GDT: GAME 50 | Mighty Ducks @ Senators | Let's Go Streaking Edition | Thursday February 15th, 7PM | TSN5, RDS2

[Micklebot]

Guenette coming up.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Hopefully Branny sees more minutes than Hamonic. Brannstrom has this uncanny ability to step up. In short term situations. Has done it the last two years and again last game thought he was great.

 

[Tuna99]

They need to win like 4 out of every 5 games.


That means every loss needs to be accompanied by 4 wins.

They lose 2 or 3 and they gotta win 8-12 games to make up for those 2-3 losses.

Basically, any loss almost kills our chances...and we have over 30 games left. 30 games to almost lose only a handful.

But this is the Ottawa Senators - it’s what we do

They WILL make the playoffs. Can’t really see this going any other way.

Ridley Greig’s empty net goal wasn’t a troll attempt - it was the announcement Ottawa is for Real and we’re coming for every good team in the league

 

[Golden_Jet]

We need to go about 23-10 over our next 33 games to make the playoffs. (92 points)

It means we'll have to play at roughly the same winning percentage as a top 3 team in the leage to close out the rest of the season. So like Dallas or Boston good.

So we can only drop 10 more games.

Tall order, but I'm in. Go Sens Go!

The only stat I look at for standings, is win loss differential.
Sens are a -3, and wings are a +8.

 

[Flamingo]

But this is the Ottawa Senators - it’s what we do

They WILL make the playoffs. Can’t really see this going any other way.

Ridley Greig’s empty net goal wasn’t a troll attempt - it was the announcement Ottawa is for Real and we’re coming for every good team in the league

Can't believe the number of fans that don't see this.

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

The NHL dropped the use of Winning Percentage many years ago, when they introduced the Loser point for teams losing in OT/SO, and began using Points Percentage

That "win" wasn't from me, that was a quote from someone else.
You should have replied to that person.

 

[SensFactor]

Ducks just got clapped 5-0 against MTL...expect some fight in them tonight.

 

[Micklebot]

That "win" wasn't from me, that was a quote from someone else.
You should have replied to that person.

Or, you know, just not worry about it since everyone understands what was meant and being pedantic about it doesn't really accomplish anything aside from maybe annoying the person you're ostensibly trying to "correct"...

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I'm being cautious too.

The last few seasons have taught me it's a lot easier for you to have no expectations and get wins then it is to have expectations and be disappointed by losses.

Like the other poster has said, we've seen late season winning streaks where everyones stats look good, and they look more structured, dominating the play. We've seen it before, and that's exactly why we've predicted big gains.

We've always come back down to earth. I still get worried we'll give up a bunch of easy goals and lose momentum and lose games. We're still allowing weak goals. Do either of your goalies give you confidence when the other team has all the momentum?

It's gonna take more than a 10-12 game sample size to make sure the ship has been righted. Heck, it will take more than 30-40 games.

I totally understand the hesitation for some. Personally, I feel like it looks different than any of the runs under DJ. It's not outscore the other team and ride the waves, it's outwork and be organized and be resilient. The 4th line turned competent. Goaltending looks better and not being hung out to dry nearly as much. You can see them properly supporting each other. The players themselves have talked a lot about the positive change from the new coaching group.

I could easily withhold excitement and feel the same, but with JM and Alfie in charge, I think optimism is warranted, their competency can't be questioned, and things are finally going in the right direction. JM and Alfie have a ton of experience while DJ was a rookie coach. I never at any point thought DJ would still be here for this period of the teams path to success, so him leaving was always just another necessary step in the process imo and here we are on to the next step.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Friend of mine gave me tickets to the game... really looking forward to it!

 

[armani]

4th line aka the KKK line lol. Need Kubalik outta there.

Excited to see Guenette. If there was a game for both Zub and Sanderson to miss, this is it. Rubber Duckies suck, hope the boys don't let their foot off the pedal.

 

[Micklebot]

4th line aka the KKK line lol. Need Kubalik outta there.

Yeah... the optics are not good, lol.

 

[Larionov]

Our lack of progress up the standings is the loser point in action. The NHL loves the loser point because it keeps the standings artificially close, and gives you the illusion of progress when in fact you are making none. The fact that some games are worth three points in total, and some two, is absolutely insane, but it works for the NHL so it will stay that way.

As for our exact situation, my attitude has always been that I will pay attention to the standings when we get above ".500", i.e. one more win than losses. Then we can reasonably start looking up. Teams with losing records don't make the playoffs and shouldn't, so there is no sense scoreboard watching until we are a team with a winning record.

 

[bicboi64]

I hope we destroy the stupid ducks, the one team that will rival my hatred for the leafs

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

Or, you know, just not worry about it since everyone understands what was meant and being pedantic about it doesn't really accomplish anything aside from maybe annoying the person you're ostensibly trying to "correct"...

I was being pedantic and the other person wasn't?

And with all the crap that goes on here, that's what the mods are complaining about?

 

[Very Stable Genius]

2007 Stanley Cup Final Revenge Tour, lets f*** them up.

 

[Loach]

Our lack of progress up the standings is the loser point in action. The NHL loves the loser point because it keeps the standings artificially close, and gives you the illusion of progress when in fact you are making none. The fact that some games are worth three points in total, and some two, is absolutely insane, but it works for the NHL so it will stay that way.

As for our exact situation, my attitude has always been that I will pay attention to the standings when we get above ".500", i.e. one more win than losses. Then we can reasonably start looking up. Teams with losing records don't make the playoffs and shouldn't, so there is no sense scoreboard watching until we are a team with a winning record.

I wonder what the standings would like if regulation wins were 3 points?

 

[JackieDaytona]

I totally understand the hesitation for some. Personally, I feel like it looks different than any of the runs under DJ. It's not outscore the other team and ride the waves, it's outwork and be organized and be resilient. The 4th line turned competent. Goaltending looks better and not being hung out to dry nearly as much. You can see them properly supporting each other. The players themselves have talked a lot about the positive change from the new coaching group.

Totally agree. The focus on details and the change in player's on ice habits is pretty great to see. They've bought in to playing a more defensively sound, responsible game: blocking passes by getting low and taking up space. Getting sticks in lanes all the time. Backchecking and being much more positionally aware in our own end (Tkachuk - amazing to see this from him). Less halfass flyby stickwork, instead they're taking away space on D. Being patient with the breakout and transition and creating open passing lanes rather than always blitzing for the O zone.

It's the care for these details and the fact that they're seeing results from it - this is where the confidence is coming from. It's a winning brand of hockey, free from a reliance of 'bounces going their way' in order to be competitive. Maybe it's not drastic changes in 'structure,' but certainly replacing bad habits with good ones.

I just hope they remember this shit in October rather than wait til January next year.

 

[2CHAINZ]

Send Gordon Bombay back to where he came from.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Totally agree. The focus on details and the change in player's on ice habits is pretty great to see. They've bought in to playing a more defensively sound, responsible game: blocking passes by getting low and taking up space. Getting sticks in lanes all the time. Backchecking and being much more positionally aware in our own end (Tkachuk - amazing to see this from him). Less halfass flyby stickwork, instead they're taking away space on D. Being patient with the breakout and transition and creating open passing lanes rather than always blitzing for the O zone.

It's the care for these details and the fact that they're seeing results from it - this is where the confidence is coming from. It's a winning brand of hockey, free from a reliance of 'bounces going their way' in order to be competitive. Maybe it's not drastic changes in 'structure,' but certainly replacing bad habits with good ones.

I just hope they remember this shit in October rather than wait til January next year.

Yes, you make a lot of good points. I don't pretend to be an X's and O's guy, but I see much better gap control, better boxing out in front of the net, blocking more lanes for both passes and shots. Sticking with plays and digging deep. Generally, a much more lively, confident group. Lots of good things to see happening out there.

 

[Flamingo]

I wonder what the standings would like if regulation wins were 3 points?

As of Jan. 18, we would still have been last in the East.

What the NHL standings would look like using PWHL points system

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Batherson booted off the pp?

 

[The Waffler]

The cup is ours lads

 

[Alf Silfversson]

4th line aka the KKK line lol. Need Kubalik outta there.

Excited to see Guenette. If there was a game for both Zub and Sanderson to miss, this is it. Rubber Duckies suck, hope the boys don't let their foot off the pedal.

I really liked the Crookshanks - Kelly - Smeagol line for that few games as our 4th line.

If we could find a Gandalf or a Skywalker or something to slot in for Kelly I prefer a Sci-fi /fantasy line to a KKK line. Just my two cents.

 

[WallyD]

I expect some players will be gone at the trade deadline, which will weaken the team for the rest of the season. Better to get some assets and cap space to make the future better than roll with a pretty well no chance hope.

I agree with you. What is the point of a fruitless end-of-season point run that serves only to yield a lower draft entry pick. Why? The future is what is key, not this season.

I prefer leadership (coaches & executives) focus on coaching players to be better and assessing players for fit. It's critical that they know who to invest in and who to move on from. I also want them to give NHL experience and develop a couple of their key 2-3 AHL players, so they can assess their future fit too.

I like your point on asset management and cap space, for greater flexibility in the summer.