Ottawa Senators by Luca Vacca of LeafsWire

The Ottawa Senators have a very steep mountain to climb if they want to advance past the first round of the 2010 NHL playoffs. After drawing Pittsburgh as their opponent, Ottawa will be tasked with shutting down two of the premier players in the league, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Couple that with an impressive supporting cast of forwards, a dangerously offensive blueline, and a proven playoff goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury, the odds look insurmountable for Ottawa. However, Ottawa does have the potential to upset the defending Stanley Cup champions, and heres how.

In terms of defense, the Penguins blueline leaves much to be desired. Althought they compete at a high offensive level each game, they have such shortcomings in keeping pucks out, it just might be Ottawa’s saving grace.  Daniel Alfredsson once again led his team in points this year, with Jason Spezza falling far behind due to injury. The absence of Heatley on a team that never really regained the lost offence really hurts, but the Senators have perservered. They have stocked their team up with pre trade deadline acquisitions (Andy Sutton, Matt Cullen, etc.) and look poised to make a run at the later playoff rounds. The only big uncertainty for them is their stability in net. Brian Elliot has played better as of late, but can he continue and translate it into post-season success. Pascal Leclaire has had a year to forget in Ottawa, and Brian Elliott is the only legitimate goaltending option they have.

In terms of their roster, Ottawa heads into the playoffs with Filip Kuba and Alexei Kovalev sidelined. Kuba was a significant part of their defense, and although Kovalev did little during the season, it would have been interesting to see what he could have done come playoff time.

In conclusion, the odds are stacked greatly against Ottawa, but the Penguins aren’t perfect, and the Senators might just find a way to dethrone the champion Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins by Joe Depto

To earn victory in the postseason, you need both experience and goaltending. The Penguins have the Ottawa Senators beat in spades in both categories. Over half of Pittsburgh’s roster has Stanley Cup Finals experience, 11 of which have been with the Penguins both of their Cup Finals appearances the last two seasons, including a championship team last season (In fact, only five players from the Penguins current roster were not part of last year’s team that beat Detroit for the cup).

Goaltending will also be imperative in this, and every, NHL playoff series. Bar none, Marc-Andre Fleury has been the NHL’s finest postseason goalie both of the last two seasons, winning 30 playoff games in two seasons; earning two Finals appearances and one cup run in the process. He also features a impressive 2.29 GAA in his two most recent postseasons (44 games played over that span of time). Pittsburgh will have a significant edge in this department over Ottawa goalie Brian Elliott, who will be making his NHL Playoff debut between the pipes for the Senators this evening.

Up front, the Penguins will have even the underrated Ottawa forwards ousted with gusto. Players like Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson have earned their place in Senators lore, including winning a Prince of Wales trophy of their own in 2007. But Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby is hockey’s most heralded champion for a reason, as is last year’s Conn Smythe award winning center Evgeni Malkin. These superstars, along with Jordan Staal, will make it impossible for the Senators to get their desired matchups and, eventually, proper offensive production.

Ottawa features a bruised and depleted blueline. As talented as Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov have been for the Sens, lacking Alex Kovalev and Filip Kuba at defense will add insult to injury when the Pens stars step into the spotlight. Pittsburgh’s defense has been maddeningly inconsistent at times this series, but with 4 out of their 6 blueliners Cup-Final-tested, they will be ready for the Ottawa Senators when the puck drops for Game 1. These two teams have met in the playoffs in the last 3 out of 4 years. For the second time out of those three match-ups, expect the Pens to have their satisfaction.

In what has become a veritable rollercoaster-type season for the Philadelphia Flyers, the lowpoints are seemingly falling deeper and deeper.

With last night’s 2-0 shutout loss to Brian Elliott and the Ottawa Senators, the Orange and Black now trails Ottawa by 4 points.  Only one point separates the Flyers from the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  The Boston Bruins currently sit in that slot and have a game in hand on the Flyers.  And the rejuvenated Atlanta Thrashers are just 4 points from knocking Philadelphia out of the postseason entirely.

A familiar problem for the Flyers has once again reared it’s ugly head, one that no one thought would afflict a Philly team with so much offensive potential this season.  But they have again run into a stretch where they have a complete lack of generating any offense.   And it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

After scoring 11 goals in their first 2 games back from the Olympic break, Philadelphia has mustered just 22 goals in their last 11 contests, in which they have a 4-5-2 record.  This is reminiscent of a span in November and December where the Flyers went on a 3-13-1 skid, a stretch in which Philadelphia managed just 30 goals in those 17 games.

And this in a season when the Flyers addressed an issue in the lack of scoring from their defenseman when they acquired Chris Pronger in the offseason.  Philadelphia was ranked dead last in goals scored by defenseman with 20 in 2008-09, the Flyer’s D has already scored 26 during the 2009-10 campaign.  Pronger’s has contributed 10 goals, the first Flyer defenseman to register double-digit goals in a season since Joni Pitkanen did so in the 2005-06 season.

The dropoff has been with the forwards.  After having six forwards with 25 goals or more on the roster last season, the Flyers appear to have a realistic chance at having just three this year.

The Flyers have scored just 3 goals in the last 3 contests, and just 6 in the 4 games since starting goaltender Michael Leighton’s injury.  This has put the onus on Brian Boucher to be almost-perfect, and although Boucher has let in a couple of weak goals, he has had no room for error, whatsoever.

The team’s offensive inconsistency was not expected when the season began.

Scott Hartnell was coming off a career-best 30 goals last year, but now sits at just 14.  In addition to not actually as many scoring goals, he has not been near the chaotic force in front of opposing goaltenders that led to teammates scoring that he was last year.  And Hartnell’s continued lack of discipline has created far too many opposition power plays.

A healthy Danny Briere was expected to provide a much bigger impact this year than the 11 goals in just 29 games last season in an injury-plagued 2008-09.  Even though he has chipped in with 24 this season, which ranks third on the team, a much more consistent contribution was contemplated.  Briere has completely disappeared for weeks at a time far too often during the course of the current season.

Simon Gagne had scored 34 goals a year ago, but has managed just 15 in 49 games so far this season.  He has looked much more aggressive in making plays and getting into a position for high percentage shots, so the Flyers are hoping that he can be a difference-maker down the stretch.

Claude Giroux has been one of the most baffling players to suit up for Philadelphia this season.  Coming off a playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins last year where he was one of the best players in Orange and Black, expectations were for Giroux to pick right up where he had left off and become a steady contributor this year.  Possessed with magician-like offensive skills, Giroux has just 1 goal and 2 assists in his last 12 games.  And his 14 goals and 27 assists in 73 games have to be looked at as disappointing.

Captain Mike Richards has 28 goals thus far in the 2009-10 season, but at times has looked too laid back, especially on the power play.  Skating with the puck along the boards or even sometimes on 2-on-1 breaks, he has appeared to be ready to make a last-possible-moment highlight reel pass for a teammate’s slam dunk goal.  Too many times he has taken himself out of the play and Philly has come away with a squandered scoring chance.  If the fierce competitiveness that permeates every other aspect of his game were to be applied to taking the puck to the net, Richards could be elevated in the view of the hockey world to the Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic plateau.

Make no mistake, when Jeff Carter went down over the weekend with a fracture in his left foot, it was a crushing blow.  Not only did Carter lead Philadelphia in goals with 33, he was the most consistent offensive threat that the team has had throughout the entire year.  His 11 goals in the last 16 games before his injury on Sunday were a godsend for the Orange and Black, and he will be sorely missed.  The good news is that if the Flyers can get themselves into the playoffs, Carter should be available to return sometime during the first round.

That being said, Carter’s injury cannot be used as an excuse.  Look no further than the Ottawa Senators as an example of a team that could have had a reason to use injuries as a crutch.  When they lost both Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson at the same time for a three week long stretch, their team survived.

At a time when they could have folded their tents, the foot soldiers all stepped forward and upped their games and contributions.  Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, Ryan Shannon, and even Alexei Kovalev, among others, took turns contributing at key times.  The Senators stayed afloat and hit their stride when Spezza and Alfredsson returned.  That’s what good teams do when times get tough.

This is the time when all of the points the Flyers lost with blown leads late in contests and squandered points in nonchalant efforts are hanging over the team’s collective head like the Sword of Damocles.  And much like games last season in which points were lost, including on the season’s last day when the NY Rangers defeated Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center on a Blair Betts (yes, the same Blair Betts that plays for the Flyers now) goal late in regulation.  The regulation loss meant that Philly finished a point behind their first round opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it cost the Flyers precious home-ice advantage.  The eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pens got the jump in Pittsburgh and ousted the Orange and Black in 6 games.

Coach Peter Laviolette and GM Paul Holmgren must be hoping that their foot soldiers are at the ready to make the move and start contributing on a consistent basis.  In addition to the above-mentioned players, Philadelphia could use more down the stretch from Darroll Powe (8 goals), Ian Laperriere (3 goals), Daniel Carcillo (10 goals), Betts (8 goals), rookie James van Riemsdyk (14 goals), Ville Leino (1 goal in 6 games), and Arron Asham (7 goals).

In addition to a litany of No-Trade Clauses on his roster, I firmly believe that Holmgren didn’t make any deals at the NHL trade dealine because when you look at the lineup, the offense should be there.  It’s all a matter of just getting the right combination and chemistry between linemates, and Laviolette has his work cut out for him over the last 9 games of the regular season.

And all the while, a season that could go either way hangs in the balance.

David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia

Keith’s point per dollar averages out to be $27,830.20 per point. As a defenseman, and a possible Norris Trophy candidate this season, Keith’s cost efficiency should not surprise many.

Keith developed into an offensive threat, while still defending his zone (often playing against the league’s best players every game).

The sturdy reliable defenseman broke his career (goals) high in January. He now has eleven goals; however, his real ability remains setting up his teammates for goals.

Although the Blackhawks resigned Keith to a 13-year ($72 million) contract this past December, his cap hit this year remains $1,475,000. The young defenseman will (most likely) finish his career with the Blackhawks, but his cost per point will become more expensive next season. For now, Keith sits among the league’s best producing players.

Even though Alexander Ovechkin, Henrik Sedin, and Sidney Crosby are the top three in the league in points, two of them (Crosby and Ovechkin) are in the bottom ten for points per dollar.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks appear very cost-efficient (Patrick Kane ranks 11^th for points per dollar, while Jonathan Toews sits behind Kane at 12^th and Patrick Sharp comes in 19^th). Overall, at least up until this point in the season, Chicago reins supreme.

Back in November, Rich Peverley of Atlanta ranked as the best cost effective player in the league. His cap hit of 487,500 (even though he signed a new contract this season) caused his points per dollar to be $21,195.65. Now, his points per dollar status is $11,079.50, but he sits in the 66^th spot in points in the league.

As this article focuses on the top fifty scorers, Keith remains the most cost-efficient scorer.

Katlyn Gambill

NHLHS Featured Writer
kgambill@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @freezethepuck

Atlantic Division:

• Martin Brodeur said he would have stayed in the game had the Devils had a legitimate chance of coming back to beat the Islanders in the third period Monday afternoon. Instead, the Devils made the move to backup Yann Danis to start the third period.
• Alexander Pechurski, the 19-year-old whose precocious performance between the pipes in Vancouver was the lone bright spot in Saturday’s loss, won’t be in the lineup when the New York Islanders visit Mellon Arena tonight.
• Tempting as it might be for Jim Dolan, Glen Sather and John Tortorella to fantasize about adding Vincent Lecavalier to the Broadway marquee, it is imperative that the Three Wise Men just say no if and when the Rangers are given their shot at trading for the Tampa Bay center, who visits the Garden tonight.
• Less than a week after dismantling the Red Wings, the Islanders made easy work of Brodeur and the Devils, beating the Atlantic Division leaders 4-0 yesterday at Nassau Coliseum. It was their fourth straight win and fifth in a row at home.
• In baseball, Boston’s Jason Varitek is the only one to physically wear a “C” on his uniform. In the NBA, 22 out of 30 teams have captains – but few actually wear it on their jerseys. It’s essentially a license to talk to the referee. In the NFL, four different players wear the “C” for each team – which simply gives them the ability to call a timeout or respond to an official.

Northeast Division:

• It was clear from the outset what the fans wanted. With loud cheers during introductions and cameras flashing during warm-ups, the fans wanted to see the Buffalo Sabres take the ice and storm the desert.
• On the team’s first father-son trip, he got to see his son return from a separated left shoulder, score a goal and two assists to lead the Senators past the Montreal Canadiens, and then do something no other Senator has been able to do: slay the dragon known as Tim Thomas.
• After going toe-to-toe with three talented teams out west in what was an emotionally satisfying road trip, the B’s came home and crashed into a wall at TD Garden, losing to the Ottawa Senators, 5-1, behind Daniel Alfredsson’s hat trick.
• The crowd had pretty much slipped away, Friday afternoon’s tour complete. And now Yvan Cournoyer was walking leisurely toward the exit of the Canadiens’ impressive new Hall of Fame, reminders of his glittering career on show in Bell Centre display cases on his left and right.
• Even before he arrived in Nashville, Luke Schenn had been in contact with Predators star defenceman Shea Weber. The two – who go back to Schenn’s rookie season with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets in 2005 – had been on their phones, chatting and texting.

Southeast Division:

• The Washington Capitals look at the Detroit Red Wings, their next opponent, and see 11 championships, including four Stanley Cups in 12 seasons. They see 55 playoff appearances and seminal Hall of Famers from a franchise that has been winning with more regularity than any other in the NHL, and they recognize the vast separation between themselves and the current industry standard.
• Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was headed to the penalty box and the Thrashers would pull their goalie for a two-man advantage the final 1:19. As they did all night, though, the Panthers shut them down.
• Thrashers defenseman Christoph Schubert missed Monday’s game against Florida with a lower-body injury. Schubert suffered the injury Saturday against Carolina, coach John Anderson said. Schubert was unable to take part in the team’s morning skate Monday.
• Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said that because Steve Downie has been one of the team’s best players the past couple of weeks, the right wing has earned more playing time and a spot on the top line.
• A third-period spark from forward Chad LaRose, who returned to the lineup on his bobblehead night after missing 17 games, was not enough. The Tampa Bay Lightning never trailed in a 3-2 win, handing the Carolina Hurricanes their third straight loss at the RBC Center on Monday night.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @ACHockeyGuys

The title says it all.  This article will be no more than a comprehensive list of NHL (and some other players owned by NHL teams) players set to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

For the sake of clarity we have sorted players by team.  Minor league players in red, injured players in blue.

Anaheim Ducks (8) – Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Jonas Hiller, Bobby Ryan, Luca Sbisa

Atlanta Thrashers (5) – Ilya Kovalchuk, Maxim Afinogenov, Ondrej Pavelec, Pavel Kubina, Tobias Enstrom

Boston Bruins (6) – Patrice Bergeron, Marco Sturm, Tim Thomas, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara, Miroslav Satan

Buffalo Sabres (4) – Toni Lydman, Ryan Miller, Henrik Tallinder, Andrej Sekera

Calgary Flames (3) – Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Olli Jokinen

Carolina Hurricanes (3) – Eric Staal, Joni Pitkanen, Tuomo Ruutu

Chicago Blackhawks (6) – Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky

Colorado Avalanche (3) – Paul Stastny, Peter Budaj, Ruslan Salei

Columbus Blue Jackets (6) – Rick Nash, Jan Hejda, Samuel Pahlsson, Fredrik Modin, Milan Jurcina, Fedor Tyutin

Dallas Stars (4) – Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen, Loui Eriksson, Karlis Skrastins

Detroit Red Wings (7) – Valtteri Filppula, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Nicklas Lidstrom,  Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom

Edmonton Oilers (2) - Lubomir Visnovsky, Denis Grebeshkov

Florida Panthers (2) -  Dennis Seidenberg, Tomas Vokoun

Los Angeles Kings (5) – Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Jon Quick, Dustin Brown, Michal Handzus

Minnesota Wild (5) – Niklas Backstrom, Mikko Koivu, Antti Miettinen, Marek Zidlicky, Martin Havlat

Montreal Canadiens (6) – Tomas Plekanec, Yannick Weber, Jaroslav Halak, Andrei Markov, Sergei Kostitsyn, Andrei Kostitsyn

Nashville Predators (6) – Alexander Sulzer, Shea Weber, Marcel Goc, Ryan Suter, Martin Erat, Patric Hornqvist

New Jersey Devils (6) – Martin Brodeur, Paul Martin, Zach Parise, Jamie Langenbrunner, Patrik Elias, Johnny Oduya

New York Islanders (1) – Mark Streit

New York Rangers (5) – Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Henrik Lundqvist, Andres Ambuhl, Marian Gaborik

Philadelphia Flyers (5) – Chris Pronger, Mike Richards, Kimmo Timonen, Oskars Bartulis, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen

Pittsburgh Penguins (5) – Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc Andre Fleury, Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik

Phoenix Coyotes (3) – Sami Lepisto, Zbynek Michalek, Ilya Bryzgalov

Ottawa Senators (6) – Jarkko Ruutu, Filip Kuba, Milan Michalek, Daniel Alfredsson, Kaspars Daugavins, Anton Volchenkov

San Jose Sharks (8) – Dan Boyle, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, Douglas Murray, Thomas Greiss, Joe Pavelski, Evgeni Nabokov

St. Louis Blues (3) – Eric Johnson, David Backes, Roman Polak

Tampa Bay Lightning (5) – Antero Niittymaki, Ryan Malone, Mattias Ohlund, Martins Karsums, Andrej Meszaros

Toronto Maple Leafs (6) – Jonas Gustavsson, Mikhail Grabovski, Phil Kessel, Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek, Niklas Hagman

Vancouver Canucks (7) -  Roberto Luongo, Sami Salo, Christian Ehrhoff, Pavol Demitra, Ryan Kesler, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin

Washington Capitals (4) Tomas Fleischmann, Nicklas Backstrom, Semyon Varlamov, Alexander Ovechkin

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @NHLHotStove

The latest from Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun discusses the injury to Daniel Alfredsson as well as the need to replace his production in the lineup.  After sustaining a hit from Craig Adams on Wednesday, the Senators captain expects to miss a few weeks with a bum shoulder.  The 37-year-old joins pivot Jason Spezza and wing Nick Foligno in the press box as they continue to recover from their own ailments while Chris Neil, Shean Donovan and Pascal Leclaire all returned to the lineup a mere three days ago.

Although center Josh Hennessy initially gets a call up, the rookie definitely is not and will not be the solution.  If this team is to stay within the playoff picture they must make a move quickly and patch the gaping hole in their top six.

Garrioch may be onto something for once with his article.  The controversial reporter discusses the merits of trading for Christopher Higgins or Alexander Frolov, both impending free agents after the season.

Both aforementioned players make a significant salary which by consensus diminishes their trade value.  Higgins carries a 2.25 million cap hit, a lofty price for a winger with 10 points through 36 games.  On the other hand, the Kings hold a 2.9 million cap hit for their Russian winger but show little motivation to move him if they want to go deep into the playoffs.  Frolov certainly warrants stronger trade value as he projects to put up 55 points on the season or 32 points in his remaining 46 games.

Still if Lomabardi feels he cannot resign his 27-year-old winger, shipping him out may be the smart bet.  At this point every Russian player in the League is a flight risk.  Similar to Nikolai Zherdev this past offseason, Frolov could price himself out of the country and sign with a team in his motherland.

What would Frolov demand as purely a playoff rental?  The offer would need to knock GM Dean Lombardi’s socks off in order to force his hand, but anything is possible. With Higgins at a such a low trade value, the Rangers could choose not to move him instead moving the often scratched Ales Kotalik.

Hope you enjoyed our latest trade rumors feature. You can help NHLHS stay alive by visiting our sponsors to the left.

Follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com

Well maybe our headline is taking it a bit too far, but you can’t get a better player for your money.  Claimed off waivers last year from the Predators the 27-year-old now has 59 points in 58 games for the Thrashers. The undrafted free agent recently signed a 2 year contract worth a total of 2.6 million a modest raise from his current 487,500 cap hit.

Since he makes 487,500 this year, as a technicality we can put his stats over his salary to determine his cost-per-point production.  Prior to joining Nashville, Pevs was a point-per-game player in the AHL showing glimpses of his potential.  If the graduate from St. Lawrence University continues his pace, he may be one of the greatest bargains of all time.

He averages a goal for every 61K he makes, a small value in comparison to Dany Heatley’s 441K per goal.  The center assists on a goal for every 33K paid, making Joe Thornton’s 300K per assist look like a king’s ransom. Peverley’s 22K per point is 15K less than the next player James Neal, who is coming off an entry level contract himself.  Nobody can compare to his proverbial bang for the buck.

Comparing the Top 50 Scorers as of yesterday, the cost-per-production chart looks a little something like this:

Definitely some good bargains in the lot. If you play in a league that counts salary then this chart should help with your team’s cap.  Keith, Bourque, Parise and Backstrom all seem to be great bargains but no one is quite comparable to Peverley.

I hope you enjoyed the article, please help keep NHLHS going by visiting our sponsors to the left.

Follow me on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates

-Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
thehotstove@gmail.com