Ottawa Senators

The Senators' official Twitter feed acknowledged that prospect Mark Stone may draw into the lineup tonight against Pittsburgh, and Don Brennan sees it as something of a sure thing. If he plays, he'll replace Cory Conacher and play on a line with Jason Spezza. Stone made an appearance in last year's playoffs but was later removed for Jakob Silfverberg, a decision that Don Cherry thought cost the Senators the series. Don was wrong, of course, but Stone did show some flashes of brilliance during the series, particularly his beautiful assist on a Jason Spezza goal. The reason that the Senators might now be looking to Stone, who only played four NHL games during the regular season and has been sitting out for the playoffs, is that he is likely the best option out of the healty scratches for beating Tomas Vokoun. Peter had an excellent post this morning that showed how the Senators have been scoring on Vokoun in the series, and Stone appears to fit the bill perfectly. He's a big body who is best in the dirty areas around the net and has a knack for putting in rebounds. His 41 goal season with the Brandon Wheat Kings and his excellent performance at the World Junior Hockey Championships two years ago were both built on his soft hands around the net, and that's something that could prove valuable on a goalie like Vokoun. The factors that have made Colin Greening so successful this series should work in Stone's favour, too. Ottawa can't expect Craig Anderson to have a .980 save percentage every night, and they have to find more ways to solve Vokoun. Bringing in an inexperienced Mark Stone is certainly a risk, but it's a calculated one to attack a perceived weakness in the other goalie.

I'll be keeping a live blog of my many adventures throughout the day at bonksmullet.com, so be sure to check that out. Somebody pinch me. My life has made anything but sense in the last few months. I thought moving to Philadelphia would loosen my ties to Ottawa, but as it turns out, it's done anything but that. About six weeks ago, I started writing for silversevensens.com. My first article was featured on Sportsnet's website. The crew at S7 told me I'd never be able to follow that up. I had to agree with them. But then, less than two months ago, I decided to take off my pants. The media storm created by #Rihannaing (as indicated by a Google search) was completely unexpected. I was even fortunate enough to be featured by Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole on Sportscentre. Little did I know it was only getting started. Visual approximation of what happens in my apartment every third period. (Thanks Omar) Two weeks later, I was inspired by Columbus Blue Jackets fans to start the Sens Money on the Board Campaign. I've already pitched it to death, but please check it out if you've been living under a rock. I'm extremely proud to announce that the pledge total has reached $10,000! What started as a fun initiative has turned into something that will make a huge difference to kids in the Ottawa area. They send their thanks. The Ottawa Citizen's Zev Singer just wrote up this article on my efforts, which is a follow-up to this article by Teresa Smith. I'll also be on CBC and CTV news' broadcasts tonight before game time to talk about the drive. I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for everyone's support, but I'll try. Huge thanks to: I was going to save this for last, but I would hate for people to stop reading before I got to them. All of the success of Sens Money on the Board can be attributed to anyone who has ever taken the time to make a pledge, share a tweet, or make a donation. Huge thanks to every single one of you who has pledged a donation. Extra special thanks goes to Chad Ror and Dew who have been extremely generous with their donations. The Sens Foundation: Thank you to Brad Weir, Nicole Bahen, Danielle Robinson, and everyone at their fantastic organization. They're flying me in from Philly to see game 4 in Ottawa, which is an unexpected, but not unappreciated gesture. They have put a lot of work into this campaign despite having no official association with it; they deserve a large part of the credit. They've also been kind enough to give my sister (Lauren) a ticket as well as it happens to be her 21st birthday. (Everyone wish her a happy birthday!) Silver Seven Sens: These guys are the best Sens community on the Internet. Peter and the gang have been kind enough to let me take part in that, and I could not be more grateful. They gave me a platform and I hope to return the favour somehow in the future. Canada's Flag King: This die hard Sens fan has been unbelievably dedicated to the cause. The Flag King has donated 4 flags, a $30 prize pack, and $1 from the sale of every Sens heritage car flag he sells. His donations, both monetary and flagetary, have amounted to over $400 in value. Next time you need a flag, please reward him with your business. Kevin Lee (aka @SensForLife11) for his prize donations and agreeing to move his blogging services over to BonksMullet.com. He and Chet Sellers have already made incredible contributions to the site in the first week of its existence. (It's also his birthday, wish him a happy one) the613.com: These guys are a great local initiative to get some fun Ottawa-inspired t-shirts out to the city. They've donated 4 shirts as prizes and $1 from the online sale of all of their "Boys of Winter" t-shirts. I'll definitely be buying one. The Standard Tavern: This local restaurant took generosity to another level by pledging $100 per Sens win in the first round. Their donations currently total over $450. Please check out their location on Elgin Street to tha

ShareThis From the fans to the players to the media, anyone who watched game three recognizes that Ottawa could and probably should be down three games to none in an Eastern Conference semi-final in which they have never held the lead. ShareThis

ShareThis The Ottawa Senators continue their playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Which team will come out on top? Our prediction panel weighs in. ShareThis

In the first three games of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final series between the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins, goaltender Tomas Vokoun has allowed six goals on 106 shots and looked like a league elite goaltender. Truly, he is a great goaltender; if he weren't, he wouldn't have 700 regular season NHL games under his belt. But he's not this good. Thankfully, the Senators are finding ways to get pucks past him. It seems Colin Greening knew how to do it right from the start, but the rest of the team should be figuring it out by now: Get lots of shots--especially from in close--and track down the ubiquitous rebounds (there are plenty) to knock them in. That's what's worked for Ottawa so far, and (barring flukey goals, which always happen) it's all that will work tonight and through the rest of the series. Say it with me, Sens skaters: Be like Colin. Don't believe me? Let's go through all the goals the Sens have scored on Vokoun this series; don't worry, it won't take long. Game One: Colin Greening First up, a total garbage goal (and I mean that as a compliment) where the shot powering the puck into the net actually took place behind the back of Vokoun. Virtually anyone who gets to take a shot from behind the goalie will get it in, but this was the result of a few things: A shot (glove side; take note of that) from in close, traffic in front of the net, taking advantage of the opposition's weakest defence pairing (Deryk Engelland and Douglas Murray), and a pinch of persistence. Game Two: Kyle Turris This goal was probably the result of some detailed pre-scouting on the part of the Senators: A perfect shot short-side against Vokoun's weak glove hand. It was also a shot from in tight. It was a powerplay goal, as well; if they're not doing it already (I didn't notice in Game Three), maybe the Sens should have Turris and/or Jason Spezza play along the goal line (as Turris did here) to watch for a short-side opening, pass to the man in front of the net, or pass to a breaking defender on the opposite side. (Of course, that depends on the Senators gaining control of the puck in the offensive zone on the powerpay, something that's been rather difficult for them this playoffs.) Game Two: Colin Greening This was a pure beauty which will be difficult to replicate, but you'll notice three things of importance: It was a shot from in close, it was short-side on Vokoun's glove hand, and Engelland and Murray were once again on the ice. Even if the execution won't be replicated, those weaknesses can be leveraged into offensive production. Game Two: Jean-Gabriel Pageau A shot from the slot, a mess of bodies in front of the net, an uncontrolled rebound, and a Senators forward driving in, finding the puck, and cashing it in. Guillaume Latendresse isn't in the lineup anymore, but this is one area where he'd excel if he draws back in at some point (although hopefully he doesn't, because that would mean either a Sens loss or an injury. Sorry, Lats). Anyone can do it, though: Get in front of the net and make the lives of the Penguins defenders (especially Letang, who is easily rattled) and Vokoun a living nightmare. Oh, also: Engelland was on the ice, and Engelland was on the ice, although in fairness it was Evgeni Malkin's lackadaisical coverage that left Pageau wide open. Game Three: Daniel Alfredsson Phew still gives me goosebumps (this post was really just an excuse to embed this video again [not really]). What we see here is a very reactionary Penguins team just get worked by a desperate Senators team. Although it was a shot from the point, that wasn't really what did it; it was more of a shot-pass on a perfectly executed play that caught Vokoun going the wrong way and a lot of Penguins defenders standing still. You may also have noticed where Alfie chose to tip the puck: Glove side. Game Three: Colin Greening This wondrous beast of a goal took p

After scoring the climatic game-tying goal in the last minute of regulation on Sunday, Daniel Alfredsson made an appearance on the Jim Rome Show this afternoon. Having formed a bond from his time with the Los Angeles Kings organization, former Senators Team President Roy Mlakar made the occasional appearance when he was with the organization, but I honestly cannot remember the last time a player appeared in the Jungle. I have transcribed the appearance below, but if you want to stream the interview, you can do so here. If anything, you have to do it for the introduction where Alfie's poor telephone connection create some problems. "And Ottawa was like, 'Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!'" Will Alfie have a take and not suck, find out after the jump. On the game-tying goal and where it would rank for him in his career… “It’s up there, there’s no question. I’m at the end of my career as well. It was almost as if I could see the season ending before my eyes at the end there. We were getting a penalty with a minute and a half left and being down by one (goal). But, there’s something about this team that we’ve been able to overcome tough situations all year long and we were able to come up with a couple of big plays with thirty seconds left to tie it and give ourselves a chance.” On the play itself and being surprised that he got as good of a look as he did… “I don’t know, it just happened so quick. I started the play carrying it up. I dropped it to Gonchar and then I kind of disappeared on the far side; seeing what’s going to happen. Gonchar made a great play out to Michalek on the far side and I was able to come through and I think both their forward and defenceman kind of forgot about me. (Michalek) throws a great pass to me and I was able to redirect it up high over the goalie. But, you don’t see that happen too often where you score a shorthanded goal when you’re down by one.” On the Karlsson penalty late in the game and the mood on the bench… “Well, it was sombre, there’s no question. But, you know we have nothing to lose. If we lose two or three to nothing, it doesn’t matter. We have to go for it and I think in Pittsburgh’s case, they know that, so they don’t really try to push forward on their power play. They try to play cautious with the puck and that ended up working to our advantage. We were able to take advantage of them being boxed up in the neutral zone with not a lot of speed. We were able to carry it up without too much trouble and be able to get a play at the net and fortunately for us, it worked out.” On the tension of overtime hockey and being in that situation as a player… “It was way better than when I was twenty than now when I’m 40. It is intense and usually, we always talk about the first three or four minutes of overtime is usually the most important time. Most goals are scored at that time or even at the end of the period, so (those are) crucial times. You always try to start well and then kind of hang on and don’t give anything easy to the other team. Usually it’s a bounce, a tip in or like in our case, a rebound that we pounce on and put in the net that decides overtime games.” On the emotional and physical toll paid in a double-overtime game and the lift it gives when you win… “Well, it gives the team a huge boost; especially doing it at home too. The crowd was really into it obviously when we tied it up. And then (when we) win it in overtime, they went crazy. A lot of emotions going through our team, but you’re on a high for a few hours. Fortunately, we have two days in between games here, which gives us time to physically regroup and mentally recharge because we won one game and it felt great, but we’re still down two-one in the series

ShareThis This is the 13th playoff season for Chris Phillips as an Ottawa Senator. ShareThis

ShareThis No matter how good the Ottawa Senators feel about themselves after their 2-1, double-overtime win in Game 3, the odds remain decidedly against them. ShareThis

ShareThis Old school hockey types often lament that hockey has become too much like baseball ShareThis

It's been awhile since I've done one of these, but with the playoffs here, there's tons to talk about and read, and let's face it, these pesky Sens sure are entertaining aren't they? There's never a lack of things to talk about with the team, and let's not forget our provincial rivals, who went out in spectacular fashion. So with that being said, here is a playoff edition of the links.-Scoring a shorthanded, game tying goal affords you some extra attention. Daniel Alfredsson on the Jim Rome show.-How classy is Erik Karlsson? He took time out in the hand shake line to do this.-We live in a technological society, so what better way to show a little Sens spirit than to do this on your smartphone.-Alfie is a finalist for an award I wasn't aware that existed until I saw this. But props anyways.-Life sure is good Pierre. Life is good.-Some leftover hilarity from round 1.-Here's some more lol.-An awesome timeline of the Sens and Pens playoff style.-Sens Army is heavy, even in Ethipoia.-Just another reason why they love the Sens.-So this happened. Gross! But in a weird way I have to admire his ability to not give a shit.-100% legit reason.-This has been one of my favorite moments of the season. SBP crowd has been terrific this postseason. Here too.-LoL @ Marc Bergevin.-Speaking of Bergevin and Therrien, they sure complained a lot but they didn't have a problem with this obvious no call/suspension.-Oh ya, remember the line brawl in game 3 of round 1? This cracks me up. What our bench looked like after the fights.-This guy is a fan.-Uh Oh lol.-Interesting read.-Oh Toronto. Never change. -The B-Sens got Irish.-Just another reason to love Rihanna. And here. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd here.-Larry Brooks got it right. So did half of Puck Daddy.-Cheesy. But whatever.-Live from The Senate Tavern.-I still don't even remotely understand or agree with this.-Sens in Punjabi? Sure why not.-I know it's the Leafs and all but it would have been cool if SBP did something like this for us. The same white towels for 10 years gets boring.-But nothing like this please SMH.-Suck it Montreal.-Cool. But boring. But cool.-Typical TGOR.-Toronto fans watching the game 7 collapse.-Not sure if this was done as a joke or not, but either way it's funny.-If you just can't get enough, here's some more Leaf fans in misery.-Ok Ok, one more. Maybe the best one.-Once in SIXTY LIFETIMES Toronto.-Series Ottawa.-Well this is ummm......something. Not sure how they got some many guys to agree to this but in any case enjoy.-Don't fuck with the Walrus, or Sens Army, with a little cameo from yours truly. Here too.-This is old. But still AMAZING!!!-Alfie game 3 tying SHG gif. And video. And the full game is you want to re-live the fun.Thanks for reading and be sure to follow on twitter @SensTown