GDT: Stanley Cup Playoffs | ROUND 1: GAME 2 | Sens @ Leafs | Battle of Ontario Returns Edition | Tue Apr 22 2025, 7:30PM | CBC, SN, TVAS

[LiseL]

You only lose one player, so protect 2 goalies if you need to. I doubt both drafts happen in the next 4 years. Teams will want time to absorb the losses.

According to the NHL expansion rules, you can only protect 1 goalie in both scenarios. So if you have to protect Ullmark and you don't want to lose Leevi, you'd either have to give up something to the expansion team so they draft another player or convince Ullmark to give up his protection. Even if Ullmark improves in the playoffs, he's 31 years old so not a long-term option beyond his contract.

 

[Sun God Nika]

I think the real issue is...how much does anyone expect this core to develop? The only one that I believe still has significant growth is Sandy. The rest of our guys might get a bit more polished, but I don't see any real improvement left. They are what they are....a very flawed core.

Players with a lot of room for growth still.
Kleven, Pinto, Stützle, Greig, Merilainen, Sanderson

Players who might still have one more gear to unlock.
Batherson, Matinpalo, Zetterlund, Cozens

Players who are finished products
Tkachuk, Chabot, Giroux, Ullmark, Zub

 

[LiseL]

Staios thus far has shown himself to be a good GM. If he were running this over Pierre from the beginning we'd probably be in a way better spot. I say probably because they did nail the 2020 draft out of the park. Not much else though.

I maintain we're probably going to have to go through another rebuild or major retool centered around Sanderson, Stu, Yak and maybe Pinto/Greig. At least, we seem headed that way barring a blockbuster trade or a couple of picks hit it big soon.

I'd add Leevi to that list if his great play continues.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Just log off dude, you're embarrassing yourself.

Going band for band with batherson

 

[OD99]

Honestly, if Batherson demolished Domi with a hit, I wouldn't be surprised if we got a penalty lol

This is why inconsistent reffing is so ass. It can plant seeds in a players head to not engage as much, which is even worse for guys who are already defensively shit like Bath who don't need any more reason to not step it up in their own end.

He has to make that hit. Batherson would have had to do something crazy for it to not be a legal check. Would have been head on.

On top of that, he would have been an instant legend. Not only does he backcheck to break up the play after his gaff, he blows up Domi?! We would be talking about that play in a very different way for years.

Instead, it's compounding a problem and putting the Senators in a very tough spot.

 

[OD99]

Truth be told, all of this analysis is meaningless if our goalie is getting outplayed by theirs.

We have had some incredible looks.

Game 1 - Brady breakaway then Pinto wide open early in 2nd period. If either score we are tied 2-2 and it could be a completely different game.

Game 2 - just the final shift after it was tied we have Batherson toe drag and ready to fire in the slot and he puts it wide then Cozens can't raise it enough to go bar down.

Yes Ullmark has to be better, but we need our skill guys to bear down and score on their great looks, too.

 

[OD99]

Players with a lot of room for growth still.
Kleven, Pinto, Stützle, Greig, Merilainen, Sanderson

Players who might still have one more gear to unlock.
Batherson, Matinpalo, Zetterlund, Cozens

Players who are finished products
Tkachuk, Chabot, Giroux, Ullmark, Zub

What? This is ridiculous.

Brady has loads of room to round out his game, as do all of Batherson, Manti, Zetterlund and Cozens. These guys are around 25 years old, they have not peaked as overall players.

The others are probably what we see, but even Chabot can continue to mature his defensive game.

 

[Micklebot]

We have had some incredible looks.

Game 1 - Brady breakaway then Pinto wide open early in 2nd period. If either score we are tied 2-2 and it could be a completely different game.

Game 2 - just the final shift after it was tied we have Batherson toe drag and ready to fire in the slot and he puts it wide then Cozens can't raise it enough to go bar down.

Yes Ullmark has to be better, but we need our skill guys to bear down and score on their great looks, too.

There was also that Zetterberg shot in game 1 that went off Stolarz shaft on a wide open net

The difference in this series so far is goaltending, and I guess shooters not finishing on their chances, kind of the same thing, but from a different perspective.

Score effect is part of it since we've been down 2 early in both games, but we've controlled the underlying numbers in a way you wouldn't have likely expected going in. 60% scoring chance, 54% HDCF, 55% xGF

I don't think Ullmark has let in a bad goal yet, but he simply hasn't made key saves either and the other guy has.

 

[maclean]

all this talk about protecting goalies in expansion - is there an expansion team in the works i haven't heard about?

 

[Sun God Nika]

all this talk about protecting goalies in expansion - is there an expansion team in the works i haven't heard about?

Remember reading somewhere Houston and Atlanta are pretty much guaranteed teams in the next 2-3 years

 

[DueDiligence]

How? You need to draft these players. Nobody is giving them away.

The Senators might be able to pick up a 30 goal scorer as a FA or in a trade. Giroux's $6.5 million will come off the books.

 

[DueDiligence]

Why am I the only one talking about the faceoff issue? That is what is killing us. Everything stems from that. It's actually remarkable how well we have played and how much possession we've had despite being crushed on faceoffs. Our faceoff win% % has dropped by 10% compared to the regular season, Toronto's has increased by half a point. Both Ottawa and Toronto were top 5 faceoff teams during the regular season.

You aren't. I mentioned in another thread that if Giroux is not winning faceoffs what is he doing for us?

 

[benjiv1]

Don’t want to make a thread, but should be a Sens related business announcement coming today.

 

[benjiv1]

Don’t want to make a thread, but should be a Sens related business announcement coming today.

Oh it’s already out there it looks like.
Andlauer sold his business for like 2.2B.

 

[Loach]

What does this mean?

 

[swiftwin]

He has to make that hit. Batherson would have had to do something crazy for it to not be a legal check. Would have been head on.

On top of that, he would have been an instant legend. Not only does he backcheck to break up the play after his gaff, he blows up Domi?! We would be talking about that play in a very different way for years.

Instead, it's compounding a problem and putting the Senators in a very tough spot.

Batherson got a penalty for this in game 1:


I wonder how much that penalty played a role in all of this.

 

[bicboi64]

Batherson got a penalty for this in game 1:


I wonder how much that penalty played a role in all of this.

This is my most hated call in the series.

Two guys just battling for positioning being called as a bloody penalty. Those refs suck beyond measure

 

[Cosmix]

I agree with this. They're not playing like shit but I don't see that playoff intensity yet like the Leafs are obviously showing. It has to be due to nerves but this series will be over fast if they don't get over it ASAP.

I think the reason is because the coaching staff has not demanded intensity, consistency and playing the "right way" during the regular season so some of the players think that playing the game the way they have is acceptable.

 

[Cosmix]

What kills me more is his backcheck where he goes for the puck instead of Domi. Rookie mistake.

Brutal way to lose

I disliked both of Batherson's plays. Passing the puck to a player who is closely covered with a weak backhand is #1 leading to a Leaf attack and our Fs being caught going the wrong way. Then he follows it up with a weak fishing trip back into our D zone. Torts would not tolerate that kind of shit and would have eradicated it over the season!

 

[flyingfingers]

I think the reason is because the coaching staff has not demanded intensity, consistency and playing the "right way" during the regular season so some of the players think that playing the game the way they have is acceptable.

I disagree. I don't think intensity or playing "the right way" has been a problem at all.

Did Batherson and Cozens make mistakes on that OT goal? Yes. But for the most part, the team has played a pretty buttoned up game through the first 120 minutes. The effort is there.

What have the issues been?

- the PK (and nutso penalty calls) in game 1
- Ullmark not being able to make the big save, especially early on
- not having firepower up front (which we knew would be a challenge coming in, as it was all year)

As much as everyone thought we had a shot against the Leafs because of their past playoff record, it was always going to be a long shot. They play very differently that in years past.

Their D is bigger and is very good at keeping teams to the outside, their goalie doesn't give up bad goals, and they're perfectly willing to dump it in and give up possession if a good play isn't there.

That's not an ideal matchup for a team that lacks offensive creativity and has a hard time scoring from distance. We don't have anyone, really, that can beat goalies clean with their shot, and that's a problem if we can't get inside.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

What does this mean?

Means he's got a lot of cash for July 1st.

 

[OD99]

Batherson got a penalty for this in game 1:


I wonder how much that penalty played a role in all of this.

I hope not at all. Goldfish!

That would be the hit of the playoffs sometime!

 

[HoweHullOrr]

They need somebody to lead. Guys to step up and be more for a game. Bobby Ryan stepped up for a series. Remember when Havlat went off for a series? Alfie could change the game with his play. Karlsson could do it with his play annnd would rip people on the bench. Neil would say enough is enough. Different players at different times holding each other accountable. I think they are learning that right now. Sometimes you you have to look your pal in the eye and tell them "You're playing like shit. Get it together. Now." Not in practice or the dressing room....on the ice, the bench.

Well, yes lead I suppose, but they definitely need a skater that can score. 5 v 5 scoring has been an issue in the regular season & it continues again so far in the playoffs. We are definitely going to need to score more goals. 2 goals is frequently not enough.

 

[DylanSensFan]

I guess I’ll have to be the buzzkill again but Leevi is going to get Daccord’d when the inevitable expansion draft happens soon. Ullmark has an NMC and it’s mandatory we protect him.

Cool stuff.

Not happening.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Just finished. Quite sad.