Ramblings: Sens Force Game 7
Ian Gooding
2017-05-23
Sens force Game 7, plus more…
Hey there, Ian filling in for Dobber one more time this week. Here are the full Ramblings for Wednesday, as I posted a partially completed version earlier in the evening. There was a windstorm happening on the south coast of BC as I wrote this, so my plan was to post the Ramblings in installments in case I was suddenly hit with a power outage resulting from a fallen tree. It seems to happen here at least once a year without fail.
I did this just so I make sure I keep Dobber's Ramblings streak alive. I almost cost him that streak because of a day-long power outage a year or two ago.
Mike Hoffman scored the game-winning goal 1:34 into the third period to eventually give the Senators a 2-1 win and force a Game 7 to be played on Thursday night. Hoffman has been much more of a threat at home (eight points and a plus-10 in nine games) than on the road (three points and a minus-7 in nine games), which is something to consider if you’ve got your eye on him in a daily league for Game 7 in Pittsburgh.
Bobby Ryan continued his superb playoff performance by scoring the Sens’ other goal, his sixth of the playoffs and 15th point. Ryan trails only Erik Karlsson in team playoff scoring (16 points with his assist on Ryan’s goal).
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Craig Anderson, who stopped 45 of 46 shots to earn the win. Anderson is used to facing a ton of shots both in past years in Ottawa and Colorado, so we may not give him enough credit for his ability to steal a victory for his team.
Colin White made his playoff debut, but we didn’t really see him after the first period as he played only 2:39 in this game. Since he hasn’t played at all during the Sens’ run, expecting him to be at playoff speed is a bit much. White, who already played two regular-season games late in the season, is the Sens’ top-ranked prospect on Dobber Prospects (see his profile here), so don’t read anything into his playoff deployment in terms of his long-term fantasy value.
For the Pens, Evgeni Malkin opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the playoffs, extending his playoff scoring lead to 24 points.
Getting back to the series, I haven’t found this series to be as emotionally charged as the West Final, possibly because of all the great vibes surrounding the Predators right now. I’m in the camp that Ottawa does play a boring style of hockey. But remember that boring can be effective. And there’s nothing like a Game 7 to put some wow into this series.
Are the Senators’ fans not filling the building because of the team’s style? One of the storylines on hockey talk radio today was the comparison of the Ottawa and Nashville markets.
One city is a traditional Canadian market, yet can’t sell out its playoff games. There are many reasons suggested, including the location of the arena outside the city and the demographic of government workers who can’t purchase seats on the taxpayer’s nickel.
The other city is the classic non-traditional market that has stood out as hockey’s most passionate fanbase during these playoffs. Do you hear the “We need to get the NHL out of places like…” argument much anymore? I sure don’t. Another takeaway is that Nashville’s success is a good sign for the new Vegas franchise, which will be the first pro sports franchise in its market.
What a strong defense and goaltending can mean to a team in the playoffs:
How the Predators have handled their opponents' top offensive players. pic.twitter.com/hdEToUHCUX
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) May 23, 2017
Oh, and here’s your Stanley Cup Finals schedule in advance, in case you need to plan ahead…
Stanley Cup Finals
Game 1 May 29
Game 2 May 31
Game 3 June 3 in NSH
Game 4 June 5 in NSH
Game 5 June 8
Game 6 June 11 in NSH
Game 7 June 14📢 advertisement:— SiriusXM NHL Network (@SiriusXMNHL) May 23, 2017
If you’ve read my Ramblings over the past few Saturdays, you may have noticed that I like to post a poll question the day before. So I was delighted to come across the Twitter account Fantasy Hockey Polls, which lists some “who’s better” type polls between similarly-valued players. Here’s a sample:
Player Battle: Claude Giroux vs. Ryan Johansen. #fantasyhockey
— Fantasy Hockey Polls (@NHLfantasypolls) May 23, 2017
There’s no right or wrong answer to many of these poll questions because how you rank the player may depend on your league settings. At the same time, overall results may give you an idea as to where to rank the player compared to another similar player if you’re trying to decide between the two. This could also be an exercise to keep your brain sharp during the dog days of summer, in addition to some planning ahead for your league’s draft. So have some fun with it.
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So in case you hadn’t noticed, there was no Conor Sheary again for the Penguins in Game 6, his second consecutive healthy scratch. You could compare the Pens’ decision to bench him to be similar to a fantasy owner’s decision to bench or outright drop a key scorer with poor peripherals that’s in a deep slump during the fantasy playoffs. Yet those who picked Sheary in playoff pools anticipating another deep Penguins’ playoff run have been massively disappointed, since Sheary has no goals and just three assists in 15 games.
So does this slump affect Sheary’s fantasy value next season? I think it has to, at least a little. Sheary appeared to be on the up and up this season with 53 points in just 61 games, which is a great points-per-game total. But the playoffs gave us a larger sample size. One that demonstrated that if Sheary can’t make the most of his opportunity with Sidney Crosby, he can be pushed down the lineup rather quickly.
At the beginning of the playoffs, Dobber had Sheary ranked ahead of Crosby’s other linemate Jake Guentzel. But with the two young scorers headed in opposite directions during the playoffs, Guentzel (52) has passed Sheary (71) in Dobber’s Top 300 Keeper League Players for May. I was hoping Dobber would make that switch, because if I had to draft tomorrow I would definitely choose Guentzel ahead of Sheary.
Having said that, a stretch of three points in 15 games isn't all that unusual for your typical fantasy forward. But you might give an established veteran more rope with such a slump than a second-year player who has had the good fortune of lining up with the league's top player.
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Something might be brewing in Colorado. The Avalanche let go of three assistant coaches, including well-known goaltending coach Francois Allaire, then according to Elliotte Friedman received permission to speak with Leafs’ assistant general manager Kyle Dubas. I wonder if Joe Sakic realizes he’s in over his head by now. Plus staying the course should not have been an option after the disastrous season in Colorado.
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For more fantasy hockey information, follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding.
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The sens didn’t sell out game 1 against new York and this recent game by only 500 seats. It’s a non story. And anyone calling them boring, Nashville plays the same style as the sens and now has worse forwards with johansen out. It’s a tired narrative that is circle jerked by Toronto media who are jealous of our run. The sens will keep winning and pissing people off. That’s what we do this season.
It was actually Vancouver sports talk radio that I was listening to today. If there’s an Ontario city they don’t like, it’s definitely Toronto. There didn’t look like a lot of empty seats, so it looked like Ottawa fans did step up in the end. Although the Sens have a nice collection of forwards and Karlsson, I’m afraid I don’t find Guy Boucher-coached teams terribly exciting.
I find the Sens defencemen pinching / jumping in all of the time really interesting (including a 2-1 with Karlsson and Claeson last night) but that requires more than a passing knowledge of the roster to identify.
But if both teams play in the same manner (avoiding odd-man rushes against at all cost) it can become a bit of a snoozer. Definitely much more interesting when the Sens have the lead and are getting counter breakouts.
To me it’s a huge story, even not selling one seat. Ottawa is a better hockey town then this. But it’s acting like New Jersey here. The Semi-Finals? Come on, even die-hard Sens fans have to be worried.
Nope not at all. This year was a complete anomaly with a lot of different reasons for lower sales. This run will produce a lot of hype of next year. Sens have highest average ticket sales of all four final four teams these playoffs
It says a lot more about other people when they choose to focus on something like that
I can’t agree with you, man. I’m a business man, and I feel that if my arena isn’t selling out for a SCSF then I’m concerned. This isn’t just a statement for Ottawa – but also western Quebec and southern Ontario.
This is a story – whether it’s a story of a sorry fanbase, or it’s a story with legitimate reasoning for no shows (such as lack of spending money), a story is a story. For any NHL city that does this.
It’s a bottom of the barrel story that has no impact on the play of the sens in these playoffs. That’s the issue. People are negative and upset that they were do wrong about the team this year
I live in Ottawa and have been going to Sens games for years. The fanbase is by far the worst of any Canadian team. The Sens have had issues selling out important games for years now and the only reason their average ticket sales are decent year over year is because of the huge number of Leafs, Habs, Rangers and Bruins fans who buy tickets whenever those teams come to town. Sens games regularly feel like road games because there are more Habs or Leafs fans in the building cheering for their team. Go to any Sens game and by the midway point of the 3rd period, no matter the score, about 30% to 50% of the people there have left because they want to “beat traffic”. The team will get a boost from moving to their new arena downtown but once the novelty wears off or the team has a couple of down seasons it will be right back to the same old story and Ottawaans will find some other tired excuse (“tickets are too expensive”, “there’s not enough parking”, “it’s not as family friendly as it used to be”, etc.). It’s a city of government employees, all they do is whine.
Let me guess. You’re not a sens fan right?
Believe it or not, I’m not a Leafs or Habs fan trolling. I’ve tried to get behind the Sens on a number of occasions (and I do root for them) but I can’t stand the fanbase. Every sporting event I’ve ever been to outside of Ottawa has had better, more knowledgeable and passionate fans. You go to a Sens game and you’d think you’re at some sort of community picnic; it’s a bunch of old ladies and kids with facepaint and everyone makes sure to leave so they can be in bed by 9. People barely cheer or make noise unless the Jumbotron tells them to. I’d love to root for my home team but the fanbase makes it hard to do because going to games is so incredibly boring and annoying.
I wasn’t implying that you’re trolling, I was implying that you live in Ottawa yet you aren’t a sens fan so that is where the problem lies. You are the problem. Too many people like that in this city who blindly cheer for their parents or grandparents team . To me if you were born here and don’t cheer for Ottawa, it’s shameful.
Your comment doesn’t hold any water at all for these playoffs. I have been to every playoff game and they have been loud and exciting. The fans last night were the loudest I have ever heard them. It was intense. Sure some regular season games are quiet but who cares. The building is rocking in the playoffs and for big games
The owner cares.
Ok. He knows a centrally located, smaller arena will do much better long term. That’s why they’re getting a new arena
Yup. The current management thinks that the previous work to expand the arena capacity from 17,??? to 18,5?? was a huge mistake as it totally threw off the supply/demand balance.
Not sure where you’re getting that from. They actually decreased capacity this season from 19-20 or whatever it was to 18572
No way. 100% disagree and you’re striking me as way too sensitive on the issue. Ottawa’s own newspapers have this as their headline, come on. You’re arguing against other fans, but also your fellow fans. Huge story, and saying it’s not, with such emphasis, only makes it more so. http://ottawacitizen.com/business/local-business/bagnall-the-senators-grapple-with-multi-faceted-marketing-challenge
It’s not a huge story. At all. So they didn’t sell 460 tickets, most of them being cheapest nosebleeds. Big whoop. Again it says a lot about people if they concern themselves with that.
Ottawa is notorious for waiting until the last minute to buy tickets for events — and the 7-0 blowout in game 5 certainly didn’t help the walkup sales. Being a pessimist but who wants to blow $500 on a an evening only to have a crappy time? (Though in hindsight …) Also, given the even later start time than typical (8pm) certainly doesn’t help in a town where huge chunks of people work silly early hours. Watching the game on a giant HDTV from home / bar / etc means you can get to bed 1.5hrs earlier and/or get a babysitter? Kind of compelling other than ya.. you get a fraction of the in-arena experience…
Also (wrt the attendance in general) unlike the last 20 years were the Sens haven’t had a whole lot of competition for sports $$$ both the Redblacks and Fury have come to town; play in a central and interesting location (Lansdowne Park), play on weekends, etc.
Too much is being made of this I think. A quick comparison of some Canadian markets populations provides some insight.
Toronto – 9.2M
Montreal – 4M
Vancouver – 2.4M
Calgary – 1.3M
Edmonton- 1.3M
Ottawa- 1.3M
BUT….let us now divide Ottawa’s population by 3. Because I live here and at minimum, 1/3 of fans here cheer for Toronto, and 1/3 of fans here cheer for Montreal. That’s the sad reality. A great proportion of fans in this city don’t support the team (in fact they hate it) because they never switched allegiances once Ottawa landed a franchise.
Maybe I’m wrong….but I think this is a big factor.
hoping that the kids who have grown up with Ottawa having a new team will eventually buy the tickets and go to the games – Sens are too good!
Dobber, I’m just getting ready to write about Buffalo. Which forum would you like me to post it to & is it self explanatory? Being home for the last 3 months with a back injury has given me a ton of disposable time.
Post it here: http://forums.dobbersports.com/forumdisplay.php?9-Hockey-Hockey-Hockey-Hockey
I just checked to create an account for you, and you have one so somewhere along the line you must have created it and forgot. I approved the account though so it’s ready to post. If you forgot your password I can change it for you let me know
Thanks, these will be so great
Will advise. I can always pull your email from my old lap top & address with you outside this webpage.
Yeah I set it up a long time ago but had issues. I can’t remember login info have sent a request for that data thru site.
I wrote Buffalo but still can’t post as the site hasn’t responded with my login name & password reset request.
You have my personal email address so you can send their if you like.
These 2 teams do not play the same style of hockey, not even close. It is boring but as Ian said effective. Nashville drives possession up ice with speed trying to score &on defense pursues the puck, they don’t play a 1,3,1.
Yes, they do play 1-3-1. It’s just not publicized like it is for Ottawa (what a shocker). Nashville played 1-3-1 virtually all game 6. They have played it quite a bit these playoffs, and so did Anaheim when they had a lead. Nashville uses it because the system is the best for allowing puck moving d men to get the puck and move it out. It’s not boring nor is it a big trap. If sens play preds, you will see both teams play the same system a lot
Apparently we aren’t watching the same games.
Nashville plays 1-3-1 too, but you are right about driving the play up the ice with speed and a very different pace of game. That’s the benefit of running a blue line featuring Josi, Subban, Ellis, Ekholm.
Offensively or defensively? Numerous teams drop into a 1-3-1 defensive systm when the other team has the puck but few when in possession of the puck.
Does no one care that Dylan Strome broke a Memorial Cup record?
I was looking for a little more to write about last night and totally forgot about the Mem Cup! Is it just me, or has there been amazingly little coverage of it from the mainstream media?
Agreed; some good hockey being played there. In the WHC as well.
I’ll keep that in mind, thanks. You may also want to check out Dobber Prospects, if you haven’t already.
I live in Ottawa, but cheer for the Oilers (I grew up watching the Oilers win multiple Cups through the ’80s and continue to cheer for them to this day).
Although not selling out a playoff game is a relatively big deal in Canadian sports (it hasn’t happened since 1983, I think), there are plenty of reasons for this. The main reason, I feel, is that the payroll fiasco and flooding in the area has put a lot of families under financial distress. It is hard to justify spending $500 for a night out when there are other financial priorities. That said, there definitely appears to be almost an apathy among Sens fans this year. I can’t explain why, but I work in an office building with 100 people, mostly Sens fans, and in past years there was a lot more excitement in the building. People wore their Sens jerseys to work on game days, people would decorate their office space, there was a lot more “water cooler” talk the morning after games, etc. This “news story” isn’t just about not selling 500 tickets. Across the entire City there seems to be less interest in the team this year. I mean, other teams are able to sell out their buildings, and then sell additional tickets for fans to stand in the hallways and parking lots, and across the City have many bars hosting game-night parties that are jam-packed. These things aren’t happening in Ottawa. To me, that is the bigger story than not selling 500 tickets. Not selling 500 tickets is merely another example of the apathy in Ottawa.
The issue of Canadian cities not selling out their venues for important hockey games will always be a hot topic, but it’s important to put things in perspective. During the WJC last winter in Montréal and Toronto I remember the idiot TSN Toronto radio talk show hosts going on and on about how Montréal wasn’t really a hockey city because of the low attendance for the tournament and how Toronto was the mecca of hockey bla bla bla and even implied some ridiculous political motivation for low attendance to a team Canada game in Quebec. I work in finance and can confirm that because Toronto has such a large corporate presence in the country, the companies basically just give away all their tickets to these venues to their clients. Not the case in basically every other major Canadian city (or to a much lesser extent). Therefore the issue is mostly economical. Then you have cities like Dedmonton where there is basically nothing to do except go to the mall or watch hockey, so of course they’ll sell out there.
Hey Dobber folks, a propos of… not this… when are you going to get Dobbernomics back on? The servers have been up for a week at least now. Why did you bother getting me hooked on your game only to yank the rug out from under me?
I wasn’t even doing particularly well. I imagine the folks higher up the standings are way more disappointed than I am.
Get ‘er done!
Sorry, there are updates on the Dobbernomics FB page, We are hoping to have it up for tomorrow, but it’s looking like it won’t be up until just before the Final
On the Senators not selling out; having lived in Mtl, TO and Ottawa… the location of the arena in Ottawa feels a lot like the Olympic Stadium with the Expos near the end… it’s just so annoying to commute to the game after work and back home after. Add a few drinks, you can’t drive, game starts at 8pm, ends near 11:30pm midnight, got to figure out how to go back home, then got to work early morning, I’m sure this is deterring a lot of local fans from going there simply because of logistics; which was similar to the Expos.
Compare to TO, the rink is downtown and tone of people live downtown. And in Mtl the rink is downtown and downtown is very close of access for a tone of people living around. In Ottawa it’s a different story… Once the team moves downtown it will sove this