenders in this regard. Rhodes was also credited with a goal
while playing for Michigan Tech on January 21st, 1989, except
that was a power-play goal into an empty net.
Rhodes became the fifth goalie in NHL history to be credited with
a goal, joining Billy Smith of the New York Islanders, Ron
Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers, Chris Osgood of the Detroit
Red Wings and Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils. Only
Smith scored under similar circumstances.
Yashin Flash
Alexei Yashin continued his dominating, non-selfish play this
period and clearly it is paying off for the team. Yashin's
increased point total moved him into the top five NHL scorers.
He was also named to the World All-Star team (second time All-
Star - first was 1994). Yash recorded his 350th point in his
375th game against New Jersey on January 2nd. He increased his
consecutive iron man game streak to 250 against New Jersey on
January 11th. Yashin has at least one point in all nine games
during the streak.
Notes, rants and raves from the holiday season include:
Against New Jersey...
* The two New Jersey victories moved the Senator total wins to
three in 13 regular-season visits to Continental Airlines Arena
(3-9-1).
* Rhodes' shutout against the Devils was the ninth of his career
and first this year.
* The 6-0 win over New Jersey ended the Devils' road unbeaten
streak at seven games. It was the first matchup between
the two teams since the Senators eliminated the Devils' in last
years playoffs. It was also the worst loss for a Devil team in
some six years.
Miscellaneous...
* Tugnutt is current ranked first among NHL goalies this season
with a 1.68 GAA. He earned his 100th career victory against
Tampa Bay.
* Coach Martin coached in his 400th game, January 8th against
Tampa Bay.
* Carolina chased Rhodes from the net with 4:30 to go in the
first period and the Senators overcame a 4-0 first period lead
with three goals in the third period. The 4-4 tie meant that the
last time the Senators have beaten the Hartford/Carolina team
continued to be November 2nd, 1995.
* Against Detroit in the 2-0 victory, Tugnutt kept pace with
Rhodes with his ninth career shutout as he faced 24 shots and six
power plays.
* Lance Pitlick is scheduled for hip surgery in San Francisco and
will likely miss the remainder of the season.
Drumroll Please...
Although the Senators are a team record winning streak they have
just passed the halfway point of the NHL's longest such mark.
This belongs to the Pittsburgh Penguins who won 17 consecutive
games from Mar. 9, 1993 - Apr. 10, 1993.
