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

[Cosmix]

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.

To accomplish that either Forsberg would need to be traded or Ullmark gets injured. I prefer the former to create the cap room.

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

Yes, I have seen far too many such teams.

 

[Cosmix]

We need this two week vacation so badly. One more game and we get a badly needed break

Yes we do, to allow players (Norris and Pinto) to recover from injuries. However, it's too bad other teams also get a break.

 

[Cosmix]

The five hole shot gets brought up because we truly try it every time(hyperbole) and it’s crazy to me.

Okay we disagree. I don’t think this team has high high end offensive talent.

First line step on the ice the other team shits their pants.

Or even a guy who simply tilts the ice every shift.

I don’t think stutzle will get there

I think a lot of teams have 2 better offensive players than Stutzle who is undoubtedly our best offensive player. Can we beat those teams? Ya sometimes for sure.

I think we’re missing a piece who is our best player personally. Not a piece that can help our “top 6”

We could definitely use a player who would be on the top line with Stutzle; pushing Batherson down to 2RW and Giroux to 3RW.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

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 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.

His goals have mostly been in tight bang bang plays. Every time he has a chance to snipe or hammer one home he misses. His shot is very whatever

 

[branch]

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 .

Forsberg yes. Even if he does get claimed whatever. The team plays better in front, the numbers are better, and if he gets claimed someone takes his contract off the books and we have the flexibility to do more

 

[Mr Hat]

I think healthy we match up pretty well against Tbay. We went 3-1 against them last year, and both loses this year were actually close games down to the final few mins, despite the odds stacked against us due to scheduling nonsense and injuries.

While both losses this year were close it’s more a high level picture of our strengths and weaknesses vs them.

Usually our goaltending is a strength, but not against them. Slight edge for them.

Offense is large edge for them with four players above us for goals scored.

Defense Ottawa slight edge with more depth but Herman is the best player overall.

PP small edge them (especially recently), PK large edge them.

Both teams play solid systems hockey. We stack up better against Toronto and other teams that rely on rush hockey and individual efforts. Tampa beats us at our own game in many areas.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

While both losses this year were close it’s more a high level picture of our strengths and weaknesses vs them.

Usually our goaltending is a strength, but not against them. Slight edge for them.

Offense is large edge for them with four players above us for goals scored.

Defense Ottawa slight edge with more depth but Herman is the best player overall.

PP small edge them (especially recently), PK large edge them.

Both teams play solid systems hockey. We stack up better against Toronto and other teams that rely on rush hockey and individual efforts. Tampa beats us at our own game in many areas.

Tampa is especially tough because they're strong on both the cycle and rush. I think we fair better against Florida since they're super ridiculous on the cycle but weak on the rush.

 

[Micklebot]

While both losses this year were close it’s more a high level picture of our strengths and weaknesses vs them.

Usually our goaltending is a strength, but not against them. Slight edge for them.

Offense is large edge for them with four players above us for goals scored.

Defense Ottawa slight edge with more depth but Herman is the best player overall.

PP small edge them (especially recently), PK large edge them.

Both teams play solid systems hockey. We stack up better against Toronto and other teams that rely on rush hockey and individual efforts. Tampa beats us at our own game in many areas.

Well, the fact is over the last three seasons, Ottawa is 6-4-0 against Tampa. You may not think match up well on paper, but when it comes to on the ice, the results are what they are.

 

[Mr Hat]

Well, the fact is over the last three seasons, Ottawa is 6-4-0 against Tampa. You may not think match up well on paper, but when it comes to on the ice, the results are what they are.

I don’t think the three year record has much relevance to who is more likely to win our last game of the series or a playoff series. I think we have a chance vs any team if we are firing on all cylinders at the right time. But I’d rather face off vs a lot of teams before the bolts.

 

[Micklebot]

I don’t think the three year record has much relevance to who is more likely to win our last game of the series or a playoff series. I think we have a chance vs any team if we are firing on all cylinders at the right time. But I’d rather face off vs a lot of teams before the bolts.

I think we match up well against them because they aren't overly physical, and they don't have the depth the used to. Our past results are evidence that we've played strongly against them in, not sure what more can be said..

They are, in fact, the team we've scored the most against over the last 3 seasons (per 60 all situations), and defensively we've done well keeping them at bay.

The fact that we kept orselves in the last two road games despite a schedule that had us open up against them on the tail end of a back to back with travel while they sat at home and rested, and in spite of being down two top 9 centers bodes very well for our chances in the final home game against them if we get Norris and Pinto back.

I'm far more worried about the Canes or NJD than I am about Tbay, those are teams we don't match up well against.

 

[Mr Hat]

I think we match up well against them because they aren't overly physical, and they don't have the depth the used to. Our past results are evidence that we've played strongly against them in, not sure what more can be said..

They are, in fact, the team we've scored the most against over the last 3 seasons (per 60 all situations), and defensively we've done well keeping them at bay.

The fact that we kept orselves in the last two road games despite a schedule that had us open up against them on the tail end of a back to back with travel while they sat at home and rested, and in spite of being down two top 9 centers bodes very well for our chances in the final home game against them if we get Norris and Pinto back.

I'm far more worried about the Canes or NJD than I am about Tbay, those are teams we don't match up well against.

I would say last two years is irrelevant. Our playing style is completely different now. Their goal differential suggested to me they were stronger than their ranking so wasn’t surprise to see this push.

They aren’t as deep as their peak years but their top players come to play in big games and have the winning culture to win when the pressure is on. Kucherov, Point, Hedman, and Vasy can carry a team on their own.

As far as confidence of winning a series against the Eastern teams I see it like this:

1. Scary - Carolina, Florida,
2. Tough to beat - Tampa, NJ, Washington
3. Beatable - Toronto, Detroit, Boston, CBJ