The All-mighty Boo and Moments of Brilliance
Posted 1:24 AM ET | Comments 0
Well the Senators got beat down with its 2nd loss in 2 games. First a squandered loss by the hated Leafs and tonight by the Montreal Canadiens. Obviously the Leaf-revulsion has always been old news, but tonight a new era has dawned as the rivalry brewing between the Habs and the sens has hit a new temperature. I was both impressed and disgusted by the intensity of the Bell Centre tonite. Cutos for showing a constant and relentless cheer, but the fact that Habs fans booed the Senators every time they touched the puck for an entire game is definitely excessive. There wasnt any hit from behind that lead to a game winning goal, prentending to throw a fake stick into the crowd, or an unecessary blank shot with seconds left that lead to the boos. It was mustered from the fact that the Habs have displayed limited success against the senators this season,making them their most formidable opponent. As a younger person, I have rarely seen such a grotesque display of people abusing their fanatic privelegdes. In my opinion, it undoubtedly crossed the line between fun and disrespect. The only time i have seen anywhere near the circumstances tonight, was when ottawa played Atlanta last year. In the end of the 3rd period, unfair reffing calls fueled senators fans to boo Atlanta for half a period and overtime (which concluded in a overtime loss from a giveaway from the now oo soo mighty Joe Corvo). Ottawa was hosting the Bell Capital Cup at the time, so it proably was fuddled by some out of town fans. Regardless, I feel it was undeserved and I doubt that habs fans even remember the last time they booed an entire team for an entire game. Obviously, a small internet blog will not damper the enjoyment being felt by habs fans right now, and rightfully so, Montreal is cup hungry right now, feeding off the most success they have felt in over a decade. I guess I just wish they would wait til playoffs before they start to express it. In my mind, I hope that the senators fans of Scotia Bank Place will seek retribution and deliver an encore when the habs return for our final bout. But somehow i just think they wont...but if they do... I believe a newer but not quite greater...rivalry will be born.
In other news, to address how the senators have been playing of late: The senators inconsistency over the course of the season has undoubtedly been noticed. Im sure that in the mind of professional bloggers and sports connoisseurs the sens have fallen out of cup contention. The senators playing style has been analyzed, averted, and been secretly passed around the class like a list of crushes wrote on a piece of paper by 4th grade girls. The word on Spezza, Alfredsson, Heatley is out. Hit em hard at the blue line and along the boards and then beat them to their dumps on the back check. Paddock definitely overused them during the regular season and teams have learned from this. Murrays greatest strength last year was keeping the top line apart for the regular season, until finally reuniting them at playoffs. Video replays and game analyzation have undoubtled hit the senators hard. Now murray is in a tough position, the top line has become uninfluential and is now working against the deadline of team success and chemistry. The senators obviously have a new team this year and are still learning how to play wiht each other. But over the course of the last half ive noticed a consistent trend: Moments of Brilliance. Right when Murray came back the senators werent playing up to par, but at certain moments of the game ressembled their old unstoppable selves, quietly learning the nicks and nacks of one another. In the end they only won half of their games, but somewhere deep down i feel there must be something more. Tonights game for example, If I blogged about the first 2 periods I would say it was one of the worst games I have seen, but during the 3rd period, the sens were playing some of their best hockey of the season. This goes far beyond an emotional drive and consistency, just because the senators were Grinding. I cant even tell you the last time ive seen the sens score 4 ugly goals in a row. The kind of goals you need to win playoff games with. Goals where Spezza doesnt make some unbelievable pass that no one expects. Just ugly, unpredictable, uncordinated, in-your-face goals. The sens need to replicate that 3rd period for every other game if they want to taste success. On another high note Donovan has been a monster of late, conveying the allure that he hasnt tried all season and has been saving it for playoffs. I just hope hes been saving his NOX for his playoff tank, because I just cant believe this guy used to be faster than mcammond. In the end, I just hope murray's Emery experiment is over,In the start of the 2nd period, he allowed several unacceptable goals. He has just lost his game this year and is far too late to get back. I hope he exercises hard this summer, and does other things lightly, thats the only way hell get his game back for next year. The fact that Redden was injured during the game raises my eyebrow. Kevin Lee has been the excutioner waiting for his be heading appointment all year, but now that its here, i dont kno if anyone wants to see blood. Eventhough he doesnt play physical and makes alot of dumbplays, our record without him is quite dismal..I just don't know what to say at this point. But what i will is that the only way the senators will see success this off season, and do not do the anticipated 1st/2nd round exit is if they discover their reclusive grinder playing style and ditch the dipsy dooble east to west shananigans, that all our opponents know and love. So now as I write this in a drunken stumble, the only thing I can only hope for is that my team has been playing possum all year, and that all our new guys have been saving it and just coasting on an already good team. If not, I wonder if popeye minds lending out some spinach.
In other news, to address how the senators have been playing of late: The senators inconsistency over the course of the season has undoubtedly been noticed. Im sure that in the mind of professional bloggers and sports connoisseurs the sens have fallen out of cup contention. The senators playing style has been analyzed, averted, and been secretly passed around the class like a list of crushes wrote on a piece of paper by 4th grade girls. The word on Spezza, Alfredsson, Heatley is out. Hit em hard at the blue line and along the boards and then beat them to their dumps on the back check. Paddock definitely overused them during the regular season and teams have learned from this. Murrays greatest strength last year was keeping the top line apart for the regular season, until finally reuniting them at playoffs. Video replays and game analyzation have undoubtled hit the senators hard. Now murray is in a tough position, the top line has become uninfluential and is now working against the deadline of team success and chemistry. The senators obviously have a new team this year and are still learning how to play wiht each other. But over the course of the last half ive noticed a consistent trend: Moments of Brilliance. Right when Murray came back the senators werent playing up to par, but at certain moments of the game ressembled their old unstoppable selves, quietly learning the nicks and nacks of one another. In the end they only won half of their games, but somewhere deep down i feel there must be something more. Tonights game for example, If I blogged about the first 2 periods I would say it was one of the worst games I have seen, but during the 3rd period, the sens were playing some of their best hockey of the season. This goes far beyond an emotional drive and consistency, just because the senators were Grinding. I cant even tell you the last time ive seen the sens score 4 ugly goals in a row. The kind of goals you need to win playoff games with. Goals where Spezza doesnt make some unbelievable pass that no one expects. Just ugly, unpredictable, uncordinated, in-your-face goals. The sens need to replicate that 3rd period for every other game if they want to taste success. On another high note Donovan has been a monster of late, conveying the allure that he hasnt tried all season and has been saving it for playoffs. I just hope hes been saving his NOX for his playoff tank, because I just cant believe this guy used to be faster than mcammond. In the end, I just hope murray's Emery experiment is over,In the start of the 2nd period, he allowed several unacceptable goals. He has just lost his game this year and is far too late to get back. I hope he exercises hard this summer, and does other things lightly, thats the only way hell get his game back for next year. The fact that Redden was injured during the game raises my eyebrow. Kevin Lee has been the excutioner waiting for his be heading appointment all year, but now that its here, i dont kno if anyone wants to see blood. Eventhough he doesnt play physical and makes alot of dumbplays, our record without him is quite dismal..I just don't know what to say at this point. But what i will is that the only way the senators will see success this off season, and do not do the anticipated 1st/2nd round exit is if they discover their reclusive grinder playing style and ditch the dipsy dooble east to west shananigans, that all our opponents know and love. So now as I write this in a drunken stumble, the only thing I can only hope for is that my team has been playing possum all year, and that all our new guys have been saving it and just coasting on an already good team. If not, I wonder if popeye minds lending out some spinach.