GDT: GAME 43 | Sens @ Isles | Merrily, Merrily, Merrily | Tue Jan 14 2025, 7:30PM | TSN5, RDS2

[Cosmix]

We're going to have to play Forsberg at some point assuming Ullmark is still a few weeks away.

I don't think playing Merilainen every single game makes sense. He's had some good games this season but he's inconsistent.

I would play Meri until he starts to falter whether Ullmark is back or not. Go with the hot winning goaltender.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think we did NOT play a great game; we failed to skate well enough to smother them and get more shots and goals. NYI is not a good team; we played a poor game. Glad we won, but we could easily have lost this game.

They were still the better team of the 2 though, and a relatively easy shutout for Merilainen.

 

[SanderSen]

We're going to have to play Forsberg at some point assuming Ullmark is still a few weeks away.

I don't think playing Merilainen every single game makes sense. He's had some good games this season but he's inconsistent.

Rookie goalie so expect some inconsistency. But Forsberg has not been better. My take on Forsberg is that he is best as a career back-up. I would leave him on the bench and when he does get a game because of circumstances he will play well. But when he gets the mantle of starter, it is a different mentality and not all keepers can handle it.

 

[Micklebot]

I think we did NOT play a great game; we failed to skate well enough to smother them and get more shots and goals. NYI is not a good team; we played a poor game. Glad we won, but we could easily have lost this game.

They got 1 more 5v5 shot than us, but we got significantly better chances, and it shows in the advanced stats;

at 5v5
21-18 in scoring chances
14-5 in High danger chances
2.15 to 1.13 in xGF

All strength we did outshoot then 27-24
25-22 in scoring chances
16-5 in High danger chances
3.05 to 1.23 in xGF

we definitely smothered them, it was the NYI's 3rd worst 5v5 xGF performance of the season, and worst at all year in all situations.

What we didn't do is pepper them with chances, but we still had more all strength xGF (3.05) than the NYI allow on average (2.75)

 

[lang006]

They got 1 more 5v5 shot than us, but we got significantly better chances, and it shows in the advanced stats;

at 5v5
21-18 in scoring chances
14-5 in High danger chances
2.15 to 1.13 in xGF

All strength we did outshoot then 27-24
25-22 in scoring chances
16-5 in High danger chances
3.05 to 1.23 in xGF

we definitely smothered them, it was the NYI's 3rd worst 5v5 xGF performance of the season, and worst at all year in all situations.

What we didn't do is pepper them with chances, but we still had more all strength xGF (3.05) than the NYI allow on average (2.75)

Yeah I love that the Sens seemed to beat NYI with their own typical style of game. Something they haven't been able to do in past years with this young core.

Its like the Islanders were waiting for us to lose patience and try and open up the game. But it never happened this time and that's a sign of a maturing team IMO. Obviously consistent and solid goaltending combined with a team D commitment is critical or the process fails but I must say its some nice seeing this team find a way to close out games more consistently. Credit to the coaching staff and all the players for the buy in.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I think we did NOT play a great game; we failed to skate well enough to smother them and get more shots and goals. NYI is not a good team; we played a poor game. Glad we won, but we could easily have lost this game.

We played an excellent game. NYI came to play and we just suffocated them with outstanding performances by Sanderson, Zub, Jensen and Leevi leading the way. That was a masterclass performance by Sanderson.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

I have been wanting to say this for a while.

There’s a noticeable difference between having a seasoned NHL coach with a well-structured system and accountability versus a coach with no clear plan, leaving players to improvise like it’s backyard hockey.

The clearest indicator of a strong system is how a team responds to injuries among its core players. Instead of falling apart, the team stays competitive. Call-ups can step in and contribute effectively because the system provides structure, clear positioning, and support. Everyone is on the same page, unlike the past several years, where depth players often looked out of place and were quickly sent back down.

When you have a system like this as most successful teams do, anybody can be called up and plugged in and it feels like the team hasn't missed a beat. This is how you build an identity and a culture in the organization.

 

[swiftwin]

I think we did NOT play a great game; we failed to skate well enough to smother them and get more shots and goals. NYI is not a good team; we played a poor game. Glad we won, but we could easily have lost this game.

At this point, I'm convinced you don't actually watch the games. You only look at the scoreboard and shots on goal, then post terrible doomer takes.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I'm still beaming after this game. It was truly a chess masterclass that showed Ottawa's maturity.

I think Staois gotta do what he can with smart moves to get us reinforcements to make playoffs this year. The boys need the taste of playoffs to truly shift the culture on this team and have them taste blood for future years with this core.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

I like how Jacques Martin calls Timmy "Tim Stoodle"

 

[DrEasy]

They got 1 more 5v5 shot than us, but we got significantly better chances, and it shows in the advanced stats;

at 5v5
21-18 in scoring chances
14-5 in High danger chances
2.15 to 1.13 in xGF

All strength we did outshoot then 27-24
25-22 in scoring chances
16-5 in High danger chances
3.05 to 1.23 in xGF

we definitely smothered them, it was the NYI's 3rd worst 5v5 xGF performance of the season, and worst at all year in all situations.

What we didn't do is pepper them with chances, but we still had more all strength xGF (3.05) than the NYI allow on average (2.75)

I agree, but I feel that the eye test tells me (this means I could be wrong) Merilainen still had harder saves to make than Hogberg. The reason this doesn't mesh well with the stats you provide IMO is because on our chances we didn't make good enough shot attempts, we just shot the puck into Hogberg's pads. Our only goal (with the goalie in nets) came on a tipped shot.

And so going forward, as long as we keep taking weak shots and don't make their goalie work hard, I'm afraid our results will depend on the performance of our own goalie. We need a couple of good shooters on this team.

 

[Blotto71]

They got 1 more 5v5 shot than us, but we got significantly better chances, and it shows in the advanced stats;

at 5v5
21-18 in scoring chances
14-5 in High danger chances
2.15 to 1.13 in xGF

All strength we did outshoot then 27-24
25-22 in scoring chances
16-5 in High danger chances
3.05 to 1.23 in xGF

we definitely smothered them, it was the NYI's 3rd worst 5v5 xGF performance of the season, and worst at all year in all situations.

What we didn't do is pepper them with chances, but we still had more all strength xGF (3.05) than the NYI allow on average (2.75)

Holmberg did everything but score 3 goals for the Isles. He's the reason it wasn't 6 - 0.

 

[aragorn]

Holmberg did everything but score 3 goals for the Isles. He's the reason it wasn't 6 - 0.

Hogberg was the goalie, he played for Ottawa one yr.

 

[Cosmix]

I'm still beaming after this game. It was truly a chess masterclass that showed Ottawa's maturity.

I think Staois gotta do what he can with smart moves to get us reinforcements to make playoffs this year. The boys need the taste of playoffs to truly shift the culture on this team and have them taste blood for future years with this core.

I agree the team needs some players who can improve the roster: Probably two top 6 forwards and 1 Defenceman who is better than JBD and Hamonic preferably with some offensive capabilities.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

I have been wanting to say this for a while.

There’s a noticeable difference between having a seasoned NHL coach with a well-structured system and accountability versus a coach with no clear plan, leaving players to improvise like it’s backyard hockey.

The clearest indicator of a strong system is how a team responds to injuries among its core players. Instead of falling apart, the team stays competitive. Call-ups can step in and contribute effectively because the system provides structure, clear positioning, and support. Everyone is on the same page, unlike the past several years, where depth players often looked out of place and were quickly sent back down.

When you have a system like this as most successful teams do, anybody can be called up and plugged in and it feels like the team hasn't missed a beat. This is how you build an identity and a culture in the organization.

I was thinking the same thing. Even with all of the call-ups to replace injured players, the Senators still played a structured and strong defensive game. They’ve learned how to play sound defensive hockey now.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I agree, but I feel that the eye test tells me (this means I could be wrong) Merilainen still had harder saves to make than Hogberg. The reason this doesn't mesh well with the stats you provide IMO is because on our chances we didn't make good enough shot attempts, we just shot the puck into Hogberg's pads. Our only goal (with the goalie in nets) came on a tipped shot.

And so going forward, as long as we keep taking weak shots and don't make their goalie work hard, I'm afraid our results will depend on the performance of our own goalie. We need a couple of good shooters on this team.

Very wrong. Hogberg was fantastic and kept them in it facing much higher chances and more difficult ones.

I agree the team needs some players who can improve the roster: Probably two top 6 forwards and 1 Defenceman who is better than JBD and Hamonic preferably with some offensive capabilities.

I agree about the top 6 forwards. The depth D probably easiest to find. My biggest worry is just the health of the D. Otherwise what we got now is pretty solid + extra depth D.

 

[LiseL]

Mike Bossy so so good

Back in the 80's, NYI were my favorite team because of Bossy & Potvin. Trottier wasn't bad either lol.

 

[Blotto71]

Hogberg was the goalie, he played for Ottawa one yr.

Ya, that's who I meant. Didn't take the time to check the sp. Thanks for correcting.

Edit: check that, I thought it was Hellberg, so totally missed on Hogberg - but he actually played several seasons with the Sens and B-Sens. Hellberg only played part of one season.

 

[LiseL]

Definitely had a huge scare when he took that puck to the ankle and had to be helped off the ice.

Huge sigh of relief when he got back to the bench.

During his interview on CIH, he talked about how he hates breaking in new equipment so his shin pads are old, probably thin. Maybe he'll now change them. He mentioned they only thing he really changed this year was thicker shoulder pads (for obvious reasons) and a longer stick.

 

[aragorn]

Ya, that's who I meant. Didn't take the time to check the sp. Thanks for correcting.

Edit: check that, I thought it was Hellberg, so totally missed on Hogberg - but he actually played several seasons with the Sens and B-Sens. Hellberg only played part of one season.

Just checked it is Hogberg G for the Isles hahaha