Ottawa Senators News

Senators Forum Top 3
Math still puts Sens in playoffs
Comment
March 18
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Could the Ottawa Senators really lose their playoff spot? Yes, they can, but it would be awfully difficult because of what will be happening below them in the standings during the final four weeks of the season. Those fighting for the precious final few playoff spots will be engaged in almost nightly head-to-head battles. There are only so many points to go around. Or, put another way, there are numerous points to be lost by teams along the way. As a result, it's probably going to taker fewer points to qualify for the playoffs than in previous seasons, showing the value of the cushion the Senators built up in late January and early February. Take, for example, the New York Rangers, who are ..."
$606,183 for Roger's House
Comment
March 18
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Sens Foundation got a huge boost Tuesday night, with $606,183 raised during the seventh annual Roger's House Telethon. This will enable the Sens Foundation to meet its ongoing commitment to the region's only paediatric respite and palliative care centre."
Time to worry, Ottawa
Comment
March 18
Ottawa Sun
 columnist Don Brennan
"They blamed at least part of it on a Monster, but what's really scary is an embarrassed, desperate and "urgent" Senators team couldn't beat a group of no-name Toronto Maple Leafs. OK, so there was some passion to the Senators play in a 4-1 loss to the bad Buds at Scotiabank Place on Tuesday. And it's true Toronto goalie Jonas Gustavsson (a.k.a. "The Monster") was solid in making 30 saves. But on the heels of that dog in Vancouver on Saturday -- and with only one win in six games before the latest Battle of Ontario -- the Senators very much needed to get back on track. And they didn't have enough to defeat a last place team. How young are the Leafs? In his sophomore NHL season, 20-year-old ..."
'Tenders need to be saving grace for Sens
Comment
March 18
Ottawa Sun
 
"Let's play Guess The Goalie. Yes, once again, the question of the day revolves around the Senators 'tender: Who will Cory Clouston use against the Atlanta Thrashers? The answer: Where's Mike Brodeur when you need him? Okay, so maybe the situation isn't that dire. The Senators aren't going to push past their two healthy NHL goalies to pull up their minor-league stopper. The fact is, with Ottawa's ineptness in the offensive zone, this team needs starring performances from Brian Elliott and Pascal Leclaire more than ever. Neither is an obvious choice vs. the Thrashers. Clouston's No. 1 guy, Elliott, should have stopped two of Toronto's goals Tuesday and is 1-3 since the break. Leclaire has ..."
Sens keep healthy outlook
Comment
March 18
Ottawa Sun
 
"As magically as it worked the last time they were this low, the Senators resisted any temptation to detour through Central Park for a get-away-from-it-all day on their way to Georgia on Wednesday afternoon. "But there must be some neighbourhoods in Atlanta that we can walk through," GM Bryan Murray said in jest. Without getting hurt, that is. The Senators are in pretty good shape that way. Coach Cory Clouston is hopeful for the return of Mike Fisher and Filip Kuba from their upper and lower-body issues for Thursday's game against the Thrashers. That would mark just the second time this season he's had an injury-free roster to choose from. The other was for a 4-3 win in Florida Oct. 28. If ..."
Four Senators miss practice a day after losing to Leafs
Comment
March 17
Ottawa Citizen
 
"As they prepare for a three-game road trip against the Atlanta Thrashers, the Dallas Stars, and the Montreal Canadiens, the slumping Ottawa Senators were without four of their regulars at Wednesday's practice. Daniel Alfredsson (maintenance), Mike Fisher (upper body), Matt Carkner (undisclosed), and Anton Volchenkov (undisclosed) all missed practice. At least Alfredsson, Carkner, and Volchenkov are expected to play on Thursday in Atlanta, while Fisher's status is uncertain. One bit of good news is that defenceman Filip Kuba, who has been out with a lower-body injury, was back on the ice for practice."
Senators lose to Leafs again
Comment
March 17
Ottawa Citizen
 
"What was that you were saying on Monday, Cory Clouston, about there being no panic among your Ottawa Senators? After a thoroughly embarrassing 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, the Senators coach might be feeling lucky that his team is getting out of Dodge for three games in the next six days. The situation is getting uglier by the game, the collars around the Senators necks tighter with every loss. The Senators are 1-5-1 since returning from the National Hockey League's Olympic break, they've scored a combined five goals in those six losses, and they looked as disoriented as ever in losing the latest installment of the Battle of Ontario. Take nothing away from the spunky ..."
Two back, but Fisher sidelined by injury
Comment
March 17
Ottawa Citizen
 
"For those who saw the glass as half full, the Ottawa Senators welcomed winger Nick Foligno and defenceman Chris Campoli back to the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. For those who saw the glass as half empty, centre Mike Fisher was out, sidelined by an upper- body injury. Coach Cory Clouston didn't elaborate on the extent of the damage to Fisher, except to say it was related to something that had been "nagging" Fisher during the latter stages of the Senators' western Canadian road trip last week. Fisher left Monday's practice early and wasn't on the ice during Tuesday's morning skate, but his injury can't be that serious. He took part in the warmup before the Leafs ..."
Sluggish Sens let rival Leafs roll
Comment
March 17
Toronto Sun
 
"In the season's final chapter of the Battle of Ontario, the Senators might have managed to turn a sense of urgency into a city-wide state of panic. With just 12 games left in the regular season, the Senators' post-Olympic troubles hit a new low Tuesday night with an ugly 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in front of 20,405 spectators at Scotiabank Place. Ottawa's record in its last seven games is now 1-5-1. "We're scratching our heads now, wondering what it's going to take," said Ottawa centre Chris Kelly. The Senators, who are supposed to be getting ready for the playoffs, have to be embarrassed after losing their fourth straight game to the lowly Leafs. Only defenceman Andy Sutton was ..."
Sens told to play with 'urgency'
Comment
March 16
Ottawa Sun
 
"For the Senators, the playoffs start Tuesday night. At least that's the way coach Cory Clouston is telling his players to look at the final 13 games of the season, starting with a clash against their former post-season foes, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Senators, who have lost five of their last six, were instructed before Monday's practice to start playing with the same "urgency" they had in compiling a franchise-record 11-game winning streak in January and February. The demand comes on the heels of an embarrassing 5-1 loss to Vancouver in which the Senators showed very little desire to compete. "We were playing like we had something to lose," said Clouston, whose team built up such a ..."
Where did he go?
Comment
March 16
Ottawa Citizen
 
"In the last four games before the National Hockey League's Olympic break, Alex Kovalev had three goals, four assists, a plus/minus figure of plus-two and 14 shots on goal. In the six games since the break, Kovalev has zero goals, zero assists, a plus/minus of minus-six and 10 shots on net. Welcome to the poster child for the Ottawa Senators' offensive struggles. As a team, the Senators have scored only eight goals while going 1-4-1 since the Games. Take out last Tuesday's 4-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers and they've mustered only four goals in the other five games. Suddenly, the picture in the rear-view mirror isn't so pleasant. The once seemingly insurmountable gap over ..."
Sens to get reinforcements
Comment
March 16
Ottawa Sun
 
"Reinforcements look to be on the way for the slumping Senators as they get set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday at Scotiabank Place. Winger Nick Foligno will probably make his return after missing 12 games with a broken leg, while defenceman Chris Campoli could also be re-inserted after missing the last eight games with knee ligament damage. "It's been a long six weeks," said Foligno, who was playing his best hockey of the season at the time of the injury, said after skating on a line with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek during Monday's practice at Sensplex."
Next round in Carkner, Orr battle coming up
Comment
March 16
Toronto Star
 
"Maple Leafs enforcer Colton Orr has a 3-1 edge in bouts against Senators counterpart Matt Carkner, and Orr has the fingers to prove it. When last these Battle of Ontario contestants met on March 6, Orr scored a knockdown against Carkner, a right-hand punch on the button that vaulted Orr into a commanding lead between the two pugilists. Afterward, Orr skated away from his triumph flashing three fingers to the crowd."
Senators road trip a cause for concern
Comment
March 15
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Every fan of the Ottawa Senators has to be breathing a sigh of relief that their heroes won 11 consecutive games and 14 of 16 before the Olympic break. If not, where would they be now? After losing five of their past six (one in a shootout), probably right on the edge of the playoff line. These would be nervous days, not that they are any less nervous as it is. The Senators tour of western Canada was not only disappointing, but also worrying. It started with a 4-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. Big deal. Everyone beats the Oilers this season. A 2-0 loss to the Calgary Flames was cruel, considering how badly the Senators outplayed the Flames. Still, good teams find a way to beat good ..."
Canucks power to 5-1 win over Senators in return to GM Place
Comment
March 14
Vancouver Province
 
"The Vancouver Canucks didn't just win a game Saturday. They threw a party for 18,000 of their closest friends. The featured entertainment was the Sedin twins, who had one of their most dominating performances in this, their most dominating season. Their surprise guest of honour was Mikael Samuelsson. Snubbed by Team Sweden, he is quickly becoming loved by Vancouver. So is Bengt Ake Gustafsson who, if Samuelsson keeps this up, may wind up with a key to the city. Continuing to turn just about everything he touches into goals, Sameulsson got Saturday's welcome back party rocking with two goals, including the first, leading the Canucks to a 5-1 romp over the helpless Ottawa Senators. The ..."
Senators struggling to light the lamp
Comment
March 14
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Ottawa Senators have gone from red hot to punchless in a matter of a few weeks. The team that reeled off a franchise record 11 straight wins before the Olympic break has gone 1-4 since the NHL schedule resumed, scoring just three goals in those four defeats. Senators coach Cory Clouston wasn't about to press the panic button after Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Calgary Flames. After all, the Senators fired 33 shots on goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and the Flames blocked an incredible 30 shots. Tonight, the Senators play the Vancouver Canucks -- the third-best team offensively (3.24 goals per game) and the ninth-best defensively (2.55 goals-against per game) in the NHL. "It's always a concern ..."
Canucks clobber Senators in triumphant return to GM Place
Comment
March 14
Vancouver Sun
 
"Referees Brad Meier and Brad Watson should have given the Vancouver Canucks two minutes for looking so good. The Canucks, playing their first home since Jan. 27, treated their loyal fans to a dominating performance as they clobbered the Ottawa Senators 5-1. Coach Alain Vigneault's skaters scored twice on the power play, once shorthanded and twice at even strength while holding the Sens to just 14 shots. So much for a letdown after the epic 14-game road trip. Mikael Samuelsson continued his red-hot scoring with two more goals to hit 30 for the season. His previous high was 23. Alex Burrows collected another shortie, breaking a 1-1 tie midway through the middle period to pretty much break ..."
Canucks dominate Senators in Vancouver
Comment
March 14
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Now they have something to think about. The Ottawa Senators return home Sunday weighed down by a disappointing, and worrying, three-game western Canada swing. They won just one game on the trip, beating the NHL-worst Edmonton Oilers 4-1. But they were blanked by the Calgary Flames 2-0 on Thursday, and comprehensively beaten 5-1 by the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night before a Hockey Night in Canada audience. The Senators were the complete opposite of the team that so outplayed the Flames on Thursday, which likely has coach Cory Clouston rethinking the wisdom of giving the team a day off on a rainy Friday in Vancouver. Whatever energy the Senators had in Calgary disappeared before ..."
Sens' Kelly will suit up against Canucks
Comment
March 14
Ottawa Sun
 
"Chris Kelly is returning to the lineup. After missing Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury, Kelly was on the ice for the morning skate Saturday and will suit up against the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place. Coach Cory Clouston is sticking with his promise to give goalie Pascal Leclaire the start. He will be in the net for the first time since he made 30 saves in the club's 2-1 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday in Ottawa. "We feel confident when we play our game we can beat anybody," said Clouston. Vancouver is making its first appearance at home since Jan. 27. The Canucks have been gone for 42 days and finished 8-5-1 during a 14-game road ..."
Kuba's return triggers numbers game on blue line
Comment
March 14
Toronto Sun
 
"The Senators will face decisions about what to do with their blueline corps once they get healthy. Filip Kuba could play as early as Tuesday vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Place, but Chris Campoli, who suffered an MCL sprain to his left knee on Feb. 11, is still two weeks away. Brian Lee seems most likely to return to Binghamton of the AHL. Getting Kuba (lower-body injury) back is key. He plays major minutes. "He's not a real fast guy, he doesn't have the real hard shot, but he does a lot of things well," coach Cory Clouston said before Saturday's game. "He doesn't do anything that stands out. He plays an important role in power play, penalty kill and he just plays with a lot of ..."
Sens take it on chin
Comment
March 14
Toronto Sun
 
"The Senators are staggering home. The Senators took a turn for the worse Saturday night at GM Place, when they took it on the chin in a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks to close out a three-game Western Canada road trip with only two-of-six points as the club's post-Olympic record fell to 1-4-1. Only centre Jason Spezza was able to solve Olympic gold medal winning goalie Roberto Luongo as the Canucks pulled off a victory in their first game at home since Jan. 27 following a 14-game Olympic's inspired road trip. But it should be noted that the Senators didn't put up much of a fight. In fact, Ottawa only mustered a paltry 14 shots in the game. Holding true on a promise to play both ..."
Kevin Bieksa ready to play again Saturday against Ottawa
Comment
March 13
Vancouver Province
 
"Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa is set to make his return to the Canucks Saturday. Out ten weeks because of severed tendons in his leg, Bieksa said doctors cleared him to play Thursday. "I'm ready to play and I think I've been ready to play for a bit," Bieksa said. "The last little part usually takes the longest. I've been patient the last two weeks even though I've been feeling pretty good on the ice." Bieksa skated Friday at the Canucks practice with Shane O'Brien, leaving Aaron Rome as the odd man out on the blueline and the likely scratch against the Ottawa Senators. After surgery in January, Bieksa made his return to the ice in the middle of February. The recovery time was ..."
Sens loss a 'pane' in the butt
Comment
March 13
Ottawa Sun
 
"Playing the Flames turned out to be a pain, or pane, if you prefer, for the Senators. Trying to complete their first sweep of Alberta since 2003, the Senators were forced to deal with a 35-minute delay because of a broken pane of glass and then they couldn't break Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff in a 2-0 loss Thursday night at the Saddeldome. After picking up a 4-1 victory over the Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday, the Senators came up empty on 33 shots as Kiprusoff recorded his 34th career shutout. It's the fourth time this season that Ottawa has been blanked. Jamal Mayers and Chris Higgins scored for the Flames. "We had a lot of good opportunities to score more than one or two goals," said ..."
Sens' Kelly might return versus Canucks
Comment
March 13
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Senators could have C Chris Kelly back from his lower body ailment against the Canucks. Kelly skated in the pre-game warmup Thursday in Calgary, but was a last-minute scratch, which meant RW Shean Donovan was inserted into the lineup. "He's possible," said coach Cory Clouston, who wouldn't add anything further on Kelly's injury. Getting him back to wrap up Ottawa's three-game western road trip is important. Ottawa is 1-1 after winning in Edmonton but losing in Calgary. That left the Senators with one win and three losses since their return from the Olympic break."
Sens brace for golden moment
Comment
March 13
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Senators will get a chance to bask in the afterglow of last month's Winter Games Saturday night. As the Senators prepare to wrap up their three-game Western Canada road swing at GM Place, they'll be the first team in the door against the Canucks, who have finally completed a 14-game road trip through the Olympics that started on Jan. 27. The Senators, coming off a 2-0 loss to the Flames on Thursday, know the atmosphere in the building is going to be raucous as Canuck fans welcome back Team Canada gold medal-winning goalie Roberto Luongo. The last time hockey fans in Vancouver saw Luongo, he was celebrating with Sidney Crosby after the latter scored the OT winner in the gold-medal game ..."
Non-goal stirs up Clouston
Comment
March 13
Ottawa Sun
 
"Cory Clouston had something to get off his chest. The Senators coach was still miffed Friday about Milan Michalek's disallowed goal vs. the Flames Thursday in Calgary. Clouston can't understand why Michalek's marker in the first period was called back because of a high stick. "It's frustrating and disappointing," said Clouston. "In my opinion, unless Milan is eight feet tall, where the puck touched his stick and with his feet flat on the ground, it had to have been no more than three feet off of the ice. His feet were planted on the ice, his arms were tight to his body and it hit lower on the shaft of his stick. "You don't have to have any angle, other than to see where his feet are and ..."
Flames' blue-collar effort burns Senators
Comment
March 12
Calgary Herald
 
"If it isn't one thing, it seems to be another for the Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome this season. Never mind the fact that opposing teams have won almost as many games as the Flames in what is supposed to be their domain, the maintenance crew up and threw a curve at them Thursday night. A protective pane of glass was broken during the pregame warmup and do you think they could find one that fit? No! So they cut a new one and, 30 minutes after the game was scheduled to start, the redshirts were finally able to roll up their sleeves and get to work against a peppy and often dangerous group of Ottawa Senators. Well, nothing was going to throw them off their mission on this night. ..."
Flames deserved a steal
Comment
March 12
Calgary Herald
 
"I'm going to come right out and say it: The Flames stole Thursday's game against Ottawa. Finally. When you think of the number of times these redshirts have dominated visiting teams only to lose because they couldn't score at clutch times, it's nice to see the sheet start to balance. Ottawa is one scary hockey club. Great speed, move the puck quickly, generate quality scoring chances almost every time they hit the offensive zone. But the Flames got the job done and that's all that really matters. Big tip of the hat to Miikka Kiprusoff for standing on his head in a 33-save performance and another bow to the Flames as a whole for throwing their bodies in front of another 30 shots. Seemed ..."
Alfredsson supports head-hits rule
Comment
March 12
Calgary Herald
 
"Daniel Alfredsson's view on hits to the head has been formed not just by his long National Hockey League career, but also by being on the receiving end of one of the more vicious hits in recent years. It came on April 3, 2008, in the penultimate game of the regular season, when Toronto's Mark Bell caught Alfredsson with his head down and put his shoulder into his head. Even worse than the hit, in the eyes of many, was that the Air Canada Centre crowd erupted into cheers when it was apparent that Alfredsson was injured — and then booed when Alfredsson got up several minutes later and skated off the ice. Alfredsson still takes the blame for the hit, saying he should have had his head up, and ..."
Kipper shuts out Sens as Flames win fourth straight
Comment
March 12
Calgary Herald
 
"Miikka Kiprusoff, 33 saves. The Calgary Flames, 30 blocked shots. In a nutshell, that sums up the bottom line to Thursday night's 2-0 victory over a swift crew of Ottawa Senators at the Pengrowth Saddledome. In a game in which the redshirts were often boxed in by the explosive Senators, the Flames persevered for a fourth straight victory and a third straight win on what has often been unfriendly home ice to remain eighth in the wicked Western Conference playoff race. The result enabled the Flames to maintain a one-point lead over Detroit, which downed the Minnesota Wild 5-1 earlier in the evening. In fact, depending on a late game at San Jose, the Flames had a chance to move into a share ..."
Flames' blue-collar effort burns Senators
Comment
March 12
Ottawa Citizen
 
"If it isn't one thing, it seems to be another for the Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome this season. Never mind the fact that opposing teams have won almost as many games as the Flames in what is supposed to be their domain, the maintenance crew up and threw a curve at them Thursday night. A protective pane of glass was broken during the pregame warmup and do you think they could find one that fit? No! So they cut a new one and, 30 minutes after the game was scheduled to start, the redshirts were finally able to roll up their sleeves and get to work against a peppy and often dangerous group of Ottawa Senators. Well, nothing was going to throw them off their mission on this night."
Kiprusoff, Flames burn Senators
Comment
March 12
Ottawa Citizen
 
"As long as the Calgary Flames have Miikka Kiprusoff, they have a chance to make the playoffs. Great goalies can do so much to make mediocre teams look good. Kiprusoff helped his teammates get two points they probably shouldn't have on Thursday with a 2-0 win over the Ottawa Senators, his fourth shutout of the season and the 34th of his career. The loss kept a streak of bad luck intact for the Senators. They haven't won in Calgary since Jan. 9, 2003. The Senators had defeated the Flames 3-2 in Ottawa in February. Jamal Mayers and Christopher Higgins scored for the Flames. Kiprusoff faced 33 shots, while Brian Elliott faced 25 for the Senators. Ottawa's best chance of the night - other than ..."
Sens Coach homes in on wins
Comment
March 12
Ottawa Sun
 
"Cory Clouston's first trip through Alberta is a costly one. The Viking, Alta., product spent a pretty penny on getting friends and family tickets to games in Edmonton and Calgary. But the Senators bench boss refused to say his first visit as an NHL coach was overly special. Instead, he's focused on coming away with victories. Just like the Sutter clan that came before him from Viking, Clouston is mostly business when it comes to the game. "It's nice to see friends and family," Clouston said before his team took on the Flames Thursday night at the Saddledome. "I'm here for hockey and we're trying to win games." When Clouston was just six years old, Brian Sutter made his NHL debut with the ..."
Clouston gives day off to Ottawa quartet
Comment
March 11
Ottawa Citizen
 
"At first, it looked worrisome. Four significant members of the Ottawa Senators were not on the ice for Wednesday's practice: Daniel Alfredsson, Alex Kovalev, Andy Sutton and Matt Carkner. However, in the end, it wasn't as bad as it seemed. They had all been granted maintenance days and will be ready for tonight's game against the Flames, coach Cory Clouston said. Nick Foligno (broken right leg) and defenceman Filip Kuba (lower body) are making progress in their recoveries in Ottawa. There's a remote chance they could play in Saturday's game in Vancouver, but it's more likely they're rejoin the Senators for practice on Monday in Ottawa."
Every point counts for Senators
Comment
March 11
Ottawa Citizen
 
"When the Ottawa Senators finally got on the ice for a late afternoon practice at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Wednesday afternoon, it was clear their mood was bright. A victory will do that for a team, especially after the miserable stretch the Senators had gone through since just before the Olympic break, when they lost four of five games (one in a shootout). So even if their skid-breaking 4-1 victory came over last-place Edmonton -- a team some critics are saying is the worst Oilers club ever -- the Senators were happy. "We'd lost a couple, so whenever you get a win it lifts the spirits a bit and you know you can win on any given night if you get the right bounces and the right effort," ..."
Neil would like NHL to drill Oiler
Comment
March 11
Ottawa Sun
 
"Chris Neil woke up with a headache Wednesday. The Senators winger was still feeling the effects of a cross-check he took to the head from Oilers defenceman Ryan Whitney in the first period of Ottawa's 4-1 victory over Edmonton on Tuesday. While Neil was on the ice for the club's 30-minute practice Wednesday at the Saddledome, he wasn't happy the refereees only gave Whitney a two-minute minor. Not only did Whitney drill Neil in the head, he also caught him in the shoulder. "That was a headshot, for sure," said Neil. "You want to get that kind of stuff out of the game. I didn't even see him coming. I know he's behind me, but my back is to him. I wasn't even facing him. That's the kind of ..."
Spezza bounces back
Comment
March 10
Ottawa Sun
 
"Early in the season, Jason Spezza could not buy a goal. The Ottawa Senators forward went 11 games before registering his first goal of the year and was then shutout for nine games after that. It was unfamiliar territory for someone who has twice hit the 90-point plateau. "It was tough. I'm a guy that's always been pretty good offensively, pretty consistent, so when you go through a dry spell it's tough on you mentally," Spezza said. 'Magnified'"
Deal's all about Lee-way
Comment
March 10
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Senators aren't sure where Brian Lee fits. They'd just like him to fit in somewhere, especially with next season's blue-line picture very unclear. With the future of looming unrestricted free-agent defencemen Anton Volchenkov and Andy Sutton uncertain, the Senators locked up Lee -- who could have been a RFA -- to a two-year, $1.75-million (all terms US) deal that will keep the ninth overall pick from the 2005 draft in the mix. "All along we wanted to get him signed, whether it was going to be a qualifying offer or a two-year deal," said assistant GM Tim Murray. "We talked about it for a long time. In the end, they agreed to what we felt was right. It worked for both of us and the ..."
Sens put cap on Oilers
Comment
March 10
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Senators look like they're on the road back. Starting a difficult three-game Western swing Tuesday at Rexall Place, centre Matt Cullen, acquired at the NHL trade deadline, scored the third period winner as the Senators halted a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the sad-sack Edmonton Oilers. Cullen, who doubles in a role playing a point on the power play, scored with the man advantage from the top of the circle at 8:24 of the third to set up the win while captain Daniel Alfredsson had a three-point effort after missing Saturday's game against Toronto because of the flu. Defenceman Erik Karlsson, centre Jason Spezza and Chris Kelly chipped in with two-point efforts. Mike ..."
Senators wear Oilers down for 4-1 win
Comment
March 10
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Finally, something to cheer about. After stumbling through three post-Olympic break games, losing all three (one in a shootout), the Ottawa Senators ended their skid Tuesday night, thanks to a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, the worst team in the NHL. The two points were important. They give the Senators 79, the same number as the Buffalo Sabres have atop the Northeast Division. The Sabres have played three fewer games. The Senators also kept their winning streak in Edmonton alive. They haven't lost here since March 14, 2004. Ottawa's road trip continues Thursday night in Calgary against the Flames, who are fighting for their playoff lives. The Senators expected the Oilers, who had won ..."
Those hits have to go, Sens say
Comment
March 9
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Matt Cooke's hit on Marc Savard, which left the Boston Bruins centre with a concussion, once again prompted the usual calls from all quarters for reform to prevent deliberate hits to the head. Ottawa Senators players agreed, saying hits such as the one Sunday by Cooke on Savard, who is from Orléans, have no place in the NHL. "I certainly didn't think it was a clean hit, that's for sure," Mike Fisher said. "He obviously wasn't trying to hurt him, but you've got to let up in those situations. It doesn't matter who you are or what type of game you play, you can't hit guys like that. "We've definitely got to take those out." How to eliminate hits like that is easier said than done, though. One ..."
Leclaire tries to repeat
Comment
March 9
Ottawa Citizen
 
"In the ongoing game of goaltender roulette the Ottawa Senators have played this season, Pascal Leclaire's number has popped up again. His solid effort in the team's 2-1, flu-stricken, shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday has at least earned him the chance to start tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, the first of three games in western Canada. Or so it would seem. The whole world will know for sure this morning when coach Cory Clouston, as per custom, announces his starting goalie. But it would be an odd coaching move if Leclaire, who started Saturday's game because Brian Elliott was ill with the flu, didn't start. After all, against the Leafs, Leclaire did respond to the ..."
Sick Senators starting to feel better
Comment
March 9
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Senators are in much better shape today as they prepare to hit the road. With the exception the injured Filip Kuba and Chris Campoli, everybody was on the ice Monday at the Bell Sensplex. The Senators leave later today for a three-game Western Canada road swing with stops in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Coach Cory Clouston said a decision will be made later Monday on Kuba, but the club is over the flu that ravaged the lineup in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. "It was a typical flu. Everybody has had it. It kind of came and went pretty quick so it was good," said Ottawa centre Mike Fisher. The Senators know the importance of this trip and understand it will ..."
Sens: Headshots must go
Comment
March 9
Ottawa Sun
 
"In wake of Matt Cooke's cheap shot on Marc Savard, the consensus is headshots have got to go. With the focus of this week's GMs' meetings in Florida on how to get headshots out of the game, the Senators are interested in the outcome. Most agreed after Pittsburgh's Cooke blindside hit left Boston's Savard with a concussion Sunday that some sort of rule has to be put in place to try to protect players without taking away the physical nature of hockey. "I don't think there's a place for that (in the game). I don't think (Cooke) was trying to hurt Savard, but I think we've definitely got to take those out of the game," Ottawa centre Mike Fisher said Monday. "Obviously, you can get hurt. I'm ..."
Pascal's principle
Comment
March 9
Ottawa Sun
 
"Pascal Leclaire hopes his roller-coaster of a season is about to hit a nice, flat stretch. The Senators goaltender doesn't know whether he or Brian Elliott will start Tuesday against the Oilers at Rexall Place as Ottawa opens a three-game Western Canada road swing, but Leclaire served notice in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs that his season is far from dead. Coming off a 30-save performance less than 48 hours after being pulled when he gave up two goals on five shots against the Hurricanes on Thursday, Leclaire knows there are ups and downs during an NHL season. "It changes quick in hockey. One day you're a zero, then you're a hero and the next day you're a zero again," ..."
Senators re-sign under-achieving Lee to 2-year deal
Comment
March 9
Ottawa Citizen
 
"The Ottawa Senators have re-signed defenceman Brian Lee to a two-year contract. The deal is mildly surprising, considering that Lee, who turns 23 on March 27, has failed to live up to expectations after being selected ninth overall by the Senators in the 2005 entry draft."
Western road trip to be big test for Senators
Comment
March 8
Ottawa Citizen
 
"The last time the Ottawa Senators hit the road for a western swing, they returned with three losses, two points and one bruised ego. That last one came at the hands of former Senator Dany Heatley, who helped the San Jose Sharks thump the squad he snubbed last summer by a score of 5-2. Trailing the Buffalo Sabres atop the National Hockey League's Northeast Division by two points (79-77), having played two more games (66-64) and having lost five four of their past five, the Senators know they have to be better away from home this time. Although they were still 10 points clear of the playoff bubble Sunday, they'd like to maintain the cushion they built by winning 14 of 16 contests in January ..."
Sickly Sens seek sleep, 11 players battling the flu
Comment
March 8
Ottawa Sun
 
"The Senators' losing streak continued Sunday, this time dropping a decision to the flu bug as it swept its way through the dressing room. Preparing to leave Monday for a three-game Western road swing, the Senators cancelled a scheduled afternoon event with season-ticket holders at Scotiabank Place with at least 11 or 12 players battling the flu. The session — which was supposed to include a town hall discussion with captain Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher and Chris Phillips —will be rescheduled as the Senators hoped to stop anyone else from getting sick. Following Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs, Senators coach Cory Clouston wanted the players to take it easy Sunday."
Leclaire had to be hooked: coach
Comment
March 7
Ottawa Citizen
 
"There's no crying in baseball and, apparently, no fairness in hockey. Ottawa Senators coach Cory Clouston was unapologetic Friday morning after pulling downtrodden goaltender Pascal Leclaire just two goals and six minutes, 23 seconds into his first start since Jan. 12. Clouston bristled when asked whether or not it was fair to get the hook out so early in the 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. "There's no such thing as fair in hockey," he said. "We're trying to win games." While Clouston admitted the move was partly designed to light a fire under his listless troops -- they wound up generating more scoring chances in the third period -- he didn't absolve the goalie of blame, ..."
Senators finally fall to Leafs
Comment
March 7
Ottawa Citizen
 
"Not every loss is a heartbreaker. If there's such a thing as a gut-check defeat, the Ottawa Senators delivered it in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a game full of plot lines, including the heating up of the nasty Battle of Ontario rivalry and an unlikely outstanding goaltending performance by Senators goaltender Pascal Leclaire, the main story was about how the Senators managed to survive a wild flu bug. The Senators hung on long enough to take the game to a shootout, where goals from Phil Kessel and Nikolai Kulemin finally finished off the down-and-out Senators. Alex Kovalev and Jason Spezza failed to score on their shootout attempts."