Jared Crozier: Senators slide continues with 5-2 loss in D.C.

To Matt Duchene from the Colorado fans:
It would be hilarious if the Sens miss the playoffs and Avs are in.

To Matt Duchene from the Colorado fans:
It would be hilarious if the Sens miss the playoffs and Avs are in.
- OnTheFly

There is little chance the Avs actually make the playoffs but it is really looking like the Sens will be busting out the clubs early as well...

I haven't had the chance to see the Sens play recently.
Looking at the stats obviously zero goals from Bobby Ryan doesn't help.
Is Duchene pressing or what? Seems to me like he will break out at some point, he is too good not to.

I haven't had the chance to see the Sens play recently.
Looking at the stats obviously zero goals from Bobby Ryan doesn't help.
Is Duchene pressing or what? Seems to me like he will break out at some point, he is too good not to.
- Rang

Duchene has always had a problem with getting in his own head. Once he gets one, the points will pour in.

The game was a little better than the Ranger game, but still nowhere acceptable. Completely agree the line combos are a mess. Sens coaches for years have had this issue. Something doesn’t work in one game and the blender is pulled out until something happens. The powerplay is the worst for this in my opinion, particularly the 2nd unit.

Get rid of the 7 d-man experiment and set up 4 lines for one game. See how it goes. Having Hoffman play over 3 lines because of the number juggling is a mess.

For the haters, Duchene has played fine, but just isn’t finishing. Probably playing a little too hard at times. Probably has been the best forward during this slump.

Some accountability needs to be taken. I wasn’t a huge fan of seeing Karlsson giggling away with Ovi when the game was 3 or 4 to nothing. He needs to lead by example. Heck, even call out guys on the bench, worked wonders when he did it to Brassard in the playoffs.

The game was a little better than the Ranger game, but still nowhere acceptable. Completely agree the line combos are a mess. Sens coaches for years have had this issue. Something doesn’t work in one game and the blender is pulled out until something happens. The powerplay is the worst for this in my opinion, particularly the 2nd unit.

Get rid of the 7 d-man experiment and set up 4 lines for one game. See how it goes. Having Hoffman play over 3 lines because of the number juggling is a mess.

For the haters, Duchene has played fine, but just isn’t finishing. Probably playing a little too hard at times. Probably has been the best forward during this slump.

Some accountability needs to be taken. I wasn’t a huge fan of seeing Karlsson giggling away with Ovi when the game was 3 or 4 to nothing. He needs to lead by example. Heck, even call out guys on the bench, worked wonders when he did it to Brassard in the playoffs.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Thats been the story of Duchene for years. Always looks dangerous but his points comes in bunches. A motivated Duchene is a dangerous one. I do find it odd that he hasnt been able to produce yet (not sure who he is playing with)

Thats been the story of Duchene for years. Always looks dangerous but his points comes in bunches. A motivated Duchene is a dangerous one. I do find it odd that he hasnt been able to produce yet (not sure who he is playing with)
- DDM-Coga

I agree with these comments.

That's where I don't think Boucher has done a good job - in exploiting his offensive weapons. Even Bobby Ryan should be scoring 20+ goals and 50+ points every year.

$ 13, 250, 000 against the cap in those 2 forward - you have to get the going

Great points by gord Wilson .I agree that Karlsson should be leading by example! ..but when it rains...and I think that giggle was an..I franking can't believe how shatty im/team is playing? ..ya frustrations start to filter in..but stick with them (team)..and they'll eventually turn it around!

Thats been the story of Duchene for years. Always looks dangerous but his points comes in bunches. A motivated Duchene is a dangerous one. I do find it odd that he hasnt been able to produce yet (not sure who he is playing with)
- DDM-Coga

That’s the kind of player I was expecting, but it is certainly something to see him so dangerous but have zero success. He has mainly been playing with Ryan and some random guy to round out the line, but last night there were not set lines. So anyone guess who he plays with on Friday. Not sure why Duchene and Hoffman hasn’t been experimented with more.

Great points by gord Wilson .I agree that Karlsson should be leading by example! ..but when it rains...and I think that giggle was an..I franking can't believe how shatty im/team is playing? ..ya frustrations start to filter in..but stick with them (team)..and they'll eventually turn it around!
- MR.Hunter

Karlsson is a pretty fun-loving guy. As is Ovi. I just hate to see guys smiling and laughing when you are getting shelled. I felt Karlsson took a huge stride last year in terms of being a leader. One thing to be a great player, it’s another to be a great player and lead. He will get it back on track.

That’s the kind of player I was expecting, but it is certainly something to see him so dangerous but have zero success. He has mainly been playing with Ryan and some random guy to round out the line, but last night there were not set lines. So anyone guess who he plays with on Friday. Not sure why Duchene and Hoffman hasn’t been experimented with more.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

The winger conversation was ongoing in the 8 yearse he was with the Avs. Duchene never had consistent wingers. His best were ROR when they both hit career highs.

He clicked with Yakupov for their short time together, and peter mueller before he had a concussion issue, never was the same again.

Besides those 3, he never had guys that he "clicked with" its a very odd situation with him. When duchene was moved to RW with MacK being his C, he was producing at a very high rate.

I know you need Cs in the Top 6 but Duchene as a RW would put him back on a tear. He isnt as effective on the LW, when he coming down the wing at high speed and shooting across his body as a RWer, it works

The winger conversation was ongoing in the 8 yearse he was with the Avs. Duchene never had consistent wingers. His best were ROR when they both hit career highs.

He clicked with Yakupov for their short time together, and peter mueller before he had a concussion issue, never was the same again.

Besides those 3, he never had guys that he "clicked with" its a very odd situation with him. When duchene was moved to RW with MacK being his C, he was producing at a very high rate.

I know you need Cs in the Top 6 but Duchene as a RW would put him back on a tear. He isnt as effective on the LW, when he coming down the wing at high speed and shooting across his body as a RWer, it works
- DDM-Coga

He’s had a few strong looking drives from the right side near the blue line to the net. So I get what you are saying. Seems to be better at protecting the puck on the back hand rather than the forehand which is odd.

That said, I’d keep him at centre. He’s been decent at winning draws and has always been decent at that. I think he just needs time. The points will come and things will click eventually. I know you think it’s the old song and dance with Duchene, but he is in a new situation with more responsibility and seems super motivated to succeed. I think it’s a great fit. He just came in at a time where everyone on the team seems to be poopting the bed. Karlsson, Ryan, Hoffman, Brassard and Stone have also all sucked, but the focus is on Duchene’s “struggles”.

It all comes down to goaltending.

Our guys have something like a .895 save % combined.

It's surprising we have as many points as we do at this point. The Sens are 4th in the league in shots against right now.... as in 4th least allowed.

It all starts in the net. Boucher was lauded for his 'system' last season, but the fact was that both of our goalies were great. Now, the fans are getting on him, and we have one of the worst goaltending duos in the league.

If you just look back at the last three games, with even average goaltending performances, it would have been
1-0 caps going into the 2nd and 2-0 going into the 3rd.
A win vs Coyotes
1-0 Rangers going into the 3rd.

That's at least one more point, with a good possibility of a comeback in one of the other two games.

It all comes down to goaltending.

Our guys have something like a .895 save % combined.

It's surprising we have as many points as we do at this point. The Sens are 4th in the league in shots against right now.... as in 4th least allowed.

It all starts in the net. Boucher was lauded for his 'system' last season, but the fact was that both of our goalies were great. Now, the fans are getting on him, and we have one of the worst goaltending duos in the league.

If you just look back at the last three games, with even average goaltending performances, it would have been
1-0 caps going into the 2nd and 2-0 going into the 3rd.
A win vs Coyotes
1-0 Rangers going into the 3rd.

That's at least one more point, with a good possibility of a comeback in one of the other two games.
- Charliebox

Pretty much.

I'm seeing criticisms like "Boucher can't win with average goaltending", but fact of the matter is, if we were getting average goaltending, we'd be better than we are right now. We are seeing what Boucher saw his last season in Tampa where Roloson's game fell off the edge of the earth. It doesn't matter how good your coach is, or how good the 'system' is, if you aren't getting .900 goaltending you're not going to be a very good team

There is little chance the Avs actually make the playoffs but it is really looking like the Sens will be busting out the clubs early as well...
- tryhard

The good news is that 3rd in our division is wide open. Detroit's there atm, no? Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts...

The good news is that 3rd in our division is wide open. Detroit's there atm, no? Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts...
- Mr_Clean

The Leafs will be down there again with you soon.

I've said it before, put Duchene with Hoffman and Ryan. that top line would be deadly and the second line with Stone and Brassard.

We have the talent just need to be consistent with the right lines.

Trade Ceci++ for Hjalmarsson, Schenn.

Hjalmarsson has played with Odyua and won 2 cups together. Schenn played with Phaneuf in Toronto. Schenn also is a cheap buffer for chabot to be ready.... believe their might be a team canada connection with boucher, not sure

Hjalmarsson - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Schenn
Claesson - Chabot /Oduya

Karlsson is a pretty fun-loving guy. As is Ovi. I just hate to see guys smiling and laughing when you are getting shelled. I felt Karlsson took a huge stride last year in terms of being a leader. One thing to be a great player, it’s another to be a great player and lead. He will get it back on track.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Agree 100%. I think of that moment of him yelling at Brassard.

You can be friendly with your teammates but team success and being good leaders isn't always about being a friend - it's about doing what's best for the team and holding people accountable so that they perform their best and do what's needed to win.

Leaders of this team: Karlsson, Phaneuf, Stone.
Methot and MacArthur were underrated leaders - Duchene, Hoffman, & Ryan now have to fill those shoes and elevate their play and leadership qualties

Trade Ceci++ for Hjalmarsson, Schenn.

Hjalmarsson has played with Odyua and won 2 cups together. Schenn played with Phaneuf in Toronto. Schenn also is a cheap buffer for chabot to be ready.... believe their might be a team canada connection with boucher, not sure

Hjalmarsson - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Schenn
Claesson - Chabot /Oduya
- AlfieisKing

I don't see a point in this trade.
We'd get older and wouldn't gain any consistency.

I think Chabot is ready now. I have no problem with trading Ceci. I think we should for B Scheen or someone like that and give Chabot his chance

I don't see a point in this trade.
We'd get older and wouldn't gain any consistency.

I think Chabot is ready now. I have no problem with trading Ceci. I think we should for B Scheen or someone like that and give Chabot his chance
- Maverick1818

B Schenn? From STL.... one of the top point getters right now?

Hjalmarsson is a GOOD D-man and has proved he can play with top end D-men and top end teams. Plus he's a sweed

B Schenn? From STL.... one of the top point getters right now?

Hjalmarsson is a GOOD D-man and has proved he can play with top end D-men and top end teams. Plus he's a sweed
- AlfieisKing

At least there are like no Blues fans on this site that troll Sens blogs about terrible trades...