The Senators should be looking to shore up their roster as we
head toward the playoffs. Despite having the best overall record
in the Eastern conference, this period proved that the team is
not bulletproof. They scratched out wins in Dallas and St. Louis
but did so despite getting soundly outplayed in the third period
of both games.
In the St. Louis game, the Sens managed just one shot on goal in
the third period - luckily it went in for the game-winner
(McEachern with his 30th). In Dallas, the Stars fired 13 shots
in the third but the Senators again only managed to fire one
back. When combined with "the trouble in California" many
bandwagon fans were seen on the edge of jumping off.
The trouble in California was one tie and two losses in their
three-game road trip. This included a particularly tough loss to
the Kings where they were shut out. Maybe it's the sun doing
it's magic on the team, but the Nosebleeders do not predict good
things for the team if they cannot adjust with the playoffs (and
spring) just around the corner. Toughness and intensity are key.
Adjustment may mean trade. The Sens did make a few moves in the
period leading up to the trade deadline including acquiring left
winger Ted Donato, but two big trade rumors continue to be Trevor
Linden to the Sens, and the trade of one of the Sens' two
goalies. Next season's expansion draft must be factoring into
the GM Rick Dudley's mind as he works the phones in search of the
right ingredients for a run at Stanley this season while leaving
enough scraps for the expansion draft so that the existing core
team is not impacted.
Lightning Does Faze Senators
Before embarking on a six-game road trip the Senators faced the
Tampa Bay Lightning at home. Entering the game on a season high
two-game winning streak, the Lightning took a 2-0 lead after the
first period. The Senators responded scoring eight straight
goals en route to a 9-3 win.
Magnus Arvedson netted his first career hat trick, Alexei Yashin
added two goals and an assist and Andreas Dackell had
a career-best four assists.
Road Trip!
A much anticipated visit to MSG to face the red-hot NY Rangers
resulted in a close 3-0 victory for the Senators. The Senators
had won their fifth game in a row.
* Alexei Yashin set a franchise record with his 36th and 37th
goals (breaking his own record - 1996-97).
* Damian Rhodes recorded his third shutout of the season.
* Mike Richter stopped 30 shots for New York but suffered his
first loss in seven starts.
* The Rangers lost for the first time since Wayne Gretzky went
down with a neck injury.
Quiz Time
The most goals in one NHL season were scored by Wayne Gretzky in
the 1981-82 season when he netted 92. Name the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
top single-season goal scorers and their totals.
Shark bait - Sens Lose 3-2
Arriving with a large number of Silicon Valley North players, the
Senators visited San Jose to play the Sharks. Scoring 83 seconds
in and three times on seven shots, with 14:02 remaining in the
first period Damian Rhodes was pulled in favor of Run Tugnutt.
Ottawa outshot the Sharks 26-9 over the final two periods but
could not break through against Shields (remember how well he did
against the Senators during the Buffalo series).
This-a-et-that-a
* Ottawa has finished 15 season series thus far this season,
going 10-0-5.
* Rookie news - The Senators rookie trio continues to do well.
Sami Salo leads all NHL rookies in the plus/minus category with a
+15, Hossa is second with a +14 and Traverse is tied for third
with a +8.
* The Senators continue to be the least penalized team in the NHL
averaging 11.1 PMs per game. This means that the two referee
system for the playoff was good news for the team.
* Who's hot:
- Marian Hossa has six points in his last seven games including
a goal in each of the last two games.
- Damian Rhodes allowed just three goals in facing 75 shots in
his Mar 17 and 19 appearances.
- Alexei Yashin continues to keep pace or lead the NHL goal race,
he is currently at 39.
Hail to the King
The Los Angeles Kings and the Ottawa Senators are two teams who
are at almost opposite ends of the NHL standings. The Kings are
struggling to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot while the
Senators are looking to first place overall. One would expect an
easy Sens victory.
Proving that intensity and desperate hockey wins against talent,
the Los Angeles Kings soundly beat the Ottawa Senators, 4-0.
* Stephane Fiset stopped 29 shots for his second shutout of the
season.
* Rob Blake recorded his 100th NHL goal.
* Kings coach Larry Robinson moved past Tom Webster for second
place on the team's all-time wins list with 116. Bob Pulford tops
the list with 178 victories.
* Yashin had his five-game points streak snapped.
* The Senators suffered back-to-back losses for the first time
since dropping three straight from December 9-17.
Does Playing Golf Cause Problems for Hockey Players?
The Sens visited Anaheim to face the Ducks. The Ducks opened a
2-0 lead and held on for the tie. Despite outplaying the Ducks
over the final two periods, all the Senators could manage was the
tie. Guy Hebert faced a total of 41 shots and was the difference
in this one, stopping all 20 shots over the final 25 minutes.
* Alexei Yashin netted his 39th goal of the season.
* Marian Hossa netted his 10th.
Dallas Stars - Stars Return
The Dallas Stars saw a number of their star players return from
injury for this one but despite putting together a great third
period could not manage to beat the Senators.
Veterans Brett Hull, Darryl Sydor and Joe Nieuwendyk returned to
action. Dallas outshot the Senators 13-1 in the third period but
Damian Rhodes turned aside all 13 shots.
Another Bad Third Period
The last game of the team's six-game road trip was in St. Louis
to face ex-Senator Pavol Demitra and the St. Louis Blues. Tied
2-2, Shawn McEachern scored the winner with 8:15 remaining on
Ottawa's only shot of the third period. The Senators were outshot
11-1 in the third period.
* Pavol Demitra scored his 33rd and 34th goals of the season.
* McEachern 29th goal meant that he surpassed his career best of
28.
* The Senators managed just 15 shots in the game.
He Shoots, He Scores!
Wayne Gretzky holds both first and second place in the most goals
scored in a season category. He scored 92 goals in the 1981-82
season, and 87 goals in the 1983-84 season. Third place is held
by Brett Hull who netted 86 goals in the 1990-91 season. Mario
Lemieux is next with 85 in the 1988-89 season, followed by Phil
Esposito who held the record for over 10 years, scoring 76 in the
1970-71 season. Esposito's 76 was matched in the 1992-93 season
by both Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne. Wayne Gretzky's
name also appears on the list at 73 goals (1984-85) and 71 goals
(1982-83). Brett Hull has also had seasons of 72 goals (1989-90)
and 70 goals (1991-92). Brett's father Bobby Hull held the record
prior to Phil Esposito at 58 goals.
