The Senators continued to tear up the league this two-week
period. They moved past the Toronto Maple Leafs into first place
in the Northeast Division race and end the period just one point
shy of first place in the Eastern Conference. The team is now 16
games over .500 and is in third overall in the NHL. Excluding
ties, this season they are playing .646 hockey. Including ties
their winning percentage goes up to .714. The Senators sit just
one point back of the Philadelphia Flyers for first in the
Eastern Conference and are seven points back of Dallas for first
place overall.
After coming off a three-game western Canadian road trip, the
team settled in for six home games in a row. After a 1-1 tie
against Buffalo and a tough loss to Florida, the Senators won
four in a row against Washington, Chicago, Boston and
Philadelphia. The team has now finished 10 season series and are
8-0-2. They are 17-3-5 in their last 25 games. Last season
at this point they were two games under .500; they made the semi
finals.
Notes
* The Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators played to a 1-1 tie.
This was the fourth time this season the two teams has battled to
a tie. If the playoffs were to start the day after the two faced
each other, they would have been in 2nd and seventh place - good
enough for a first round playoff matchup.
* Alexei Yashin continues his strong play. He has scored four
goals and three assists in his last four games.
* Andreas Dackell has three points in the last three games.
* The Florida loss broke an eleven game (7-0-4) undefeated streak
for goalie Ron Tugnutt.
* Against Florida, Daniel Alfredsson returned to the Senators
lineup after a five-game absence due to injury.
* Pavel Bure travelled with the Panthers but did not play due to
injury.
* After beating Toronto soundly, the Blackhawks took Sunday off
before facing the Senators on a Monday night. The result was a
6-2 Senators win - the exact score of the Hawks victory against
the Leafs. Yashin and Redden both had two-goal performances.
* Against the Flyers, Eric Lindros' 18-game scoring streak was
snapped.
* The win knocked the Flyers from first place in the Eastern
Conference. This was short lived, as the Flyers played again the
next day and won while the Senators did not play.
* Chris Phillips, out for 21 games since January 1st, returned
against the Flyers only to again injure his ankle. He left the
Corel Centre on crutches.
* Patrick Traverse also left the game. A Valerie Zelepukin check
separated his shoulder. Traverse has played in 39 NHL games this
season - the team has been counting as they need to expose a
defensemen with at least 40 games in the summer expansion draft.
* A Luke Richardson hit resulted in a face injury to Andreas
Johansson.
Despite the strong record, Ottawa could still be an upset
candidate in the first round - this remains a young team with a
few holes. An enforcer would certainly help for the 'second
season'.
Quiz Time
Fifty-four NHL players have scored over 1,000 points in their
career. Only 13 players have more than 1400 points. Name four
players with 1,000 points who have played for only one team
during their career. Hint: two are still active.
Canadian market conditions continued to plague the team this
period. Despite sellout or near sellout crowds in each of the
six games of the homestand, top Sens brass was suggesting the
City of Kanata knock some part of their property tax from the
arena. They further suggested that other concessions should be
made in order to ensure that the team can compete for top talent.
Rod Bryden expressed his concern that he may not be able to
continue to subsidize the team and may have to sell them if
market conditions don't improve.
In related news, Alexei Yashin's agent was quoted as saying that
Yashin will be looking to sign with whatever team it makes the
most business sense to sign with. He expects Bure numbers ($59
million over six years). The Nosebleeders are not looking
forward to another beer price hike. Large beer at the games are
already $11 each.
The Nosebleeders remember many a good concert and hockey game as
they raise a glass and toast Maple Leaf Gardens - "Lack of beer
availability aside - thanks for the memories and good luck in
your retirement."
Quiz Time
In order (overall ranking listed first) : 6th Mario Lemieux
(Pitts), 9th Stan Mikita (Chic), 10th Steve Yzerman (Det), 11th
Ray Bourque (Bos). Paul Coffey (7th overall) leads all players
having played on eight different teams
(Edm-Pit-LA-Det-Hart-Phil-Chi-Car). There are currently no
Senators in the list.
