Sens at Land's End

Pregame Notes

Some of the talk during the pregame edition of SportsCentre is about Craig Hartsburg’s recent public criticism of Jason Spezza. I have to say that I was a little surprised by the criticism. I didn’t think Spezza had been playing all that poorly lately, though I can definitely understand Hartsburg’s desire to get the top line going again. On TSN, Pierre McGuire says we shouldn’t worry about Spezza: he can take it (actually, he’s asked for it), and in fact Pierre thinks he’ll have a big night tonight. History is on Spezza’s side in that respect. Maybe you remember last season, when the Big Three systematically destroyed the Habs. In his career, Spezza has 41 points in 30 games against Montreal, while Dany Heatley has 42 points in 32 games and Daniel Alfredsson has 86 points in 64 games.

Of course, some would say this is the best Montreal team in a long time, and things may be different this season. The guys on SportsCentre are also saying, though, that the Canadiens, despite their winning record, have not been playing that well this season. They’ve been undisciplined and unfocused, and have yet to play a full 60 minutes. Hmm … sounds familiar.

The show begins with Alex Auld — who, by the way, is now leading the NHL in goals against average (yes, a Senators goalie is leading the league in a good statistical category), and who will be in goal tonight — reading “In Flanders Fields” in honour of Remembrance Day.

First Period

19:16: Mike Fisher is given two minutes for holding after he knocks down Saku Koivu. I feel okay about that.

17:16: The Habs spent almost the entirety of their power play in the Ottawa zone and are now leading 6-0 in shots, but Auld has managed to stop them so far.

15:28: Pierre isn’t sure the high expectations in Montreal are realistic this point. Neither am I. I’m pretty sure they’ve got the parade route planned for June, but I’m not at all convinced they’ll come close to needing it.

13:58: With Montreal shorthanded after a delay of game call, Carey Price leaves his left side open and Heatley is riiiiiiight there with the puck, but Andrei Markov is there to cover for his goalie.

12:38: It’s a shorthanded goal for Montreal as Chris Higgins goes in basically alone on Auld with three seconds left in the Sens’ power play. Boo!

9:41: Montreal keeps whacking away at a puck after the whistle has been blown. Andrei Kostitsyn puts it in the net, but the goal doesn’t count, of course, and the Sens take offense at the Habs’ rudeness. Pushing and shoving ensues.

9:26: Montreal comes close again as Higgins, who seems to be everywhere tonight, hits the post. The Sens are scrambling here! This does not look good at all.

8:00 or so: After some fancy pants passing from Heatley and Spezza, Heatley appears to score. But the goal is immediately waved off by referee Dan Marouelli and it seems the puck never crossed the line.

4:50 or so: TSN shows a replay of Spezza trying to hit Koivu in front of the Ottawa bench … and missing. Spezza got a sarcastic cheer for that one from the Montreal crowd.

3:52: Josh Gorges takes a penalty for holding Mike Fisher’s stick. The Sens get a fair bit of pressure on the power play, but no goals. Gord Miller points out that the shots are now 12-9 Montreal, and Montreal had the first six. Things are loking up a little.

0:42: The big three are on the ice together at even strength to finish the period.

First Intermission

I believe my stomach is totally empty. I need food … Shots are 12-11 Montreal … Spezza got some love from Pierre and Gord during the period for his strong play. I agree, he’s going at full steam tonight … The replays they show of some of Auld’s saves before the second starts are amazing! I’m impressed.

Second Period

18:58: The Sens are buzzing in the Montreal end. It’s a big contrast to the first minute of the first!

17:26: I wonder if people could talk a little bit more about the Tom Kostopoulos hit on Mike Van Ryn. I’m not sure I’ve heard it dissected enough and gosh, it’s just so interesting.

12:00: Kostitsyn sends Mike Fisher into the boards pretty hard. Fisher falls and slams his back against the boards. That seems painful.

11:13: Schubert goes off for hooking. SCHUBERT! Come on, dude, what is this now? Three or four games in a row?

8:08: Montreal takes another delay of game penalty. If I were a Montreal fan, I’d be pretty annoyed right now. I’m not, though, so … suck it, Habs fans.

6:50: This is quite possibly the worst power play ever, as the Habs get several good shorthanded chances. Like, really good chances. Like it looks like they’re the ones with the power play. It’s just woefully bad.

5:49: Higgins gets a shot at a wide open half of the net. Nothing Auld could do, and it’s 2-0 Montreal. The Sens look as though they have no idea what’s going on.

4:51: OH YAY, the Ole chant has made its first appearance. I think … I’m not sure I can actually convey the extent of my hatred of that sound. I feel like throwing something across the room. If it keeps up, I will have to mute the TV.

4:21: I’m just getting over how cool it is to see old footage of Anton Volchenkov’s dad playing for the Red Army when Montreal scores again right off a faceoff. Auld looks pained.

2:50: The Sens get a shot on goal! They remember how to do that!

1:19: Spezza is called for hooking on Alex Kovalev. The Sens look frustrated. I feel frustrated by them.

Second Intermission

This game sucks.

Third Period

19:07: Spezza gets a shot on goal soon after coming out of the box, but unlike in previous games, he does not score.

17:55: Jarkko Ruutu goes for Maxim Lapierre’s head. I like Ruutu, but I can’t condone that one. Francis Bouillon and Ruutu fight. Ruutu gets the extra two, and Spezza goes to serve the penalty. The strategy fails, however, as Spezza once again emerges from the box without scoring.

12:25: Heatley goes in on the breakaway! And does not score. He hits the post.

8:14: Greg and Pierre are laughing at some interaction between Chris Neil, Georges Laraque, and Ruutu that is taking place off camera. After a TV timeout, we see Ruutu smiling, saluting and waving at the crowd as he leaves the ice with a game misconduct. That was … awesome, actually.

6:53: Komisarek gets a penalty for “riding Heatley like a horse,” as Gord or Pierre says. (Actually, for holding.)

5:20: Mathieu Dandenault is in on a shorthanded breakaway. What in the name of Buffy has happened to the Sens’ power play? It’s pathetic.

3:40: The Montreal fans get the hey hey hey, goodbye song going. And Higgins scores on a breakaway five seconds later. I’m not surprised at all that Higgins has the hat trick tonight. He’s looked incredibly dangerous through the whole game. Safe to say Auld is no longer leading the NHL in goals against average.

1:00: Only one more minute and the pain will end.

Postgame Thoughts

I still don’t think the Habs are going to win the Cup.