So it seems I touched a bit of a nerve yesterday defending Jared Cowen a bit. The backlash sort of proved my point, in that he is the new target of the Sens fan base and will always take more blame than he deserves from a certain segment of the following.
That's not saying he played a great 60 minute game, but you could say the same thing about 19 other players dressed for the opener. He took more heat than anyone else, and I felt that is unjust and based on reputation, and not what that game produced, but that's how it goes. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just as I am.
But it goes to show the passion of the fans and also just how deeply they want the Senators to succeed that there is such activity after just 1 game.
Thanks for the dialogue yesterday, even if most of you were wrong (just kidding!).
Now, in the mold of the Hoodie, we are "on to Tampa..."
OTTAWA SENATORS (0-1-0) vs TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (1-0-0)
*Robin Lehner will get his first start of the season in the Senators net. TSN1200 Radio asked a decent question yesterday afternoon. Should Lehner stand on his head in this game do you come back with him on Monday in Florida or go back to Craig Anderson who was solid in Nashville but lost, and has a great career record against the Panthers.
If the starting job is really up for grabs, in my opinion you come back with Lehner. After the way Lehner was handled last year, and how it affected him, MacLean has to. The mantra of training camp was that the best player should play, and if that is still true then Lehner should get consecutive starts. Of course, that is all IF Lehner stands out and plays a great game. If he stumbles then the discussion is moot.
*From the look of Friday's practice, other than Lehner, the Senators will ice the same lineup they did on Thursday in Nashville. As frustrating as that was to watch, I credit Paul MacLean for sticking with it and seeing what happens. I am not saying that those are the lines I would put out there, but if that is what he wants to see work, not having a knee-jerk reaction and shuffling it up, or putting others into the lineup after one so-so game shows some growth behind the bench from a guy who would shuffle two or three times in a game sometimes. If it nets him a similar result, then maybe start looking at some changes. There have been lots of criticism on lineups and player deployment, and I don't agree with some of the lines, but he is the boss and like it or not, it is his job on the line.
*It was only one game, and the reaction from the fan base was like the Senators had lost 6-1 instead of a close 3-2 loss. But I do understand the reaction because a lot of things that were supposed to be fixed were still evident, from a lot of players, especially in their own zone. Every player on the ice needs to step their game up for the team to win against quality teams. It can't be 2 or 3 guys, because the team is simply not that talented. It will be effort, attention to detail and team play that results in wins. That, great goaltending and Erik Karlsson being on top of his game, which he wasn't on Thursday.
*Tampa Bay is coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Florida Panthers, with the winning goal coming from Victor Hedman off a heads up long outlet pass from Ben Bishop catching the Panthers on a bad line change.
*The Senators cannot afford to take penalties against Tampa, who were 3 for 7 with the man advantage, and obviously doing all of their scoring in that segment of the game.
*Steven Stamkos, who many predicted before the season would win the Rocket Richard trophy as the league's top goal scorer, was held pointless against the Panthers, so you can bet he will be chomping at the bit to get on the board.
*Bishop will start in the Lightning net for the second straight game.
*You can see the game on SportsNet 1 at 7:00 pm, and hear it on the TSN1200 radio network.
Enjoy the game!