The latest era in a long line of new eras behind the Ottawa Senators bench begins Thursday night when Dave Cameron makes his NHL head coaching debut as the Sens play host to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. He has said a lot of the right things in the three days or so since he took over, and now it is time to see if that translates to the ice. However, don't judge based on one game or one week. It is going to take a good month or two to fully implement the game plan he wants, and at that time fans can get a better handle on where the team sits.
From the Senators standpoint, all eyes will be on Cameron and his actions behind the bench, how he uses his players, and what changes he starts implementing in the game plan off the bat. While a coaching change in mid-season is a tough time to change too much in terms of systems, expect to see the beginnings of tweaking things and based on the reports out of practice over the last couple of days, a little more intensity.
Craig Anderson will get the start in goal for the Senators, with a decision to be made on the blue line with both Marc Methot and Patrick Wiercioch available for duty. This will be the first indication of how much things will change under Cameron, what defensive units he deploys. Up front, lines have been pretty similar to what they were on Sunday night.
Milan Michalek was placed on IR (retroactive to Dec 7) to allow Wiercioch to get back on the active roster, as the shell game continues with the Senators and they avoid being forced to make a roster move. So with Colin Greening being the only healthy scratch among the forwards, this will be the first time the Senators have had 8 defensemen at their disposal, and will have to sit 2 of them.
While the sight of Los Angeles on the schedule usually strikes a certain amount of fear in to the opposition, there is a silver lining. The Kings come to town following a 1-0 shutout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night, their second loss in a row. They have been average at best on the road, with a 3-5-4 record away from Staples Center, so the Sens have to use that to their advantage and get on them early.
If the playoffs were to start today (and just for the record, they aren't), the Kings would be on the outside looking in, currently sitting 3rd in the Wild Card race. Although this is a little misleading because they do have a game or two in hand on the current wild card holders, but they are in a similar spot to the Senators, looking up at where they would want to be.
"That 70's Line", the Kings' trio that was red-hot to start the season has become ice-cold over the last month. Kings' leading scorer (and former Ottawa 67's winger) Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson have just 6 points (all goals) combined in the team's last 13 games (3 each), while Jeff Carter has just a goal and 2 assists in his last 12 (nothing in his last 6). Add that to Anze Kopitar's struggles (2 assists, both in the same game, in last 9 GP) and you have a team that is struggling to find the back of the net.
The Kings have lit the lamp more than twice in just 1 of their last 5 games. Just like previous seasons, the Kings aren't setting the world on fire in the regular season. For them, all that seems to matter is getting to the dance and then they put the pedal to the metal (and even sometimes they spot their first round opponent three games).
While the Kings' offense has apparently regressed to the depths of last regular season, their defensive play is as good as ever. They have allowed just 3 goals in their last 4 games, with Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones each recording a shutout in that stretch. Quick has a 2.09 GAA and .931 SP in 22 games, and he has been the "bad" goalie of the duo. Jones, in 7 games has a GAA of 1.42 and .947 SP so even if the Senators get another backup goalie to face, its not going to be easy.
They are the defending Stanley Cup Champions for a reason, and it could be a really good or terribly bad time to catch them in a slump. The Kings will break out of it at some point, and the Senators will have to be on top of their game to make sure it doesn't happen against them.
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE POTENTIAL DOWNTOWN ARENA PROJECT
I have really mixed feelings about the news yesterday that the Senators are considering a proposal to build a new arena at Lebreton Flats as part of a new development. While it would probably revitalize the downtown core, I am wondering how much public money would be requested to help fund the project.
The big complaint about the arena where it is would be that it is so far for those in the east end to go to, and it is tough to get out of. Well, I recently moved to Aylmer, and with the new improvements to traffic on the 417, I have noticed that it is much quicker than it was previously to get in and out, albeit I have been staying a little longer than I previously did.
I think something can be done at Lebreton, but I am not sure what the best alternative is. I am not one of those people who will not go because of the situation of the arena, but I have also never lived east of Alta Vista. I understand the headaches of traffic and time, but if you think you are going to get in and out of a downtown arena that much quicker then I think you are more optimistic than I am.
I also think there will be the usual backlash of "not in my backyard" that goes along with a project of any magnitude, and whatever goes up will face the ire of the local residents who will be affected. It happened in the Glebe with Lansdowne Park, and it also happened in the same area of the proposed development now, with the LRT expansion. If you drive down Albert Street you still see "2500 buses a day...no way" and other similar signs of protest despite the fact it is already happening and the construction is in process.
There has been a lot of money spent in the Kanata area for highway improvements, shopping areas, housing developments and the like, and although it is at the extreme West end of the city I am not sure you can consider it the "middle of nowhere" any more.
I can see both sides of the coin, and people who are far more knowledgeable than I (and a lot higher paid too) will be involved in the decision making. All I know is wherever it is put, I will not be put out and will continue to attend, as I am sure most die-hard fans will.
There have been a lot of opinions, both pro and con, since the announcement was made, and that was just that the Senators were considering putting in a bid. And as per usual, most of the opinions are based on the benefit to the individual stating that opinon, and where they stand on the issue. I can only hope that whatever decision is eventually made, that it is for the greatest benefit of the entire population, even if it doesn't please everyone (and it won't).
After all, that's what City politics is good at, isn't it?