GDT: Ottawa Senators at Vancouver Canucks - 10PM - TSN5/RDS2 - Putting 2023 in the back of the net. Letting the Goals Rain Down in Rain City Edition

[Cosmix]

I have a plan.

All players bring their pillows and stuffed animals for road trips. They are mentally weak.

They need their props

A "cunning" plan, Baldrick?

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Jacques calling out the players. Amazing. It has begun

 

[Cosmix]

The more I watch the more I am convinced that a piece of the "core" will end up being moved this offseason.

That would be inconsistent with the team's goal of "stability"!

 

[Cosmix]

Turned that garbage off, onto X-Files now.

I went to bed!

With no 1st used in the last two drafts, and with another 1st to be surrendered to the NHL. That Dadonov punishment is absolutely crippling to our franchise.

It was Dorion who crippled our franchise.

 

[h2]

It was Dorion who crippled our franchise.

Absolutely.

Such a boneheaded situation.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

You are obviously not in synch with the owner , POHO and GM who think what we need is "stability"!

This team lacks intelligent defensive play by many of its forwards and D. Yes, they lack fight too. I did not like how the team played under DJ and I feel the same about what we are seeing under Jacques. Jacques might not be up to the task at his age.

Talk about being in synch. Might want to give Jacques and Alfie a minute.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

I think there's a misconception whereby people think that, because fans wanted DJ fired, that he's somehow solely to blame for the poor performances.

Au contraire, it has more to do with the fact that it's easier to fire a couple of coaches than completely overhaul the core of a cap-constrained professional hockey team.

That and we need more data with a different look behind the bench before making wholesale changes.

I don't want people to think I'm making excuses for how crappy our players have been for the most part this year.

Man why do you have to provide sensical, logical and non confrontational responses. Now I don't know what to do other than to nod my head in agreement.

 

[NyQuil]

Man why do you have to provide sensical, logical and non confrontational responses. Now I don't know what to do other than to nod my head in agreement.

Sometimes my shameful moderator past catches up to me.

 

[DrEasy]

Where you mention our D being under pressure, one thing I took notice of in the first was how hard the Canucks forecheckers were placing pressure on our D. (I assume its a tactic they use often or maybe just to exploit certain teams -- but I admittedly just haven't watched enough Canuck games to notice) Basically they would have F1 go hard at the Sens D with the puck and cause panic. At the same time the F2 would hang back just a little bit or start tracking closer to the passing option (normally the other Sens D) and go hard at them once a pass was attempted. Our D (as do others) often like to pass back and forth and/or eventually regroup behind the net to get more time and space to assess breakout options. Canucks knew that going in and took well advantage. You are correct, our forwards need to come back deep and provide more options when that is happening. By the time they started adjusting it was too late.

That all said, the bounces were exceptionally wild in that first period and definitely not in our favor. Ifs and or buts are candy or nuts, but If the points were covered better, a big save or two were made, maybe another shot block in there and then the comeback isn't exactly insurmountable. Following the first though its hard to say if we adjusted much other than compete a bit harder or if the Canucks just completely took foot off the gas. Probably combination of both.

Someone pointed out earlier that awful goal song. Reminds me of one the Habs used a few years ago. Some kind of annoying and obnoxious sounding. Song has been in my head all day today. If that is what they are going for then I guess it certainly does the job. LOL

The goal song is Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds! I think it's a great song, and in that context indeed very annoying for the opponent. I guess I like it cause I'm a child of the 80s.

 

[armani]

It was a very painful game to watch, but I am a diehard Sens fan. Even shouting #MelnykOut I have averaged 6 games (x2 tickets) a year at CTC.

I chose to listen to the announcers and continued to watch the 2nd to see their response. Screamed like we won the Stanley Cup on the first goal. Giroux was really channeling his inner Alfie.

They controlled most of 2nd and some of 3rd, but the goaltending continues to be the achilles heel. f***ing Forsberg and Korpisalo need to get their game up a level. Like much of the team, so much inconsistency. Jacques and Alfie have their work cut out for them. This is a transition year.

 

[NyQuil]

They controlled most of 2nd and some of 3rd, but the goaltending continues to be the achilles heal.

It's hard to even get excited about that when you spot the other team a 5-0 lead.

I'm sure Vancouver appreciated being able to take two periods off in the middle of a grinding long season.

 

[Cosmix]

Yup. The coaches did not have the players in camp, very little practice time, and after the super light pre-Christmas schedule have about the worst schedule remaining possible.

This was never going to be a quick turn around.

However, it would be easy to change the D zone structure and strategy with an X and O session.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I think there's a misconception whereby people think that, because fans wanted DJ fired, that he's somehow solely to blame for the poor performances.

Au contraire, it has more to do with the fact that it's easier to fire a couple of coaches than completely overhaul the core of a cap-constrained professional hockey team.

That and we need more data with a different look behind the bench before making wholesale changes.

I don't want people to think I'm making excuses for how crappy our players have been for the most part this year.

We want to hear Swiftwin's take. You are letting him off the hook.

Ok. Why do you think our players have been crappy for most of the year? I'm holding out until I hear that.

 

[armani]

It's hard to even get excited about that when you spot the other team a 5-0 lead.

I'm sure Vancouver appreciated being able to take two periods off in the middle of a grinding long season.

Yes, Ottawa bared their teeth when Vancouver let off the gas pedal, but at least we saw a response. I was angry to lose sleep over this game. It will take a minute for Jacques to put his earprints on the team, so I am still living a sadistic, Sens fan life of finding pleasure in pain.

 

[NyQuil]

We want to hear Swiftwin's take. You are letting him off the hook.

Ok. Why do you think our players have been crappy for most of the year? I'm holding out until I hear that.

We've seen some of these exact same players play better last year with the same coach.

So what, DJ got worse as a coach this year?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

We've seen some of these exact same players play better last year with the same coach.

So what, DJ got worse as a coach this year?

No no ... I want to hear your view not my view. Just tell us like we have no preconceived notions. You don't want to make excuses for how crappy the players have been .. so why have they been?

Who is DJ?

 

[DueDiligence]

. I thought Jacques and Alfie would have changed things in our D zone by now. Not sure why they continue to allow this poor structure.

This team lacks intelligent defensive play by many of its forwards and D. Yes, they lack fight too. I did not like how the team played under DJ and I feel the same about what we are seeing under Jacques. Jacques might not be up to the task at his age.

You guys are too funny asking for immediate results.

The Sens remind me of those really obese people on the TV show "My Six Hundred lb. Life". They want to change their eating habits and lifestyle , their family and friends want them to change and the doctor wants them to change. And progress does get made but there are always setbacks combined with that.
But the reality is that it took years to get them in this state and old habits and thoughts are hard to overcome. Some adapt more than others , some never do , but it takes time to fix what is wrong.

 

[NyQuil]

No no ... I want to hear your view not my view. Just tell us like we have no preconceived notions. You don't want to make excuses for how crappy the players have been .. so why have they been?

Who is DJ?

Well, I think Stutzle is playing hurt, for one, and has been for awhile. Nevertheless, he clearly has issues channelling his frustrations and probably has the worst poker face of any NHL player I've ever seen. Looking at the refs constantly doesn't help his case. It's hard to tell whether he's just really hard on himself or whether he thinks he's being victimized out there.

Norris isn't even close too being back to his former self, if he ever will be.

I also think that missing Pinto, Grieg and Joseph for stretches has removed some of the hardest working, grinding and forechecking capacity from the team and proves that putting out a bunch of skill guys doesn't work.

Kubalik and MacEwan are net negatives in terms of their contributions on the ice.

I think losing Chabot for as many games as he's missed has exposed the depth issues on the defensive corps, with none of JBD, Hamonic or Brannstrom really showing much of a capacity to step into a top 4 role, no matter how brief.

Chabot has been maligned for his adventures with the puck but Chychrun is remarkably similar in terms of being too creative in vulnerable areas on the ice.

Sanderson is being asked to do too much in his sophomore season, and like a lot of young defencemen out there, is probably getting fatigued by the grind of the NHL season.

Batherson is playing better than last year but that's not saying very much since last year was a giant pile of crap. He's certainly not playing up to his capabilities and keeps making the same mistakes he's been making for the past two years.

Tkachuk's "power game" is far too inconsistent and he's taking bad penalties and getting emotionally exposed at inconvenient times during games.

Our goalies haven't been good enough. I get that the team defence is a massive factor but saveable shots are still saveable shots.

It's been pretty much a full-team effort. Even Giroux and Tarasenko, as veterans, I think they've been a little more reliable, but they've had their share of bad plays too.

Aside from Joseph and maybe Grieg, is anyone playing better than last year? Batherson, but with the season he had, it's not that hard.

 

[Cosmix]

Staios comments around having solid pieces, but those pieces having to fit, was very telling.

He will be making big changes at the deadline, draft and summer.

My assessment of Staios, at this time and after his short time with us, is that he is slow to make important decisions when he has sufficient information to do so.

I also think he may not understand what "best in class" really means.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Well, I think Stutzle is playing hurt, for one, and has been for awhile. Nevertheless, he clearly has issues channelling his frustrations and probably has the worst poker face of any NHL player I've ever seen. Looking at the refs constantly doesn't help his case. It's hard to tell whether he's just really hard on himself or whether he thinks he's being victimized out there.

Norris isn't even close too being back to his former self, if he ever will be.

I also think that missing Pinto, Grieg and Joseph for stretches has removed some of the hardest working, grinding and forechecking capacity from the team and proves that putting out a bunch of skill guys doesn't work.

Kubalik and MacEwan are net negatives in terms of their contributions on the ice.

I think losing Chabot for as many games as he's missed has exposed the depth issues on the defensive corps, with none of JBD, Hamonic or Brannstrom really showing much of a capacity to step into a top 4 role, no matter how brief.

Sanderson is being asked to do too much in his sophomore season, and like a lot of young defencemen out there, is probably getting fatigued by the grind of the NHL season.

Batherson is playing better than last year but that's not saying very much since last year was a giant pile of crap. He's certainly not playing up to his capabilities and keeps making the same mistakes he's been making for the past two years.

Tkachuk's "power game" is far too inconsistent and he's taking bad penalties and getting emotionally exposed at inconvenient times during games.

Our goalies haven't been good enough. I get that the team defence is a massive factor but saveable shots are still saveable shots.

It's been pretty much a full-team effort. Even Giroux and Tarasenko, as veterans, I think they've been a little more reliable, but they've had their share of bad plays too.

It can become an essay pretty quickly. These are broad strokes.
Attention to details. Taking pride in defending and playing the right way . Disciplined play without the puck. There are so many details of the game this team is lacking.

 

[NyQuil]

It can become an essay pretty quickly.

You asked about the players.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

You asked about the players.

not following this comment. Was I not talking about the players.

 

[Cosmix]

Here it is again for the lulz:

Korpi should have made that save. Batherson did do something dumb.

 

[NyQuil]

not following this comment. Was I not talking about the players.

I thought you were criticizing my essay as overly descriptive.

Korpi should have made that save. Batherson did do something dumb.

He did indeed.

 

[Cosmix]

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It's that time again!