Silver Nuggets: Someone-has-to-score edition; McGrattan rips Neil
It's gameday, and the Ottawa Senators look to avenge their loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. And today, we've got a lot of headlines with interesting stories, including a whack of them below the jump:
Bad news: Daniel Alfredsson is a game-time decision. (@NHL_Sens)
Pascal Leclaire won't be starting tonight, but he's healthy enough to sit on the bench as Brian Elliott's backup. (Citizen)
Four panellists pick the Leafs to win, three are calling a Sens victory; even the prediction panel is losing hope. (Citizen)
- Wait, Jason Spezza has encouraging words for Leafs' prospect Nazem Kadri? Ur doin it wrong, Jason. (Toronto Sun)
- Apparently Nick Foligno was pulled aside by Bryan Murray after the loss to the Bruins. Not sure what could possibly have been said, but after Foligno's pre-season, we were all hoping for some more production. (Sun)
- Both Foligno and Peter Regin are having some problems putting up points. (Citizen, via Gazette)
- Allen Panzeri figured out what's wrong with Chris Phillips: He's trying to do to much. Not the first time I've thought Phillips was putting too much pressure on himself. (Citizen, via Gazette)
- Or maybe it's lack of confidence plaguing Phillips? I don't know. (Citizen, Sun)
Read more...
- Don Brennan asks if the Senators can score. But after the Leafs have been shutout two games in a row, will the Senators really have to? KNOCK ON WOOD KNOCK ON WOOD. (Sun)
- Maybe Bryan Murray might be looking for a physical defenceman, and it's possible one of the teams he's talked to about it was the Anaheim Ducks. Maybe. (Spector)
- But apparently it's a sellers market when it comes to defensive help. But Ottawa has what so many want: Brian Lee. He's up for grabs. (Sun)
- Turns out Brian McGrattan never really liked Chris Neil. Said he'd always "have to fight all [Neil's] battles for him the next time we'd play a team after he'd do something stupid" like beating on Denis Seidenberg. Fair enough, but Brian... what else do you think you were on the team for? (TSN)
- Jeremy Milks makes some good points in his article on the McGrattan/Neil feud: A) Neil has been in a couple of fights in his career (many against some very good fighters), and B) McGrattan would be lucky to put together a career half as impressive as Neil. (Black Aces)
- And a good post by Greg Wyshynski about how even if Chris Neil is 'that guy', he makes life more interesting. (Puck Daddy)
- UPDATE: Justin Bourne hates agitators, and apparently fails to realize that that's exactly how he's supposed to feel about them. They're not supposed to be popular with other players. They're supposed to have you so concerned with how "gutless" they are that you forget about the game you're supposed to be playing. (Puck Daddy)
- UPDATE: A great look at how former Senators goalie Ray Emery is trying to get back into the game. (ESPN)
- With Robin Lehner sent back to Binghamton, Mike Brodeur healthy again, and Barry Brust having played some very good hockey while those two were unavailable, the B-Sens have a crowded crease all of a sudden. Although all it takes is a concussion-inducing Mike Fisher slapshot for that crowding to ease. (Press & Sun Bulletin)
- Shean Donovan has finally got a gig, even if it is on a tryout basis with the Syracuse Crunch. Good for him. (Crunch, via SENS Town)
- Apparently Daniel Briere is surprised that he was suspended three games for cross-checking Frans Nielsen in the face with just a minute remaining in a 6-1 hockey game. So am I, but pleasantly so; it's a rare instance where the league did something right discipline-wise, in my opinion. (Broadstreet Hockey)
- Ottawa has lost 11 of the last 12 Saturday-night games. Including three losses to the Leafs. Thankfully, today is... Tuesday? Yeah, Tuesday. (Black Aces)
- Hilarious clip of some random Z-lister asking Carrie Underwood out with Mike Fisher sitting right beside her. (This was pre-wedding but post-engagement.) (SENS Town)
- And finally, I've got to give DGB some love for this terrific account of Hallowe'en at Gary Bettman's house. The John Ferguson, Jr. jokes are hilarious. (Down Goes Brown)