Ottawa Senators

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. EST; TV: RSN, MSG). Sounds like somebody's been sharing water bottles again: Defensemen Toni Lydman and Teppo Numminen are battling the flu for the Sabres. But Craig Rivet should be back in the lineup for the first time in 11 games.  

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Jose Theodore (31 saves) and the Washington Capitals overcame some bad history in the HSBC Arena to defeat the Buffalo Sabres, 4-2. ... Stick-tap to Chris Bourque of the Caps and Ottawa's Brian Lee for their first NHL goals. ... Maxim Lapierre scored the winning goal in the shoo...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Ottawa Senators at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. EST; TV: RSN, RSW). Don Brennan doesn't exactly have confidence in the Senators goalie not named Alex Auld: "Gerber is supposed to start in Edmonton tonight, and when I heard that I lost any sense that the Senators might snap out of their 12...

By Greg Wyshynski • The history of Montreal Canadiens hat tricks. Pretty much the only list that can bring together Rocket Richard, Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau and Oleg Petrov. [Habs Inside/Out] • Spector believes there is no miracle cure trade for the Ottawa Senators. [Fox Sports]

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. EST; TV: KDOC, OPPV). Yes! Ducks and Oil! Kevin Lowe and Brian Burke their pride on the line in a battle of ... sigh ... we sort of miss this rivalry already. Does it carry over to the Leafs or not? Jonas Hiller vs. Dwayne Roloson tonight, as per Goalie Post.

By Greg Wyshynski • Brian Campbell to the Sharks? Dan Boyle to ... uh, the Sharks? Nope. Spector names Marian Hossa-to-the-Pittsburgh Penguins as the biggest trade of 2008. "In the short term this deal favored the Penguins, as Hossa would help power that club to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, but he subsequently bo...

By Sean Leahy General Manager Bryan Murray to the Toronto Sun on Mats Sundin eliminating the Ottawa Senators from his list of potential destinations: For starter's, every team in the National Hockey League knows that Ottawa is still a one-line team. Shut down the Dany Heatley-Jason Spezza-Daniel Al...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. EST; TV: TSN, MSG). Scott Clemmensen gets the start against his former team, and he's saying it'll be a special night for him. The Leafs are looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season. The Bleacher Report, god love'e...

By Greg Wyshynski • Buffalo Sabres defenseman Craig Rivet is out two weeks with being a Buffalo Sabres player an injured shoulder. [Buffalo News] • After Alex Auld kept them viable for most of the season, it's Martin Gerber's time to grab some starts between the pipes for the Ottawa Senators. [Senators]

By Greg Wyshynski • The 1974-75 Washington Capitals, 1980-81 Winnipeg Jets and 1992-93 Ottawa Senators all make the Sports Illustrated gallery for worst seasons for a team. "Lose-ipeg." Still funny. [SI] • Earl Sleek and Mike Chen face off in a segment of "it's about damn time" in preparation for tonight's s...

By Greg Wyshynski • Perhaps the single most pointless fan poll in the history of fans or polls: Who is the greatest New Jersey Devils goalie of all-time? C'mon, Peter Sidorkiewicz! [Fire & Ice] • Looking at how Canada has created misery and despair for Buffalo fans over the last week. As if the people of Bu...

By Greg Wyshynski No. 3 star: Thomas Vanek, Buffalo Sabres Jason Pominville's nice feed in the Penguins' zone in the third period deserves just as much credit, but Vanek's NHL-leading 20th goal was the difference in the Sabres' come-from-behind victory at the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3. 

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, RSN). World are colliding, as Lighthouse Hockey has Pension Plan Puppets provide the Leafs' perspective on tonight's tilt. Including whether we'll see a 197-foot goal tonight.

By Greg Wyshynski • Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray says the team will make the necessary room to sign Mats Sundin. What's the salary cap in their dreams again? [Ottawa Sun] • And there was much joy on the Puck Daddy fantasy team, as Marc-Andre Fleury begins practicing with the Pittsburgh Penguins again. [Pen...

By Ross McKeon Jason Spezza had produced only six points in his previous 14 games, but he broke out of his scoring slump in a big way Saturday afternoon. Spezza notched his second career hat trick, and it was the only three goals the Senators would get or need during a one-goal victory over the visiting Pitt...

By Greg Wyshynski Peter Raaymakers was watching the Montreal Canadiens skate against the Boston Bruins in late November when the Ottawa Senators fan was overcome with a familiar emotion: the ravenous desire to see the Habs defeated. PD: If the New York Rangers defeat the Montreal Canadiens, and Wade Redd...

By Greg Wyshynski The Anaheim Ducks were playing a solid road game until the last 5:45 of the third period. That's when the Blackhawks rallied for three goals, with Toews smacking home the game-winner at 18:25 en route to a 4-2 win. Kris Versteeg sent a good pass through the crease and Toews beat Ducks goalie Jo...

By Greg Wyshynski • Things are getting serious between Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs. And by "serious" we mean "heavy petting." The negotiations heat up as the Leafs have lost seven of nine games. Or, as it's clinically known, they've "become the Leafs again." [Toronto Star]

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG2, MSG). There have to be people who purchased tickets to this game at the start of the season hoping for Rick DiPietro vs. Martin Brodeur. Oh well. No refunds. Kevin Weekes in goal for the Devils. Chris Botta has nice coverage of the...

By Greg Wyshynski • Bruce "Malkin to the Kings" Garrioch continues to feed the flames of the Ottawa Senators' interest in Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund. Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis and assistant Lawrence Gilman were listed as scouts at MSG for last night's loss to the Rangers. [Ottawa S...

By Greg Wyshynski Mired in a losing streak and coming off a series of team meetings, the Ottawa Senators weren't going to be an easy out at MSG. Lundqvist made some key stops throughout the game against players like Dany Heatley and Antoine Vermette, and then made Nikolai Zherdev's shootout goal stand up to g...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, RSN). Wade Redden faces his old teammates from Ottawa, who no doubt hope to see the kind of stalwart defense he provided them in his last few seasons with the Sens. Coach Craig Hartsburg held one-on-one meetings with Ottawa play...

By Greg Wyshynski • Thomas Pock of the New York Islanders will face a disciplinary hearing after receiving a major and a misconduct for elbowing Ryan Shannon of the Ottawa Senators last night. Shannon should be thanking him for attempting to erase a loss at home to the Islanders from his grey matter. [Kuklas]

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, RSN). Maybe the Senators are a gaggle of underachievers fight through bitter disappointment. Maybe Daniel Alfredsson's stick just slipped, and he didn't intentionally smash a pane of glass during practice. Uh-huh. Ale...

By Greg Wyshynski It's never too early for "if the playoffs started today" forecasting, so here goes: If the playoffs started today, the Northeast Division would have three representatives in the Eastern Conference, with its other two teams both missing the cut by one win. Meanwhile, in the Northeast:

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. EST; TV: TSN, RDS). Both teams are coming off losses and looking to make a statement in a competitive division. Craig Hartsburg is doing the drill sergeant thing with Jason Spezza right now.

By Greg Wyshynski Rookie goaltender Steve Mason made 34 saves before stopping Andrei Kostitsyn in the shootout to give Columbus an emotional 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal had several quality chances in regulation that Mason turned aside. He's now 2-0 despite having given up seven goals in...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. EST; TV: RSN). Martin Gerber gets the start for the Sens against his old mates in Carolina. Michael Ryan gets a call-up from the AHL for the Hurricanes, which leads Carolina On Ice to celebrate a moral victory against the KHL.

By Greg Wyshynski • Jim Balsillie floats the idea of buying the Montreal Canadiens, and the team sets a land-speed record in denying it's for sale. [TSN] • "No defense, no goaltending, no forecheck, no life" make Homer something something. Oh, and no victory for the Philadelphia Flyers against the Ottawa Se...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: New York Islanders at New York Rangers (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG). The Rangers try to turn the page on their third-period meltdown against the Leafs, and move Markus Naslund to a line wit Scott Gomez and Ryan Callahan. Meanwhile, the Islanders' aggressive style is impressing opposing coa...

By Greg Wyshynski • New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur will have "surgery Thursday morning to repair a torn distal biceps tendon in his left elbow and will miss three to four months," according to beat writer Tom Gulitti. And we're reaching for the whiskey starting ... now.  [Fire & Ice]

By Greg Wyshynski • Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson has signed a four-year, $22 million deal that includes a no-movement clause, according to the Ottawa Sun; a deal that virtually ensures that Alfredsson will spend the rest of his playoff disappointments with the Senators. [Off the Posts]

By Greg Wyshynski • This hysteria over Steve Yzerman potentially taking over a Canadian hockey franchise will have to wait for at least another year and a half as he operates Team Canada. Which basically means that the Ottawa Senators shouldn't fire Bryan Murray until after the 2010 games. [ESPN]

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. EDT; TV: NHLN, MSG). Pat Lalime will get the nod tonight for the Sabres against his former team. The Senators, meanwhile, are scrambling up their lines to find something that works, with a Daniel Alfredsson-Mike Fisher-Nick Foligno trio po...

By Greg Wyshynski Vokoun has been inconstant this season, and was following a stellar performance from backup Craig Anderson in a win over Ottawa. There's really no better way to cement your status as the big dog than 47 saves against the San Jose Sharks, giving the Panthers a 4-3 win at home.  Vokoun improved...

By Greg Wyshynski • Martin Gerber should be very, very afraid of losing his starting job with the Ottawa Senators. [Sun Media] • Mats Sundin would still like to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs. What, so Ron Wilson can bench him to make a point? [Globe & Mail]

By Greg Wyshynski • Ottawa Senators coach Craig Hartsburg yelled at his team, demoted Jason Spezza to the second line and a defenseman to the minors ... and the Sens still lost at home to the Florida Panthers. [Sun Media] • Pittsburgh Penguins fan nemesis Mark Madden, and the Web site that monitors him. [Pensblog...

By Greg Wyshynski The Panthers spotted their backup keeper a 2-0 lead in the first period and limited the Ottawa Senators to just three shots. All Anderson did from that point on was stop 38 of 39 shots in the final two periods to preserve the 3-1 win for Florida on the road -- including 26 in the third. Anderson ov...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. EDT; TV: TSN). Ottawa is 13-3-1 against Florida since 1999. Craig Anderson gets the call tonight for the Panthers. Brian Lee gets demoted for the Sens, which means the ageless Luke Richardson could get the call for the Ottawa blueline.

By Ross McKeon The offseason acquisition made his biggest impact to date, assisting on two goals during regulation and then scoring the winner in overtime to rally the Sharks from a two-goal deficit to a victory in sudden death over the winless Philadelphia Flyers. Boyle scored at 1:25 at even strength...

By Ross McKeon Inspired by the quick return from injury by captain and linemate Daniel Alfredsson, Spezza benefited most by scoring two goals and four points on a night he, Dany Heatley and Alfredsson combined for seven points. Spezza scored at even-strength at 15:10 of the first period and assisted on...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. EDT; TV: CSBA, KDOC). So either the San Jose Sharks' preposterously hot start or the Ducks' preposterously awful start with continue or end tonight. How's that for a preview, eh? Bottom line is that the Ducks need the goal-less Ryan Getzlaf an...

By Greg Wyshynski Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils Anaheim Ducks Edmonton Oilers 0.42 0.41 0.39 0.39 San Jose Sharks 0.39 0.39 0.38 0.38 Montreal Canadiens 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 Toronto Maple Leafs 0.37 New York Islanders 0.36 0.35 Ottawa Senators 0.34 0.33 Buffalo Sabres 0.31 0.31 0.31 0.30 0.29 0.28 Pittsburgh Penguins

By Greg Wyshynski • The Ottawa Senators announce captain Daniel Alfredsson will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and could miss a month. Ottawa reports a massive spike in computer monitors covered in morning coffee after the news hit. [Ottawa Citizen]

By Greg Wyshynski • Craig Rivet hearts Buffalo, and Buffalo Sabres fans heart their new captain. [Sabretooth's House] • A loving valentine to Tomas Kaberle, as one Toronto Maple Leafs fan celebrates 10 years for the defenseman. [Sports and the City]

By Greg Wyshynski Northeast Division 1 * Montreal Canadiens 3 Ottawa Senators 4 Buffalo Sabres 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 * Philadelphia Flyers 2 * Pittsburgh Penguins 3 * New Jersey Devils 5 New York Islanders Whatever the case, the Montreal Canadiens are my pick to win the Stanley Cup this season.

By Greg Wyshynski • Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley both have mega-contracts with the Ottawa Senators. Those deals, combined with the current economic climate, could give Ottawa ownership a chance to talk down the demands of Daniel Alfredsson for a "lifetime" deal. But will Alfie take the bait? [ESPN]

By Sean Leahy For the fifth time in its history, the NHL played regular season games outside of North America as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators opened in Stockholm while the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning kicked things off in Prague. 

By Ross McKeon No. 1 star: Dany Heatley, Ottawa Senators The talented left wing has set out this season to prove he's more than just a goal-scorer, but Heatley also is proving he still has a nose for the net. Heatley scored a pair of power-play goals – the first and second scores for Ottawa Sunday during a 3-1 v...

By Greg Wyshynski • Swedish legend and Senators star Daniel Alfredsson had a pillar of the Scandinuvium arena dedicated to him. Which is much more impressive than the Dean McAmmond urinal cake at the beer league rink in Grande Cache, Alberta. [Ottawa Sun]

By Greg Wyshynski • David Staples takes a look at the best mustaches in Edmonton Oilers history. Bill "Cowboy" Flett's face looked like Chewbacca after a bender. [Cult of Hockey] • We forgot to list The 6th Sens in our Ottawa Senators preview over the weekend. It's solid.

By Greg Wyshynski Last Semester (see also Senators eulogy): Seventh in the Eastern Conference (43-31-8, 94 points). Wicked hangovers can sometimes end with a regrettable tattooing. Such was the case for the Ottawa Senators, who followed up their trip to the Stanley Cup finals with a contentious and under...