What you missed last night while you were cleaning your kitchen

It's Wednesday, so its time for mid-week Monsters!

Flames shut-out the Canadiens, 1-0: Dion Phaneuf - It would be easy to put down Kipper or Iggy as the Monster for this game, but Dion really did it all (besides score). He hit, ask Kopecky or Pacioretty. He put tons of shots on net. Great game Dion. Some good fights in this game, but I still don't understand the tackle after a big clean hit. Just wait a bit and then go get the guy.

Senators beat the Oilers in the shoot-out, 4-3: Alexie Kovalev - His game can be summed up in the shift in which he assistes on Cheechoo's goal (finally). I can't ever remember Kovalev forechecking, let alone hitting a d-man, then stealing the puck and feed the slot-crashing Cheechoo. There were other spots of briliance for Kovalev, but that stood out. And he scored in the shoot-out.

Wild win over the Leafs, 5-2: Nik Backstrom - Yea, he had plenty of offensive support, but the Leafs were kind of swarming last night and Backstrom made big and impressive and timely saves.

Blues roll over the Canucks, 6-1: David Perron - kid had a hat trick, enough said.

Bruins shut-out the Penguins, 3-0: Tim Thomas - guy had the shut-out. He can really thank his post as well. There was some sort of weird carrom off the glass that somehow defied the laws of physics after hitting the post.

Sharks beat the Predators, 4-3: Dan Boyle - He got the game winner on a ridiculous rush capped off with a rocket of a shot that went bar and in.

What you missed last night while you were watching the dissapointing season opener of 30 Rock

And my answer to Nemmy's question is A. I think the reason Evan choose B is because RWRR Challenges don't test for Roids.

Onto the haikus!

Senators beat the Lightning 6-1:
Michalek got a
hat trick. So is the trade now
even. Where is Cheech?

Avalanche win over the Canadeins, 3-2:
Even with 7
skaters, Montreal
could not tie the game.

Red Wings beat the Kings, 5-2:
Lidstrom got his one
thousandth point. Thats like seven
thousand Swedish points. (its a currency exchange joke)

Hawks beat the Predators, 4-1:
Even when Nashville
was good they couldn't fill seats.
What will happen now?

Capitals beat the Sharks, 4-1:
Saucers passes were
the reason for 2 cap's goals.
One was a backhand!

Coyotes beat the Blues in OT, 3-2:
Darren Pang is the
most excitable person.
quote, "holy jumpin!!!!!"

Crib Notes - Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators
Finished 4th in the Northeast. Did not make the playoffs
Signed Alexei Kovalev via free agency
Signed Martin St. Pierre - the guy who uses the Chara-sized stick
Resigned Brian Elliott and muscle Chris Neil
Traded unhappy Dany Heatley and a 5th round pick to San Jose for Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek and a 2nd rounder.
Grizzled dman Jason Smith retired before training camp

Questions going into 2009-2010:
Did the team do enough to replace Heatley's 50 goal potential?
How much will an unhappy teammate's absence help team spirit?
Can Pascal Leclaire regain that 2007-08 mojo?
Is his ankle healed?
Is he even good enough to be a #1 goaltender?
Did anyone else look at this roster and see goaltender M. Broudeur and do a double take?
Can the Senators rely on 36 year old Alex Kovalev to carry a big offensive burden?
When your top Dmen are Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov are your team in huge trouble?
Is a change of scenery and some time with Jason Spezza enough to make Cheecho start scoring again?
Is it unrealistic to expect him to get near 56 goals again? 37 goals again?
Has Cory Clouston lost the lockerroom already?

Poised for a breakout season:
Tough call here. I'm not sure any player will really breakout this season but I'm rooting for Chris Campoli to make the leap.



If you had to buy one Senators sweater:
If are reading this crib note, for this team, on this blog then you are a big enough steakhead to pull off wearing a Chris Neil in public.
Just make sure it's not the terrible "Sens" 3rd jersey.

Player whose game you sneaky like:
Jarkko Ruutu, like many annoying players, would be a fan favorite on any team.

I'll look for any excuse to show this video:
The time we crashed Ryan Shannon's Cup party.

Old guys:
Daniel Alfredsson and Alex Kovalev are 36
Shean Donovan and Jarkko Ruutu are 34

Young guys:
Nick Foligno is 21
Brian Lee is 22
Erik Karlsson (last year's 1st Round pick) is 19

Tough guys:
Chris Neil and Cody Bass provide the muscle. That's pretty much it.

Favorite old school Senator:
Tie: Bob Kudelski and Robert Byrd



Goaltending coach:
Eli Wilson

What I had for lunch today:
Italian Combo on white bread

Nostalgia:
A picture of Alexei Yashin wearing the turtle neck off the ice.


Interesting?:
Assistant GM Tim Murray is the nephew of GM Bryan Murray.

NHL 94 players:
Bob Kudelski, Sylvain Turgeon, Jamie Baker up front.
Norm Maciver, Brad Shaw on D with Peter Sidorkiewicz in net - warm up the bus.

YouTube:
There was no way I was getting through this preview without a Carrie Underwood mention.


- Nemmy

What you missed last night while you were trying to get the last piece of apple pie

Rangers shut-out the Devils, 3-0: Avery was a good boy last night. I hope people paid attention to Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is an odd-style goalie. He plays super deep in his net and covers almost the complete bottom third. He is almost always beaten up high. Last night, however, Lundqvist made some nice glove saves. And when he does that and holds onto the puck, he's damn near unbeatable. Avery is important, but Lundqvist is the guy that makes or breaks the Rangers.

Coyotes beat the Stars, 6-5: Of the 11 goals scored in this game, I would estimate that 9 of them were of the ugly variety. I mean really ugly. Ugh. I can't believe that Versus chose this game over the Sharks/Flames. Seriously, why are you even reading a bad recap about 2 teams who will miss the playoffs. Move on...

Sharks beat the Flames, 2-1: Joe Thornton found Dan Boyle on the power play to get the sharks out to a 1-0 lead. Boyle put the one-timer high glove, back from where the pass came from. A very very very good shot. Later Jarome Iginla did a stop move that froze the D and Nabakov and then he ripped a wrist shot through both sets of legs. Great innovative skill. Cheechoo got the game winner. Simple, hard hitting, playoff-type game.