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Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

Welcome to the Neno's Place!

Neno's Place Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality


Neno

I can be reached by phone or text 8am-7pm cst 972-768-9772 or, once joining the board I can be reached by a (PM) Private Message.

Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

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Established in 2006 as a Community of Reality

Many Topics Including The Oldest Dinar Community. Copyright © 2006-2020


    Game Day: Senators @ Blackhawks - Hoffman returns off suspension

    jedi17
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    Game Day: Senators @ Blackhawks - Hoffman returns off suspension Empty Game Day: Senators @ Blackhawks - Hoffman returns off suspension

    Post by jedi17 Tue 20 Dec 2016, 8:56 pm

    Game Day: Senators @ Blackhawks - Hoffman returns off suspension

    Arguably playing their best stretch of hockey of the season, the Senators put their streak of three straight without a regulation loss on the line tonight when they face the Blackhawks in Chicago to close out a two game road trip. 

    With Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone leading the way on the ice as well as a more well balanced offense, with more contributors on a regular basis, it looks like Guy Boucher's system might be starting to take a firm hold. The Senators power play is three for its last 13 (23%) while the penalty kill is perfect in its last 3 games (12 for 12).

    The Senators have allowed 32 or fewer shots in each of their last 5 games, having outshot their opponent in 4 of those outings. They still haven't quite solved the shot attempts puzzle, but they are second in the league in shot-blocking so that takes some of the pressure off of the goaltending, which has been great on most nights regardless of who has taken up shop between the pipes. 

    It has only been a few games, and the level of the competition hasn't exactly been murderer's row, but the game plan has been solid and the players have done their best for the most part to put it into action. 

    Standing in their way to extending their winning streak to three and points streak to four are the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks are leading the league in points (48 in 34 games) and are third in terms of points percentage (.706). THey have managed to stay on top of the Central Division despite missing captain Jonathan Toews for the better part of a month and starting goalie Cprey Crawford who has been out since December 1st. Toews has been back for 4 games, while Crawford remains out but has been replaced admirably by Scott Darling. Darling's numbers are pretty much identical to Crawford's this season and he is 6-0-1 in his last 7 games. 

    Chicago's penalty kill was their Achilles' heel to start the season and it is still ranked 29th despite the fact that they have gone 7 games without allowing a power play goal against. It helps that they haven't taken more than 2 penalties in any of those games and twice gave up no power play chances.

    Their power play has been struggling for a while. Over their last 22 games they are just 9 for 63, and that includes a 3 for 3 outing against Islanders, which was a rare successful night with the man advantage last week. 

    The bottom line is, Chicago is a team that knows what it takes to win despite the obstacles or slumps or injuries. That is something Ottawa is still learning, but show signs that the light bulb is going off in their collective minds. 

    They will be bolstered by the return of Mike Hoffman from his two game suspension, and it will be interesting to see where he skates tonight because the top two lines seemed to be having success and enjoying some chemistry in his absence. 

    And indeed, if the morning skate is any indication, Guy Boucher will leave the top two lines intact from the past two games, and Hoffman will line up with jean-Gabriel Pageau and Tom Pyatt.

    Andrew Hammond will not likely be able to dress as the backup for Mike Condon and Matt O'Connor has been recalled on an emergency basis. They also sent Ben Harpur and Casey Bailey back to Bingo before the Christmas roster freeze took effect and Freddie Claesson is healthy enough to be the 7th defenseman after missing time with an injury of his own. 


    This is another good test for the Senators and their game plan, as well as their potential ability to play with a top level team, not just rely on goaltending to bail them out against the elite competition.
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