Toronto 3 - Senators 2

February 25, 2006

Despite the score, this game was from close. The Senators continue to take horrible penalties. Yes, the ref didn’t call a border-line call when Malec was smeared into the glass, but he was sure watching when he retaliated and the Senators were down 2 men for a two minute 5 on 3 just over a minute into the game. Just like that the Marlies were handed this game nice and gift-wrapped. They scored an easy PP goal and Sens stuck to their usual game plan of late, take dumb penalties and show no energy in the offensive zone.

During this game I was monitoring the crowd’s reactions. I noticed that during last weekends win it was one of the quietest crowds I’d heard in the arena. Seemed as if the Sens faithful were becoming a little apathetic. Last night they started in on refs since our team gave us little to cheer for. Yes, there were some borderline calls, but for the majority of the calls against the Sens were correct. By the third period the Sens fans seemed to realize the jeering became directed towards our own team. The B-Sens were, once again, attempting one of their last minute comebacks and finally showing some energy and keeping the puck in the zone. But what got the fans so riled up was that whenever the Marlies got the puck, NO ONE was hitting! It looked like a Tuesday night 40 and over league (”Sorry Bill, didn’t mean to hit you so hard, I’ll buy your first round after the game.”)

These are frustrating times for the B-Sens and I’m not sure what it will take to turn them around. All is not lost. Denis Hamel continues to fly down the ice and Danny Bois is looking better and better, but with other guys floating around and unwilling to take the body there is no sustained offensive pressure, just the occasion shot or two and then back to defense.

Notes: It was mascot night at the arena and not only did the Marlies play better than us, but they have a cuter mascot! My kids loved Duke and he was really hamming it up around the rink.

I took the boys for high-fives at the visitors locker room and only one Toronto player came over. Norfolk is still the winner for nicest visiting team.

Martins played betterand there are several candidates to replace him in the dog house.

Guard looked sound in net. Not his best performance, but he played well enough for the Sens to win this game. I expect to see Thompson in net today as Ottawa wants to see which of these guys to callup to backup Emery when the NHL schedule resumes.

The third period was delayed by 23 minutes after the Zamboni ran over a souvenir t-shirt. That was the only thing that kept this from being one of the quickest games of the season.

Toronto 3 - Senators 2

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