GDT: Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins - 4PM - TSN5 - Happy Feet 3 - The 2nd Sequel

[frightenedinmatenum2]

It's such a nice feeling seeing them respond to what was a terribly low point with a statement game that keeps them in the race for a playoff spot. Hopefully, they can build on that momentum tomorrow.

 

[Ouroboros]

Seems like Zack MacEwen must have had some very insightful and motivational things to say at the team meeting.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Destroying the Penguins was animal cruelty.

Levi is and should be the starter moving forward until Ulmark comes back. There should be no argument about it. Team just plays better in front of him

 

[Micklebot]

Sometimes I think you have to go with the hot hand, especially with younger players.

Normally I am a big proponent of giving both guys a start in a back to back, but I have soo little confidence in Forsberg,

 

[armani]

Pinto and Giroux were specially good today, but Virgin Merilainen is my star of the game with a shutout. Him not letting in an early Forsberg special was key to Ottawa pressing the Penguins.

I would like to see him get more starts vs. Forsberg.

 

[PlayOn]

Hope they start Merilainen tomorrow as we’ll need all the help we can get. NYI is an easier opponent so they can give Forsberg that one, maybe this time he’ll manage to make 12 saves.

But I get it’s a B2B travel so I suspect we will see Forsberg tomorrow.

 

[DackellDuck]

Real nice bounce back. Time to ride Merilainen.

 

[Sensrule]

We're tied for the league lead in shutout victories this season and three goalies have gotten them for us. It's been an interesting season so far to say the least.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Hasn't been good at all for the last 8 games.

He hasn't been scoring. But he looks good out there.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Couldn’t watch the whole thing but managed to watch the short game on YT. Game was at 8:00 Tasmania time lol.

Boys looked good, Pinto was flying out there. Leevi looked great too, aggressive and playing at the top of his crease.

Did Norris get hurt? I saw him go into the locker room.

Also Greig seemed like a little shit, bothering Crosby and getting in scrums. Love that about his game.

Pitts commentators were funny to hear. Complaining about goalie interference and then the Batherson and Stutzle goal. Both goals the ref was right there and the puck was loose.

Norris took a puck in the groin

 

[Ice-Tray]

What a game! This team shows flashes of being excellent. Merry was awesome, can he be our backup of the future?

 

[Ice-Tray]

Sens had a player only meeting after the loss to Buffalo. This was their response coming out of that meeting.

Sens have the best record in the league when they score first.

Pens have allowed a goal on the first shot of the game 9 times this season which is tops in the league.

Giroux has now scored the most points against the Pens of any active player in the league.

Levi is the second youngest Sens goalie to post a shut out.

Go Sens!

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I don't see him struggling. He's in there constantly. He's just not a massive player. But I think he's built for playoff hockey. Norris is a rise to the occasion type of player in my estimation.

He’s had chances to rise to the occasion in the regular season and has not

 

[swiftwin]

He’s had chances to rise to the occasion in the regular season and has not

He regularly does. What about that clutch goal against Detroit with a minute left?

 

[Burrowsaurus]

He regularly does. What about that clutch goal against Detroit with a minute left?

I’m not saying he won’t ever score. But game in game out in a playoff series? I dono.

 

[maclean]

Finally got some puck luck Pens fans've gotta be salty after that one

In all seriousness though, good to see the team lock it down and get Meri his shutty

 

[GCK]

Fairly easy game for Leevi but a quick turnaround likely means Forsberg against Dallas.

Mantipalo looked pretty good.

Zub looking like Zub.

The Norris as whipping boy is typical Sens fandom. Always need to start a narrative and run with it.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Fairly easy game for Leevi but a quick turnaround likely means Forsberg against Dallas.

Mantipalo looked pretty good.

Zub looking like Zub.

The Norris as whipping boy is typical Sens fandom. Always need to start a narrative and run with it.

I don't think there is a narrative around Norris. He had a good game yesterday but was putrid for a long period of time before that.

 

[PlayOn]

I don't think there is a narrative around Norris. He had a good game yesterday but was putrid for a long period of time before that.

There is though. Batherson has been just as bad if not worse and it’s relative crickets in comparison, probably because he only makes 5 million per year.

 

[JD1]

Destroying the Penguins was animal cruelty.

Levi is and should be the starter moving forward until Ulmark comes back. There should be no argument about it. Team just plays better in front of him

I don't think it's an issue of the team playing better in front of Leevi. Forsberg has alternated between great and brutal with more brutal games than great. I think the team plays expecting him to be brutal. When's the shoe gonna drop and he let's in a brutal goal? How many softies? You can't play hockey like that and Forsberg has earned what's in front of him

 

[GCK]

I don't think there is a narrative around Norris. He had a good game yesterday but was putrid for a long period of time before that.

That’s the narrative.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

I don't think it's an issue of the team playing better in front of Leevi. Forsberg has alternated between great and brutal with more brutal games than great. I think the team plays expecting him to be brutal. When's the shoe gonna drop and he let's in a brutal goal? How many softies? You can't play hockey like that and Forsberg has earned what's in front of him

That's exactly what I mean by they play better in front of him. They don't know what to expect from Forsberg so they can't just play their game and worry about back breaking goals against.

There is though. Batherson has been just as bad if not worse and it’s relative crickets in comparison, probably because he only makes 5 million per year.

Well salary will always play a role in discussions and I think Batherson has been a notch or two better than Norris has been.

Batherson has been using his frame and skating well.

 

[aragorn]

Hasn't been good at all for the last 8 games.

The season is 82 games long, he's tied with Batherson for most goals just behind Brady & 5th in pts coming off three shoulder surgeries. He's a top six centre in this league who can play PK & PP, good at faceoffs & plays a 200' defensive game. Look at his total body of work not 8 games.

 

[aragorn]

That’s the narrative.

First they want to get rid of Tkachuk, then they wanted to get rid of Pinto or Greig & now they want to get rid of Norris. They never seem to want to get rid of Stutzle though who has gone long stretches without scoring & has played rather poorly, constantly falling down & losing possession.

 

[Big Muddy]

I’d ride with Leevi as well. But, I do hope that regardless of who is nets that the team will rally around and provide goal support even after a goalie lets in a softie. Its not the end of the game when that happens. Good teams with good goalies will rally even after their goalie let’s in one that he should have had. They know they can still get the Ws even when this happens.