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Jets 2, Sens 1 Post Game Thoughts; Smith: Square Peg, Round Hole? |
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Good Morning! Any day you get to talk about hockey is a great day!
Some thoughts on the Senators' 2-1 loss in Winnipeg last night
- With just 4 of the players who would be in my top 9 up front and 3 of my top 6 defensemen in the lineup, it was a solid if unspectacular effort. Nobody really stood out as outstanding nor did any bubble player really made a case to make the team over anyone else.
- When I watched the speed and hands of Buddy Robinson, taking a stretch pass, kicking it to his stick and then deking Ondrej Pavelec for the Sens lone goal, I thought immediately that in a year or so he could make Colin Greening more expendable than he already might be. Robinson has more size, close speed and if that goal was any indication, better hands than Greening. He just needs some seasoning in Binghamton to get more consistency.
- Both goals against the Senators came from poor defensive play. Alex Grant couldn't contain Jim Slater down low and let him carry the puck to the slot where he roofed the puck over Lehner to put the Jets on the board. A bad turnover by Patrick Wiercioch and poor recovery by the whole line led to the second goal, but Frederik Claesson can't allow that pass to get through on the down-low 2-on-1. Craig Anderson had no chance, as he had to focus on the puck carrier first, and couldn't possibly get across after the pass was completed to the edge of the crease.
- Alex Chiasson's skating isn't pretty, but it is effective. The first time I really watched him in the Toronto game last week my first impression was that he didn't skate well. Looks can be deceiving as later in the game he broke away from a pretty quick blueliner for a shorthanded goal, and again last night he proved that you can't judge a book by its cover. He gets where he needs to go for the most part, seems pretty aware of where he should be on the ice, and that is going to help him score some goals. If he can develop chemistry with Zibanejad that will give the Senators a solid, and very lanky, second unit.
- Neither goalie really took control of the battle for the crease, as neither were overly busy or forced to make really difficlut saves. Lehner faced 13 shots in his 20 minutes before being lifted earlier than scheduled with a bruised hand, while Anderson faced just 11 in his 40 minutes.
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SQUARE PEG, ROUND HOLE?
One thing that continues to confuse and baffle me is the way the management and staff of the Senators try to make certain players into something that they aren't. First it was Colin Greening who had a blip with a 17 goal season while playing alongside Jason Spezza, and all of the sudden they think he can be a top 6 forward (NEWS FLASH: He Can't). Now, it is Zack Smith. At his press conference before the team left for Winnipeg yesterday, Coach MacLean re-iterated the fact that he was trying to get more offense out of Smith.
I would ask why? Smith has seasons of 14 and 13 goals, but hasn't really given any indication at any level that he would be more than a 15-20 goal guy. I think the Senators have depth up the middle with Kyle Turris, Mika Zibanejad and David Legwand that they don't need to put the burden of offense on Smith's shoulders. Smith should be what he is, a solid, rugged defensive pivot who creates energy on a fourth line. The Senators are deep enough that if the fourth line consists of three of Smith, Neil, Condra, Greening and Lazar, that they will chip in for their fair share of goals.
Last night Smith lined up with Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone for the most part, and forcing him into that role with supposedly offensive players is a mistake that the Sens continue to make.
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