GDT: Ottawa Senators at NJ Devils - 7PM - Sportsnet / TVAS2 - Winning is NOT an Option Edition

[Micklebot]

Our metrics were noticeably better for the first two periods, until we turtled.

Absolutely, but by the end of the game, I don't think there were many if any traditionally quoted metrics where we came ahead.

 

[Senscore]

Boys are gonna have to work harder to tighten things up.

This does not look like the same team as the one we saw in December, and against any of our potential opponents, who all have significantly more playoff experience, we may be quite exposed.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

We got the two points, and had the better metrics this game.

Take you "moral loss" wins and get lost.

Right but we didn’t shut things down like you said

And now it’s becoming a habit of being super super sloppy. Weeks of this now

New Jersey was also very lucky. Although not sure it’s luck I think we would be lucky if we actually buried chances on empty nets. Odds are we DONT score on empty nets.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Boys are gonna have to work harder to tighten things up.

This does not look like the same team as the one we saw in December, and against any of our potential opponents, who all have significantly more playoff experience, we may be quite exposed.

This team looked better against Florida and Tampa pre 4 nations then it has post 4 nations.

Something mental for sure they’re just playing so loose.
Which is not something you could accuse of them very often for the first ~55 games of the season.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I’m gonna start putting my goods and bads post game to balance out my GDT ravings.

Goods
Zetterlund. Thought he was really good and I think will compliment stutzle and Brady really well.
Cozens in the second period. Probably the best period of hockey he’s played for the sens.
Amadio. Dropped down to play with two bad players and still clearly effective.
Teams ability to generate open net chances through grinding


Bad.
Teams ability and poise to actually place puck into empty net
No d man had a great game
Team defence sloppy as it’s been for several weeks now other teams look dangerous as every time they step in the zone.
Brady clearly very injured
Gaudette and highmore not much else to say there

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

I'm all for neutrality but when I started the highlights I thought it was the NJ feed until they specifically said Hockey Night in Canada

Prime broadcast highlights how bad our TSN and SN coverage is. TSN it’s like they are having a chit chat the whole game and what noodles is going to say the few seconds they actually discuss hockey happening on the ice is completely predictable. SN is homer.

 

[Senscore]

This team looked better against Florida and Tampa pre 4 nations then it has post 4 nations.

Something mental for sure they’re just playing so loose.
Which is not something you could accuse of them very often for the first ~55 games of the season.

Ultimately it's going to be up to Green to crack the whip. Gotta start getting back into better habits soon.

 

[Tuna99]

Right but we didn’t shut things down like you said

And now it’s becoming a habit of being super super sloppy. Weeks of this now

New Jersey was also very lucky. Although not sure it’s luck I think we would be lucky if we actually buried chances on empty nets. Odds are we DONT score on empty nets.

We are playing the most desperate teams in hockey and winning on their home ice, I think you’re thinking New Jersey in 2001 shut it down hockey, that hockey doesn’t exist anymore

Since when did dominating a team on their home ice on Saturday night of a team who’s ahead of you in the standings and never looked they had a chance of winning the game leads to “we need to tighten up?

Ottawa played a great game last night, what more could you ask for?

 

[Micklebot]

We are playing the most desperate teams in hockey and winning on their home ice, I think you’re thinking New Jersey in 2001 shut it down hockey, that hockey doesn’t exist anymore

Since when did dominating a team on their home ice on Saturday night of a team who’s ahead of you in the standings and never looked they had a chance of winning the game leads to “we need to tighten up?

Ottawa played a great game last night, what more could you ask for?

The problem is we tried to defend like the 2001 NJD, just dumping the puck the instant we get it rather than push back at all.

Teams are going to get their chances regardless, but because we defaulted to dump and change with zero forchecking in the third, NJD were able to attack with speed gaining the zone with ease and causing some chaos when they got there. It almost cost us.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Say you have $1M to spend on a 4th line centre next year. If you have to choose, do you go with Gaudette or Lazar?

Lazar

 

[Back in Black]

Nice win!

It's our month Baby! Predicting the same for next month, and into the Playoffs. Anything after that will be gravy!!!

Please, please, please be the Leaves in the 1st round!

 

[Micklebot]

Lazar

Gaudette is such a strange player...

So often I'm frustrated with his play, he's doing more than should be expected offensively from a 4th liner, so it's not the bothed chances, but rather the in zone play.

He doesn't fit the archetype for a 4th liner, he's not an energy guy, he's not a hard forchecker and he isn't a particularly good defensive player, but yet despite that eye test he is best on the team in GA/60 at 1.37/60 and 3rd in xGA/60 at 2.19

I think usage is a big part of that, he's very much getting high oz starts and low QOC, I'm an advocate of having a fourth line that can wear down the opposition with physical play, and play a more defensive role, and he really isn't that, so the success he has might be cannibalizing opportunity for the top lines to be more successful.

Idk that Lazar is the answer, I want 2 more cousins on that line, but I do think Lazar is the right archetype for what I want.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

The problem is we tried to defend like the 2001 NJD, just dumping the puck the instant we get it rather than push back at all.

Teams are going to get their chances regardless, but because we defaulted to dump and change with zero forchecking in the third, NJD were able to attack with speed gaining the zone with ease and causing some chaos when they got there. It almost cost us.

You can do that if you’d actually play stingy defence. Which we have not done lately.

Clearing pucks off goal lines with 4 seconds left should not happen.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Lazar

Cousins lazar amadio fourth line

 

[bert]

We are playing the most desperate teams in hockey and winning on their home ice, I think you’re thinking New Jersey in 2001 shut it down hockey, that hockey doesn’t exist anymore

Since when did dominating a team on their home ice on Saturday night of a team who’s ahead of you in the standings and never looked they had a chance of winning the game leads to “we need to tighten up?

Ottawa played a great game last night, what more could you ask for?

Its pretty wild how everyone else forgets its an NHL opponent over there playing from behind at home on a Saturday night.

 

[bert]

You can do that if you’d actually play stingy defence. Which we have not done lately.

Clearing pucks off goal lines with 4 seconds left should not happen.

Believe it or not the other team wants to win too.

 

[Tuna99]

The problem is we tried to defend like the 2001 NJD, just dumping the puck the instant we get it rather than push back at all.

Teams are going to get their chances regardless, but because we defaulted to dump and change with zero forchecking in the third, NJD were able to attack with speed gaining the zone with ease and causing some chaos when they got there. It almost cost us.

I’m more worried about Ullmark giving up 2 goals in the last 30 seconds on the last few games.

We’re a bit lucky, but Ullmark has to completely shit a game down for me to feel he’s playoff ready. Way to many last second goals recently for my liking

 

[SensFactor]

I would like to see Gilbert play against his old team Buffalo and give Kleven a rest.

 

[BankStreetParade]

You guys getting wound up about how we win and how we lose. Nothing should matter except the record this year. We've been out of the playoffs for ages, we're not in a position to be dissecting whether we lost respectably or won in dominating fashion. Wins and losses. That's it. We need wins to get in to the playoffs. Who gives a f*** if we win 10 games this year putting up miserable advanced stats?

 

[Micklebot]

You can do that if you’d actually play stingy defence. Which we have not done lately.

I don't think you really can, it's far more tiring playing defense, stingy defense is fine, but you got to turn that into pressure down ice to give yourself time to complete the change and be in position to slow down the impeding rush, defense isn't just from the blue line in, it starts with the forcherckers.

Clearing pucks off goal lines with 4 seconds left should not happen.

We should just let them score rather than clear the puck I guess.

 

[PatrickEaves]

Absolutely, but by the end of the game, I don't think there were many if any traditionally quoted metrics where we came ahead.

They don't ask how, they ask how much. Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[bert]

You guys getting wound up about how we win and how we lose. Nothing should matter except the record this year. We've been out of the playoffs for ages, we're not in a position to be dissecting whether we lost respectably or won in dominating fashion. Wins and losses. That's it. We need wins to get in to the playoffs. Who gives a f*** if we win 10 games this year putting up miserable advanced stats?

Finding ways to win on the road against playoff teams when it matters is awesome. I agree with you I don't get it... Ending a 2 game slide no less. They took it too NJ for the first two periods. There was gonna be a push back in the third.

This teams come a long way.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Its pretty wild how everyone else forgets its an NHL opponent over there playing from behind at home on a Saturday night.

We were playing from behind at home Thursday.

 

[Micklebot]

Finding ways to win on the road against playoff teams when it matters is awesome. I agree with you I don't get it... Ending a 2 game slide no less. They took it too NJ for the first two periods. There was gonna be a push back in the third.

This teams come a long way.

I'm thrilled with the win but always looking for ways we can improve. I think it's fair to point out where we need to improve, this being a discussion board, it tends to be more interesting to talk about what can be fixed than what's working.

What I don't get is people saying we're playing poorly overall, we clearly did a lot of good things, probably could have had a bigger lead if not for some some missed chances and big saves.

 

[Puikiou]

I would like to see Gilbert play sgainst his old team Buffalo and give Kleven a rest.

Agreed. Kleven has not been very good at all and could use a game off to reset.