I really don't like what I see from the Sens -- could they be bound for a first-round playoff loss?
There's a problem in the room in Ottawa and it isn't going to be solved by Martin Lapointe. Mind you, he will make some difference but how can the guy lead the team for just 20 games?
The issues were painfully visibly in both Monday's and Tuesday's games. The team's defensive-zone play is horrendous. The forwards aren't working hard and getting back to help -- some are looking lazy, in fact.
But the most telling pieces were the attitudes of the netminders -- Ray Emery on Monday and Martin Gerber on Tuesday.
Emery clearly was blaming his defense Monday despite allowing some really soft goals. The glares and the body language could be seen from my Lazy Boy. And when the fans lit into him after the Leafs' fifth goal, Emery was caught on camera rolling his eyes and looking off in disgust. Nice.
Fast forward to Tuesday and doesn't Martin Gerber pull a similar stunt. Zdeno Chara scored Boston's third goal -- a long shot from the point on a cross-ice feed from Marc Savard. There was lots of time for Gerber to get across and his defenseman, Anton Volchenkov, was well out in front. The shot perhaps tipped off Volchenkov -- maybe, maybe not -- but after it went in, Gerber was caught on camera glaring at Volchenkov and muttering. The anger was palpable.
Clearly, these two goalies don't want to take responsibility and sure don't want to play a team game. I suspect the sentiment isn't just restricted to them.
And with attitudes like that, the Sens will be golfing before all the snow in Ottawa is gone. It's too bad really -- but right now, they look like they need a swift kick in the hockey pants.
Posted by Janet Eagleson at 2/26/2008 5:52:00 PM |
