Ah November, a wonderful month. Heading into this November, most
Senators fans would disagree with that statement. Past Novembers
for the Senators have been p-i-t-i-f-u-l. Last November the team
was 2-10-1. It's almost become a month of hockey in Ottawa that
can easily be completely ignored - as if it never really
happened. A month where strange comments came from die-hards "I
spent all weekend raking leaves and missed it, what was the score
(YAWN) anyway?"... "Hey did I see a great college volleyball game
on the weekend"... "No kidding, Katrina's really in the December
issue."
This November started out no differently. After early month
decisive losses to Pittsburgh and Washington, the Senators added
two ties to Buffalo and Edmonton, a loss to Toronto and then tied
Chicago. By November 15th, they had one November win (November
the 1st) and were carrying a six-game winless streak. The losing
steak was their longest since - note the month here folks -
November 97. However, by November 23rd, they were carrying a
four-game unbeaten streak and had only one loss in their last
seven games.
We disrupt the team news to bring you this important message:
Message to Marshies - "Please bring back the peanuts!!!"
Someone Has to Pay for the Suits
The NHL coaching salaries were out again, this time courtesy of
The Hockey News. With the help of his three year off season
deal, and 111% raise, Jacques Martin checked at 17th overall in
the league's 'highest paid coaches' poll. Even with the raise,
Martin's $426,530 salary still positions him under the $593,000
league average. The only salary not available in the report was
that of New Jersey head coach Rob Ftorek. NHL coaches have been
trying to form their own association and have been discreetly
revealing their salary figures to help colleagues when it comes
time for bargaining.
Let's All Go to Buffalo
The Dominator, Dominik Hasek, was the story in the Sens-Sabres
2-2 tie. He faced 40 shots including Daniel Alfredsson's
point-blank shot off a Prospal centering pass and Andreas
Johansson from close in. Curtis Brown scored a short-handed goal
late in the second period. Ottawa converted on just one of eight
power-play attempts.
In the final minute of the third period Erik (the hammer)
Rasmussen crashed Andreas Johansson into the glass, opening up a
two-inch cut over the left eye. Rasmussen was assessed a well
deserved major penalty. Johansson was clearly upset with the
play "whether he gets a suspension is up to the league, but I
think a player should be held responsible for his actions".
Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff added fuel to this when he suggested
that Ottawa should learn form the Lindros hit on Dackell that
players settle their own score. He said "They say, 'Every time
we get hit, let's just turn our back.' I don't like it". Neither
do the Nosebleeders.
* Dackell returned from the sidelines for this one after finally
recovering from a concussion after a crushing hit by
Philadelphia's Eric Lindros on October 29th.
* Bruce Gardiner also returned to play. He had suffered a
sprained ligament in right thumb October 23rd.
* Steve Martins also suffered a minor eye injuries in the game.
Martins happened innocently when he was hit by a puck in the
third period. When asked about the possibility of wearing a
visor in the future, the Harvard graduate also displayed his
roots in Don Cherry academia. Don Cherry believes that players
who wear visors are wimps. Martins refuses to wear a visor under
the basis that "people regard players with visors as soft and
unwilling to go into the corners."
And We Thought the Slashing Ended After Halloween
With many off to the parking lot, and just 14 seconds left in the
game, the Oilers got a bad-angle Andrei Kovalenko wrist shot to
go in past Ron Tugnutt. The Oilers extended their unbeaten
streak to seven against the Senators (6-0-1 since January 18th,
1994).
"Every time you shoot, there is a chance," Kovalenko noted. "I
just tried to keep my shot at the net."
Essensa made 33 saves, including 27 over the final two periods.
Despite being outshot 4-0 in the overtime period the Senators did
get one shot on net. Jason York tried a clearing pass in his own
zone and ended up shooting it on Tugnutt, who was ready and
kicked it away.
* Daniel Alfredsson suffered a cut near his right eye after he
was slashed by Sean Brown late in the second period. Brown was
assessed a double minor and claimed that he lost balance and that
the hit was accidental. Again the team did not retaliate.
* Radek Bonk returned to the lineup while scratches included
Chris Murray and Patrick Traverse.
Shoulda Been a Tie
Curtis Joseph stopped 27 shots in leading the Leafs past the
Senators 2-1. The Senators had sustained pressure in the first
period but Joseph stopped all 13 shots he faced. Both teams were
0 for 4 on the power play and both teams fired 28 shots.
Robbed
The Senators travelled west to take on the Hawks and if it were
not for a called back late third period GOAL, yes GOAL, the
Senators would have won. Igor Kravchuk scored on a wrist shot
from the top of the left faceoff circle. Despite having two
referees, it was waved off and replays confirmed that Andreas
Johansson was in the crease. If he was it was not readily
evident.
* The tie should have been expected. The two teams had gone a
combined 14 games without a win.
* The Senators added additional practice time after the Chicago
tie.
Trivia Time
Doug Gilmour's two assists in the Hawks game brought his total
lifetime against the Senators to 15. Who leads in lifetime
assists against the Senators? Answer at the end of this column.
Happy Birthday to You
Alexei Yashin turned 25 this month.
And Finally the Win
Alexei Yashin scored a goal and added an assist to lift the
Senators past Washington 4-1 at the MCI Center (a few blocks from
the Clinton hearings). Dackell's fourth of the season late in
the second period brought the Sens lead to 4-1 and also broke a
0-for-17 spell on the power play.
* Sami Salo, a.k.a. "Big Business," replaced Chris Phillips who
sat out with back spasms.
And Another Win
For the second time in a row, Alexei Yashin was named the game's
first star. Combined with a very lucky Shawn McEachern backhand
goal, Yashin's two goals led the Sens to a 4-1 victory over the
Flames.
Fishy Business
Chris Murray's father, Al, continued his tradition of bringing
"lucky fish" to one of his son's teams. Murray arrived in Ottawa
from Port Hardy B.C. with some 30 pounds of Pacific smoked
salmon.
And Yet Another Win
The Senators finally beat Garth Snow. Snow, recently traded from
the Flyers to Vancouver, had a 7-0-0 lifetime record against the
team. Vancouver outshot the Senators 43-31 but Tugnutt stood
tall in the victory. The Canucks were without Alexander Mogilny.
The Canucks' 19 shots fired at the Senators' net in the third
period represents the most this season.
* Kravchuk's assist in the game was his 150th. Added to his 50
goals he now has 200 points. Not too bad.
Drumroll Please...
The current lifetime assists leader against the Senators is Adam
Oates of the Washington Capitals with 35 assists. More Senators
trivia and a chance to win 12 tickets against the Sharks on
Friday March 26th, can be found on
http://live.bottlerocket.com/senators.
A Bit of Canadiana
The Nosebleeders wish to sincerely congratulate all involved with
this years Grey Cup including the victorious Calgary Stampeders
who won it on a last-second Field Goal.
Super Bowl organizers...take note.
