GDT: Washington Capitals at Ottawa Senators - 7pm - SN, RDS, NHLN - The Return of the Josh

[OgieO]

If that was all Washington has to offer, its going to be a lean few years until they can rebuild. I have to assume they were out drinking the night before? They were putrid. A few good shifts... but slow as heck and no depth.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

We won our first four home games last year. Then the wheels came off and we lost seven (?) straight.

Team looks great but it is not time to be taking victory laps.

Its a promising start for sure, but you're absolutely right. The Senators struggled with consistency big time last year and they were terrible on the road. They still have a lot to prove, and they need to stay healthy.

It does feel different with how dominant they've been so far though, and how well they've played defensively. Hard not to get excited.

 

[Micklebot]

We won our first four home games last year. Then the wheels came off and we lost seven (?) straight.

Team looks great but it is not time to be taking victory laps.

I suppose, though we went on that losing streak at least in part due to injuries to Norris and Zub. This year, we started hot in spite of not having Norris (until last night) and Pinto.

Our depth makes us far more resilient than last year imo. Having 3 or 4 D that all look like the could play on a top pair (Zub albeit in a complimentary role) and a bottom pair that can step into a bigger role when called upon is a big upgrade over having Zaitsev and Holden taking regular shifts in the lineup.

I was worried about our center depth with Norris and Pinto out, but Greig has surpassed my already high expectations, and now Norris is back and hopefully the Pinto situation is resolved soon.

Meanwhile, Joseph looks like he's back, he's playing with pace and doing the things that earned him his contract, Tarasenko is giving us secondary scoring and Kubalik adds some redundancy and scoring depth.

This isn't last year's team,

 

[Mingus Dew]

Its a promising start for sure, but you're absolutely right. The Senators struggled with consistency big time last year and they were terrible on the road. They still have a lot to prove, and they need to stay healthy.

It does feel different with how dominant they've been so far though, and how well they've played defensively. Hard not to get excited.

4/6 upcoming games are at home. Red Wings and Sabres will be the best teams we've faced on this home stand by quite a bit.

If we pull off wins against those teams we're talking about a 5-1 start. Taking something like 8 of our first 10 would make me puff my chest out a bit.

Philly and Washington are bad teams. Really bad. Lightning are mediocre and probably not a playoff team any longer.

Until we continue to dominate against good competition we should stay humble.

I suppose, though we went on that losing streak at least in part due to injuries to Norris and Zub. This year, we started hot in spite of not having Norris (until last night) and Pinto.

Our depth makes us far more resilient than last year imo. Having 3 or 4 D that all look like the could play on a top pair (Zub albeit in a complimentary role) and a bottom pair that can step into a bigger role when called upon is a big upgrade over having Zaitsev and Holden taking regular shifts in the lineup.

I was worried about our center depth with Norris and Pinto out, but Greig has surpassed my already high expectations, and now Norris is back and hopefully the Pinto situation is resolved soon.

Meanwhile, Joseph looks like he's back, he's playing with pace and doing the things that earned him his contract, Tarasenko is giving us secondary scoring and Kubalik adds some redundancy and scoring depth.

This isn't last year's team,

I don't disagree but I want to see what happens against Detroit and Buffalo. Both games at home - we should win them.

 

[NyQuil]

If that was all Washington has to offer, its going to be a lean few years until they can rebuild. I have to assume they were out drinking the night before? They were putrid. A few good shifts... but slow as heck and no depth.

The team is on a form of bizarre artificial life support while they collectively try to drag Ovechkin to beating Gretzky's record.

Ovechkin is going to have to raise his game a lot if he's going to get there from what he's shown in a limited sample so far.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I'm sorry chabots PP passing wasnt good there

Yea, just terrible. Chychrun has the best shot on the team, arguably, and every pass from Chabot was to his skates. Atrocious.

I think even Sanderson’s strongest supporters have a tendency to underrate him. Only way I have to describe him is as a really special player

I said he was going to be top 5 player in the league a year ago this time. People thought I was crazy

 

[Alex1234]

I could see Kubalik being in danger when/if Pinto comes back

 

[NyQuil]

I said he was going to be top 5 player in the league a year ago this time. People thought I was crazy

I still do.

Between Stutzle and Sanderson, that only leaves 3 spots for the Makar, Dahlin, McDavid, Draisaitl, Hughes, MacKinnon's of the world.

 

[SensFactor]

I'm not sure what steroid shot they giving Joseph but he was flying yesterday...reminded me of the TB Joseph we all expected

 

[NyQuil]

I'm not sure what steroid shot they giving Joseph but he was flying yesterday...reminded me of the TB Joseph we all expected

He's carried his level of play over from pre-season.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I still do.

Between Stutzle and Sanderson, that only leaves 3 spots for the Makar, Dahlin, McDavid, Draisaitl, Hughes, MacKinnon's of the world.

Were Keith and Doughty consensus top 5 players in the league? Not really.

Sometime during their best? Yes.

That's what I mean when I say that. There is rarely any player that is top 5 season in season out except if they are generational. Many players flirt with top 5 during their best.

Was LeCavalier top 5 of the last decade? No. Did he have a season whereby he was? For sure. Similar point.

 

[Tragedy]

- Forsberg had a good game & made some good saves early to give the team confidence
- Sanderson is so much fun to watch him leave guys behind on his rushes, he's sooo good
- so great to see Norris back & immediately gets two goals from his buddy Batherson
- Tarasenko just produces pts, it's what he does
- hope Zub is okay he is quietly having a good start to his yr & nice to see him score tonight, great top 4
- nice to see our defence contributing offensively, Sanderson & Zub score & Chabot gets an assist
- Chabot made a really nice play on the controversial Giroux goal, but they all count
- I like Greig's fiesty play, but hey it's a little too early in his career to piss off Tom Wilson
- remember when some were calling Wilson a 4th line goon in his draft, he's been playing on their top line for a few yrs now
- good on Kastelic to grab Wilson & good on Wilson to go after him after the hit on Sandin
- Hamonic looks perfect in that 3rd pairing role
- finally getting NHL goaltending & it's making a huge difference not letting in soft goals.

His partner though? Eff that guy!

 

[Golden_Jet]

Any updates on Zub

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Any updates on Zub

if he misses time it won't be long as per DJ

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

if he misses time it won't be long as per DJ

Still being assessed by the doctors. Won't know til later today. Could play as early as Saturday. (doubtful)

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

View attachment 754610
ALL THEM KIDS HOOTIN' AND HOLLERIN' WERE DROWNIN' OUT THE ORGAN AND THE COTTON EYED JOES!

As much as I'm now old and find young ppl annoying.

I'm pretty excited that people (especially younger people) seem excited about the Sens.

So be a Woo fan... As long as there is excitement

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

DJ interview on 1200 this am

Mornings Hour 4

Senators head coach DJ Smith on Josh Norris and an update on Artem Zub, cap and roster management, Alex DeBrincat and the Red Wings come to town and Sens and Sensibility recap.

www.tsn.ca

 

[Answer]

4/6 upcoming games are at home. Red Wings and Sabres will be the best teams we've faced on this home stand by quite a bit.

If we pull off wins against those teams we're talking about a 5-1 start. Taking something like 8 of our first 10 would make me puff my chest out a bit.

Philly and Washington are bad teams. Really bad. Lightning are mediocre and probably not a playoff team any longer.

Until we continue to dominate against good competition we should stay humble.



I don't disagree but I want to see what happens against Detroit and Buffalo. Both games at home - we should win them.

Until we start winning meaningful games late in the season to secure a playoff spot, we should stay humble

Good teams lose to bad team all the time throughout the course of the season

 

[Here I Pageau Again]

Until we start winning meaningful games late in the season to secure a playoff spot, we should stay humble

Good teams lose to bad team all the time throughout the course of the season

After watching the highlights, I was telling my husband that I was trying to not get too excited about this team and taper my expectations and just see how the season goes.

But it's hard. I feel like their play is different this year. I feel like the back end is just a heck of a lot better and I feel like we actually look dangerous with the puck fairly regularly. Which is a nice change.

Still early, but I'm looking forward to see how they move through the season.

 

[SpezDispenser]

losing Zub vs Detroit would hurt for sure. Poor guy, that must have hurt so badly.

 

[ColinM]

The team is on a form of bizarre artificial life support while they collectively try to drag Ovechkin to beating Gretzky's record.

Ovechkin is going to have to raise his game a lot if he's going to get there from what he's shown in a limited sample so far.

At this point this feels like the bigger priority. Who needs the playoffs when the all time leading goal scorer is on your team for their entire career.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Sanderson-Hamonic reunion?

 

[SpezDispenser]

Sanderson-Hamonic reunion?

Almost assuredly. Sanderson can handle it, luckily.

 

[JackieDaytona]

After watching the highlights, I was telling my husband that I was trying to not get too excited about this team and taper my expectations and just see how the season goes.

But it's hard. I feel like their play is different this year. I feel like the back end is just a heck of a lot better and I feel like we actually look dangerous with the puck fairly regularly. Which is a nice change.

Still early, but I'm looking forward to see how they move through the season.

I agree, something just feels different, something’s clicked and they’re moving closer to that potential that we all saw in past years.

Watching this team now, the sense that they’re building something special is palpable. Great time to be a Sens fan!

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I think this team is finally to that point where the talent is just too much not to do well when they're all pulling in the same direction. Goaltending has looked great after that first game. The D is incredible with that top 4, and the forward depth with Norris back and soon Pinto is pretty special.

Its gonna be a fun year.