B.D. Gallof

"Credentialed NHL Blogger for 11+ Years"

Suffolk County, LI, NY • United States • 47 Years Old • Male

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Islanders Smash Spezza and Down the Senators

Freddy Meyer, god of thunder, strode across the ice, his eyes seeing opportunity. Jason Spezza, of soft hands and softer body, was about to gain the puck from Wade Redden. Meyer crashed into him with a mighty howl that careened off the Ottawa seats and turned cheering Canadian mouths into what resembled Cheerios. Spezza hit the ice, and it was like he and the Senators were shattered into little pieces. He did not return to the game, as coach John Paddock explained after: "(Spezza) just wasn't feeling right". Well, neither were the Senators, who after a big win against Detroit just the night before, began to unravel. The game turned into a physical one, and with it, the Senators gave the Isles lots of powerplay opportunities as their heavy hitters decided to crosscheck, slash and rough their way for revenge.

No bigger culprit than their captain, Daniel Alfredsson, who's penalty at the end of the 1st led to the Isles tally. <b>Marc-Andre Bergeron</b> has continued his own resurgence, as with steady play and not sitting in the press box, has helped gain him confidence. As Comrie and Guerin caught the Senators attention, he pounced in for a rebound at the end of the first period to get his first PP goal of the night. His second goal was courtesy an errant clearing attempt by Vermette. Speaking of Mike Comrie, he strode in in the 2nd period, skating around the statue of Wade Redden, and made it 3-1.

Meanwhile, as Meyer shows more as a defensive and hitting stalwart, it is some solace to what might be an extended injury by Brendan Witt. Witt is heading for a MRI for his ankle which was originally thought to be just sprained in Calgary. One must surmise that the swelling has not gone down, as a sprain will do, but a break will not. A potential reason to be worried. But until that MRI, just pure conjecture. But Nolan's own statement on the ankle, which Greg Logan of Newsday wrote in his article, also belies this same issue: "It's an ankle sprain right now, and we'll check and see what the severity of it is."

Very concerning. However, with Andy Sutton playing better, and Meyer playing a strong and smart defensive game, along with Radek Martinek and Aaron Johnson's return. This might offset just a little what would be a big blow the the Isles D and leadership if Witt is out for any extended period of time.