GDT: GAME 55 | Senators @ Lightning | Sunshine State of Mind Edition | Thu Feb 6 2025, 7PM | TSN5, RDS

[branch]

They should have kept Merilainen up. They played way differently in front of him.

 

[bicboi64]

They should have kept Merilainen up. They played way differently in front of him.

Forsberg wasn't anything special, but I felt like he gave them a chance to stay in the game but our injury depleted forward core just can't generate enough offense.

 

[Norris4Norris]

It looks like it will be a grind to the end of the season, battling for a playoff spot.

Ullmark has to be a top 5 goaltender and not get injured. Leevi should be playing as well IMO.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

So still couldn't find an answer as to why Forsberg was in instead of Ulmark

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Listen, I know I've said this before, and I agree he’s not the reason they’re losing. I’m also a big fan of his and believe he has a bright future here. But they really should consider sending Ostapchuk down.

I just don’t see how being on pace for 2 goals this season benefits him or the team in the long run. Let him play real minutes and develop his offensive game so that when he’s ready for a full-time role, he can contribute 20-30 points and be the Adam Lowry type, instead of the eight he’s currently projected for.

I get that depth is an issue, but surely you can find a #4C who can provide more offense for a mid-round draft pick.

This team desperately needs scoring, and it would be nice if the fourth line could chip in once in a while.

Send him down and trade a 4th for Nick Bjugstad or something.

 

[bicboi64]

Listen, I know I've said this before, and I agree he’s not the reason they’re losing. I’m also a big fan of his and believe he has a bright future here. But they really should consider sending Ostapchuk down.

I just don’t see how being on pace for 2 goals this season benefits him or the team in the long run. Let him play real minutes and develop his offensive game so that when he’s ready for a full-time role, he can contribute 20-30 points and be the Adam Lowry type, instead of the eight he’s currently projected for.

I get that depth is an issue, but surely you can find a #4C who can provide more offense for a mid-round draft pick.

This team desperately needs scoring, and it would be nice if the fourth line could chip in once in a while.

Send him down and trade a 4th for Nick Bjugstad or something.

I agree, give Halliday or Jenik a chance, Ostapchuk isn't a liability, but he's just meh

 

[DrEasy]

So still couldn't find an answer as to why Forsberg was in instead of Ulmark

Here's my possible explanation: they wanted to play Ullmark in his last game before the break so they can see whether he's fully healthy and can go to the 4 Nations, or whether he should rest during the break. Then they worked it backwards and decided to play Forsberg last night instead.

Not saying it was a good decision or anything! Ultimately I don't think goaltending was the difference anyway last night.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

So still couldn't find an answer as to why Forsberg was in instead of Ulmark

I understood Green said it was because Ullmark was just coming back and had a lot of work in game 1. I did not see the quote yet

found this bit in the article I posted above

Green explained his decision to play his backup in an enormous game as easing Ullmark back from injury. “I think that’s a big part of it,” he said, “We want to get him two of these games.”

“Good chance he’ll play the next one.”

 

[Sensators]

Yes we have injuries but they were missing a team Canada forward too. Didn't love the lines, wish we could generate more.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Yes we have injuries but they were missing a team Canada forward too. Didn't love the lines, wish we could generate more.

IN the 1st one Paul went out pretty early and they missed Cirelli for a good stretch so they were down 2 Cs for that period and Cirelli did come back but.. he was out the next game so that tells us he was playing hurt.
As soon as Pinto went down , with Norris already out .. its asking alot to create Ws against Tampa

Starting 4sberg over Ullmark was a surprise to me as I thought we would have needed a great goal tending performance to have any shot. I'd be much more inclined to stick with Merilainen but Ullmark need a 4 Nations warmup and we would have needed to waive someone to keep Leevi up and return Ullmark to the active roster

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I liked Reinhardt again.

So pick one when we are healthy

Reinhardt or Gaudette.

I dislike Gaudette so that should tell who I am going with

 

[DylanSensFan]

glad I missed this one.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Personally I would have went with Batherson-Stü-Chucky for the first line and then just figure out the rest off of that. We need one line that actually poses a threat in this past game and we had none.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

They should have kept Merilainen up. They played way differently in front of him.

Who gets waived to create the cap space? Matinpalo? We are currently short forwards. We needed to put 2 players on LTIR to create space for Ullmark... Its a bit of a mess with just over 100k in cap space.
We could have waived Forsberg and risked losing him.. That would be a debate .

 

[Back in Black]

So still couldn't find an answer as to why Forsberg was in instead of Ulmark

Guessing it was Ulmark's game to lose Tuesday night!

If that's the case, Ullmark should be in Saturday against the Panthers...

 

[Burrowsaurus]

So pick one when we are healthy

Reinhardt or Gaudette.

I dislike Gaudette so that should tell who I am going with

Gaudette is bad but he somehow scores.

 

[LiseL]

This is not a lineup that's going to win very many NHL hockey games. We can't afford to be without one of Norris/Pinto, let alone both.

Norris and Pinto are huge losses as not only do they produce, they do so much to keep the puck out of our net (great on the PK and in the Dzone, creating turnovers, smart plays for more puck possession time in the Ozone). They can't come back soon enough.

 

[LiseL]

And cousins actually

Gregor's speed too, especially with all the slowpokes in this line-up.

Scratch that, someone else already mentioned it.

 

[LiseL]

That was bad on Chabot to cheat but Forsberg really needs to have that, it went right through him.

But why was he cheating in a tie game? Haven't the coaches been stressing game management all season long? Sigh.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

But why was he cheating in a tie game? Haven't the coaches been stressing game management all season long? Sigh.

If he makes the play he’s seen as a brilliant.

All teams leak.

Tampa was incredible leaky in both games

 

[LiseL]

We're without two top 9 centers,not sure what you expect, but sure let's blame Tkachuk for the lack of offense, scapegoating is way easier.

He's had 1 goal in 14 games and doesn't even play with Norris or Pinto 5v5 so I think it's fair to point out his lack of production. He may be a lot of things, but clutch isn't one of them.

 

[LiseL]

Tampa so good defensively they leave giroux alone. Uhhh. Can’t score?

They gave stutzle an open net. Giroux alone. And gaudetter alone. We can’t score

It's bad enough there are no difference makers on this team, but have you ever seen a group so unclutch as this one?

 

[Cosmix]

Here's my possible explanation: they wanted to play Ullmark in his last game before the break so they can see whether he's fully healthy and can go to the 4 Nations, or whether he should rest during the break. Then they worked it backwards and decided to play Forsberg last night instead.

Not saying it was a good decision or anything! Ultimately I don't think goaltending was the difference anyway last night.

Goaltending did not keep us in the game at the end. The deflected shot that went in was not stoppable by any goaltender. It was a lucky deflection.

However, Forsberg is not long for this team; he will be gone for certain next season as he costs too much with Ullmark getting an $8M salary.

I think he will be gone as soon as Staios has an offer for him that does not cost the team much in salary retention or assets.

Sogaard is also likely on the trading block as he has been beaten out by Merillainen for the backup slot next season.

Gaudette is bad but he somehow scores.

Gaudette knows where to position himself for a pass and shot, and he also has a quick release and relatively accurate shot. His cons include a lack of high-end speed, lack of physical play, and a lack of defensive skills. He has uses but they are limited.

 

[LiseL]

they were our best trio imo
Amadio and Perron were our top 2 CF% performers at over 70%
Greig was 4th in Forwards at over 60%

Amadio's been on a tear recently: 3 goals in 4 games. Can't ask for more than that.

 

[Cosmix]

Who gets waived to create the cap space? Matinpalo? We are currently short forwards. We needed to put 2 players on LTIR to create space for Ullmark... Its a bit of a mess with just over 100k in cap space.
We could have waived Forsberg and risked losing him.. That would be a debate .

Losing Forsberg via waivers would not be a bad thing as Merillaine has outplayed him and Forsberg m most likely will not be here next season anyway. However, I doubt that Staios will waive him and I doubt any team would claim him due to his salary.

Amadio's been on a tear recently: 3 goals in 4 games. Can't ask for more than that.

I can't continue to complain about his slowness if he keeps scoring points because he is contributing on the positive side.