Eulogy: Remembering the 2012-13 Ottawa Senators (Puck Daddy)
(Sat, 25 May 2013 12:05:01 PDT)
(Ed. Note: As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, we're bound to lose some friends along the journey. We've asked for these losers, gone but not forgotten, to be eulogized by the people who knew the teams best: The bloggers who hated them the most . Here’s Andrew Berkshire of Habs Eyes On The Prize and Mike Obrand . Again, this was not written by us. Also: This is a roast and you will be offended by it , so don't take it so seriously.) By Andrew Berkshire and Mike Obrand Hello and welcome as we bid adieu to the most blissfully unaware and naval-gazing organization in pro sports, the 2012-13 Ottawa Shenatorsh. The reaction around most of the NHL when the news came out that the Sens were eliminated was a mildly confused “There’s a team in Ottawa?” Yes, my friends, there is a team there, although Canada’s Phoenix Coyotes aren’t really located in Ottawa, they play in Kanata, which is actually quite far away from Ottawa. When awarded an expansion NHL franchise on Dec. 6, 1990, the Senators faced an extreme uphill battle to create a fanbase in an area dominated by both Leafs and Habs fans. 20 years after their first NHL season in 1992-93, Ottawa remains a city dominated by Habs and Leafs fans. Perhaps that’s why the franchise and fanbase has such a hilarious inferiority complex. To make matters worse for the desperately reaching fanbase, the Senators have completely failed to create a team identity outside of being generally boring to watch for their entire history. This is especially troublesome when their division has four other teams with strong identities. The Montreal Canadiens: Small and skilled The Boston Bruins: Big and physical The Toronto Maple Leafs: Terrible at hockey The Buffalo Sabres: Annoying cheap shot artists The Senators had an opportunity to give themselves an identity early on in their history, with five straight top-three picks, which netted them the most hated player in franchise history, the most well-known bust in NHL history, another huge bust with a mullet, a player who’s best known for having his eye carved out by another Ottawa Senator, and Chris Phillips. Not exactly a glorious start to a franchise, and probably why one of the most notable players in the team’s history is Chris Neil.

Penguins oust Sens in five, reach Eastern finals (The Associated Press)
(Sat, 25 May 2013 00:23:39 PDT)
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Boston or the New York Rangers? To be honest, Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson doesn't think it matters who the Pittsburgh Penguins face in the Eastern Conference finals.

Penguins polish off Senators (The SportsXchange)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 21:20:44 PDT)
PITTSBURGH -- On Friday night in Pittsburgh, the Penguins were looking to not only eliminate the Ottawa Senators but capture their first series victory on Consol Energy Center ice and move on to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2009.

Penguins rip Ottawa 6-2, move to conference finals (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 20:58:05 PDT)
James Neal scored his first postseason hat trick as the Penguins capped a five-game series win over the Ottawa Senators with a 6-2 win.

Penguins eliminate Senators, 6-2 (Comcast SportsNet New England)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 20:40:14 PDT)
The Pittsburgh Penguins eliminate the Ottawa Senators, 6-2 and will face the winner of the Bruins-Rangers series in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Penguins blow out Senators again, advance to Eastern Conference finals (Puck Daddy)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 19:57:48 PDT)
Canada, you may want to sit down. The Pittsburgh Penguins advanced to the Eastern Conference finals Friday, eliminating the Ottawa Senators -- the last remaining Canadian team -- with a decisive 6-2 victory in Game 5. With that, an American club will win the Stanley Cup for the 19th straight season. Now comes the annual Canadian tradition where the country shifts from counting Canadian teams in contention to Canadian players on American teams. The Senators made a slight improvement in Game 5, holding the Penguins to fewer goals than in their previous game. Unfortunately, it was just one fewer, and that's not nearly enough when they allowed 7 the last time around. This game was a lot like Game 4, come to think of it: All Pittsburgh, and not all that close.

NHL-Pittsburgh beat Ottawa to book Eastern Finals berth
(Fri, 24 May 2013 19:45:24 PDT)
May 24 (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins have advanced to the National Hockey League Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2009 after smashing the Ottawa Senators 6-2 in Game Five on Friday, taking the semi-final series 4-1. James Neal notched a hat-trick and added an assist to help clinch a place in the Eastern finals for the top-seeded Penguins for the first time since they last won the Stanley Cup. Brenden Morrow opened the scoring in the seventh minute of the opening period for the Penguins who then scored three goals in the second, which proved the difference. ...

Penguins 6, Senators 2 (The SportsXchange)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 19:41:00 PDT)
PITTSBURGH -- On Friday night in Pittsburgh, the Penguins were looking to not only eliminate the Ottawa Senators but capture their first series victory on Consol Energy Center ice and move on to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2009.

Blue Jackets sign McElhinney, Melart to contracts (The Associated Press)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 14:35:50 PDT)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Curtis McElhinney and defenseman Ilari Melart to one-year contracts.

Penguins seek to close out Senators in Game 5, advance to Conference Final (Puck Daddy)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 13:57:40 PDT)
Entering Game 5 Friday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to do something they've yet to accomplish under head coach Dan Bylsma: close out a playoff series on home ice. "I'm aware," Bylsma told reporters Friday about that little blip on his NHL resume. Since Bylsma replaced Michel Therrien in Feb. 2009, the Penguins have had six chances to initiate a handshake line on the ice at Mellon Arena and CONSOL Energy Center, and six times they've failed. Up 3-1 in their series versus the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins are also a win away from advancing past the second round for the first time since that 2008-09 season; one that ended with the franchise's third Stanley Cup. "Our team knows exactly how important this opportunity is to get the fourth win and try to do that here as soon as possible and not look at this being three more games," said Bylsma after Friday's morning skate . "We have one game right in front of us and it's important to have that mentality and mindset for us tonight." But as Senators head coach Paul MacLean declared during his only post-Game 4 statement , his team is going to Pittsburgh and coming to play. And like the New York Rangers, Ottawa can only follow the cliche and take it one game at a time.

Don Cherry backs Alfie; don’t write off Chicago; NHL draft map (Puck Headlines) (Puck Daddy)
(Fri, 24 May 2013 12:42:12 PDT)
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Detroit Lions' defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh discovers the difference between the NHL and the NFL in his fair city., At football games, people throw flags. At hockey games, they throw cephalopods. • Don Cherry stands up for maligned realist Daniel Alfredsson. [ Ottawa Sun ] • Cam Charron on why it would be unwise to write off the Chicago Blackhawks just yet. I haven't read it or anything, but I'll just assume it says, "because they're really good and stuff." [ Backhand Shelf ] • Jonathan Toews after Game 4. "Eventually, something's got to give. We're too good a team. We've got too much talent. For as hard as we're working, something's got to go our way." [ MLive ] • An interactive visualization of the NHL drafts of yore. This is very, very cool stuff from Sarah Connors. [ Stanley Cup of Chowder ] • The last time the Penguins had a chance to close out an opponent in a Game 5 at home, in 2011, they lost big, both in the game and, eventually, the series. What can they learn from that fiasco, besides "don't let this happen again"? [ Post-Gazette ] • Logan Couture, on whether he's talked to good buddy Drew Doughty. "“No nothing, nothing. I’ve just talked to our friends. We have a group of mutual friends, about five to six guys, so I’ve texted them. But, I haven’t talked to Drew at all. It’s probably going to hold that way for another week.” [ Mayor's Manor ] • The San Jose Sharks would prefer that their series with the Los Angeles Kings goes seven games. One suspects they didn't prefer that when the series began, but here we are. [ Mercury News ] • So the Bruins lost one game. Big deal. Don't panic. It's not like they're going to lose the next three. When has that ever happened before? [ CSNNE ]

NHL Three Stars: Howard, Quick toss shutouts; Rangers survive sweep (Puck Daddy)
(Thu, 23 May 2013 23:54:13 PDT)
Tom Cruise watched top gun and legend Anze Kopitar, far and away their best forward, make it rain, man, and help push the Sharks into oblivion as the Kings won this war of the worlds with their eyes wide shut. [ NHL Video ] No. 1 Star: Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings The Red Wings goalie made 28 saves for his second career shutout, as Detroit won Game 4 over the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-0. He was especially good in the third period as the Blackhawks turned on the offense. Detroit leads the series, 3-1. No. 2 Star: Derek Stepan, New York Rangers The Rangers needed someone to make a play. Stepan did, twice. He stripped Zdeno Chara of the puck and scored to tie the Boston Bruins in the third period, 2-2. After Tyler Seguin’s goal gave Boston the lead again, Stepan set up Brian Boyle for another tying goal on the power play, where the Rangers were the worst team left in the postseason. New York won Game 4, 4-3 in overtime, on a Chris Kreider goal. Here’s the Stepan strip-and-score, helping the Rangers stay alive in the postseason.

Senators-Penguins Preview (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 23 May 2013 14:43:45 PDT)
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson isn't quite ready for the traditional season-ending handshake.

Daniel Alfredsson’s ‘Probably Not’ moment: Love honesty or loathe lack of leadership? (Puck Daddy)
(Thu, 23 May 2013 06:47:21 PDT)
Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators has, for the most part, achieved Beloved Player status in the National Hockey League: a veteran whose work ethic, results and dedication to the only franchise he’s played for makes him exempt from most criticism. So imagine, if you will, if Alex Ovechkin or Joe Thornton or Henrik Sedin or another captain who carries less respect than Alfredsson uttered the following when asked if it was feasible his team could win three in a row against the Pittsburgh Penguins after Wednesday's 7-3 Game 4 thumping: "Probably not.” Oh captain. My, captain.

Penguins thrash Senators, on brink of East final
(Thu, 23 May 2013 03:23:47 PDT)
(Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins came from a goal down to thrash the Ottawa Senators 7-3 on Wednesday and move to the brink of the Eastern Conference finals. James Neal and Jarome Iginla each scored twice, and Kris Letang had four assists, as the Penguins took a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series. The Penguins, who finished the regular season as the East's top seed, will have the chance to seal the series in Game Five in Pittsburgh on Friday. ...

Penguins rout Senators 7-3, take 3-1 series lead (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 21:19:59 PDT)
OTTAWA (AP) -- Sidney Crosby was careful not to get too far ahead of himself after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins rout the Ottawa Senators for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

NHL Three Stars: Neal, Iginla lead Penguins in Game 4 rout (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 21:01:35 PDT)
No. 1 Star: James Neal, Pittsburgh Penguins As part of their 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 4, Neal scored twice, including a power play tally, and assisted on an another as the Penguins took a 3-1 series lead. The goal were Neal's first since Game 4 against the New York Islanders. No. 2 Star: Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins Iginla netted a pair, including one of Pittsburgh's two power play goals. He's now put up points in eight of the Penguins' 10 playoff games. No. 3 Star: Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins Letang had a couple of bad turnovers, but did finish with four assists. He now leads all defenseman in scoring with 13 points.

Penguins rout Senators, take 3-1 series lead (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 20:37:21 PDT)
Jarome Iginla and James Neal each scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Ottawa Senators

Paul MacLean’s 13-second press conference: ‘We’re going to Pittsburgh and we’re coming to play’ (Video) (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 20:34:33 PDT)
There was a lot for Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean to be frustrated with after their Game 4 loss . The first period ended with the Senators ahead 2-1, but in the third the Pittsburgh Penguins offense erupted for four goals en route to a 7-3 win. After the game, there would be no questions for MacLean from the media. He apparently didn't feel the need to add to the story that the gamesheet told: If only he had dropped the mic before he walked off... As Matt Kassian told our own Nick Cotsonika , MacLean knows just how to get through to his players, whether it's slipping in a joke during meetings to lighten the mood or, well, holding 13 second press conferences with the stern look of a drill sergeant. It's worked up to this point. Will it for Game 5? Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy

Penguins explode in third, take 3-1 series lead (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 20:31:08 PDT)
OTTAWA -- It seemed only a matter of time before linemates James Neal and Jarome Iginla started putting pucks in the back of the net.

NHL-Penguins thrash Senators, on brink of East final
(Wed, 22 May 2013 20:25:36 PDT)
May 22 (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins came from a goal down to thrash the Ottawa Senators 7-3 on Wednesday and move to the brink of the Eastern Conference finals. James Neal and Jarome Iginla each scored twice, and Kris Letang had four assists, as the Penguins took a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series. The Penguins, who finished the regular season as the East's top seed, will have the chance to seal the series in Game Five in Pittsburgh on Friday. ...

Penguins rebound with 7-3 win, take 3-1 series lead over Senators (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 19:53:24 PDT)
Game 4 began looking like it was going to be another one of those games for the Pittsburgh Penguins. You know those games by now, right? Sloppy play. Turnovers. Questions about their goaltending. It started off just 2:29 into the game when Milan Michalek's shorthanded goal had Scotiabank Place buzzing. Later, after Kyle Turris pounced on a puck during a scramble in front of Tomas Vokoun's crease to give Ottawa a 2-1 lead -- and the Senators killed both power plays they handed the Penguins -- things were looking promising after one period. Craig Anderson was playing like he did in Game 3, making 15 saves in the first period to deny a flying Pittsburgh offense. "We had to make sure we played the right way," said Kris Letang to NBC Sports Network's Brian Engblom about the Penguins' adjustments between periods. "We were a little on our heels ... We had to regroup." Regroup they did, and in a matter of 40 seconds the game flipped on its head.

NHL Wrap: Penguins rout Senators, take 3-1 lead in series (Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 19:46:10 PDT)
The Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Ottawa Senators 7-3 on Wednesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Penguins 7, Senators 3 (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 19:20:53 PDT)
OTTAWA -- The Pittsburgh Penguins flipped a switch and dimmed the lights on the Ottawa Senators.

NHL’s most stylish men; Crosby vs. a mozza stick; ‘Fun’ Paul MacLean (Puck Headlines) (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 12:44:33 PDT)
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Alex Ovechkin got his KHL medal for Dynamo Moscow's Gagarin Cup win. And you said he never wins anything. Wait, what's that? He left the team before they won? Well. Still. [ Dmitry Chesnokov ] • The NHL's most stylish men. Yes, Henrik Lundqvist is on the list. [ Sharp ] • Sidney Crosby was nearly killed by a mozza stick. [ Sportsnet ] • Nick Cotsonika on Paul MacLean's "fun" approach to coaching. [ Yahoo! ] • Meet Tim Thompson, the guy who makes CBC's awesome playoff hockey montages. [ National Post ] • Stephen Walkom, Game 3's referee, coached Mario Lemieux's daughter. Is this a conflict of interest? I highly doubt it. Have you ever coached a bunch of kids? By the end, you hate them all and you hate their parents for making them. Or maybe that was just my experience. [ Senshot ] • Speaking of officiating conspiracies, the New York Rangers' last penalty call at home came in Game 4 versus the Washington Capitals. [ CSNNE ] • Elliotte Friedman's 30 thoughts, which includes this wild notion: "Conspiracy Theory: Sharks GM Doug Wilson wasn't going to trade Dan Boyle at the April 3 deadline, but he wanted Boyle -- and his other veterans -- to think he might. There's been a lot written and said about Extreme Makeover: San Jose edition, but the more I look back at it, it's not just about increasing Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski's roles. He wanted Boyle and Joe Thornton, among others, to believe, 'If this doesn't work, I'm next.'" [ CBC ] • Cory Conacher comes out for the Senators in Game 4, and Mark Stone draws in. [ Senators Extra ]

Senators relish chance to tie series vs. Pens (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 11:47:21 PDT)
OTTAWA (AP) -- After a win in Game 3, the Ottawa Senators are confident they can tie their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Surprising Senators built through patient development (The Hockey News)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 11:16:00 PDT)
Ottawa didn't need to bottom-out for years to become a dangerous team - they just shrewdly built up through the draft.

Can Ottawa Senators’ penalty kill keep Penguins’ stars quiet in Game 4? (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 11:13:26 PDT)
Daniel Alfredsson had the diagnosis for what ailed the Ottawa Senators penalty kill in Game 1 vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. “The goals they got were scramble goals,” he said after the 4-1 loss , in which the Penguins tallied two power-play goals. “We've got to be stronger in front of our net." Stronger, the Senators have been: They’ve shut down the best power-play unit still playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (27 percent conversion rate) to the tune of one goal in their last 12 chances. Ottawa's penalty kill went 6-for-6 in Game 3, and has gone 9-for-9 overall. That included a 5-on-3 kill against the Penguins in the second period, during which they only had two shots. Oh, yeah: There was also the matter of that Daniel Alfredsson shorthanded goal that knotted Game 3 with 29 seconds left. That too. Again, this is a Senators team stifling a Penguins power play that has slightly fewer stars than “This Is The End.” The kind of all-star unit you’d compile through trades, create-a-player and waiver wire chicanery on a hockey video game. Can the Senators keep the kill going in Wednesday night’s Game 4?

Fun and games: Senators coach Paul MacLean takes light approach with young team
(Wed, 22 May 2013 10:55:03 PDT)
Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean flipped the "bug-eyed fat walrus" insult back on Montreal in Round 1, and he's pushing all the right buttons against favored Pittsburgh in Round 2.

Andy Sutton, NHL defenseman and media relations expert, retires after 15 years (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 08:24:07 PDT)
Andy Sutton played 676 NHL games over 15 years, paying the physical toll and maintaining a professional hockey career through what was his final season with the Edmonton Oilers in 2013. But c’mon, we all know the guy’s legacy as he announces his retirement on Wednesday. It’s two-fold. First, and perhaps foremost, it’s this indelible soundbyte in 2010 in which he questions a reporter about his expertise: “Are you asking me or are you telling me?” and “So you’re an expert?” and “You saw the replay?” have entered into the NHL lexicon. It’s like the “Who’s on First?” for puckheads. The other legacy: The suspensions, and his reaction to them. Sutton was an early poster boy for Brendan Shanahan’s Department of Player Safety, getting suspended for 13 games total in Shanny’s first year as sheriff: Five for a headshot on Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and eight for another hit to the head on Alexei Ponikarovsky of the Carolina Hurricanes . He was also one of the first players to speak out against the NHL’s crackdown on certain types of hits. As he told the Edmonton Journal: "This will be hard because my style of play is to be on my toes, playing physically," said Sutton. "You may see more hits with my back and my butt than my shoulders and my elbow. Seems to be the only way you're not suspended anymore." "Those guys have to calm down, it's nuts. Everybody does. You can almost dissect every hit and see a guy leaving his feet or there's contact to the head. Guys are always leaning (with the puck). It can look like an elbow, but it's not. The media shows it 1,000 times." After two seasons of the Department of Player Safety and Rule 48, do you read Sutton’s comments in a different light?