This is Just Plain Stupid

I usually respect my fellow bloggers on the Ottawa Senators blogosphere. There’s a variety of things to look at, from funny to facts, it has to be one of the best blogospheres out there. But after reading some of the comments on some particular blogs this morning, I’m, well…stupified.

I’m a goalie apologist. Whoever the goalie is, I’ll find some measley way to defend him. But that doesn’t account here. Everyone was going after Pascal Leclaire like a bucnh of hyenas last night, including the very pro-Capitals broadcast team of TSN, Chris Cuthbert and Ray Ferraro. Ferraro even more, who predicted all the Leafs, Habs, and LIGHTNING! would finish better than the Sens. How’s that going for you, Ray? Last night he completely found every way to victimize Leclaire, and it makes me sad that nobody in Senators management stands up for Pascal and calls out some members of the media.

Last night’s loss was not the  fault of Pascal Leclaire. He did have one bad goal, the first Backstrom goal, which was ill-cost, but how was Knuble goal a bad one? Leclaire was in fact making the smart move and coming out make the net seem even further for the player. Unfortunately Knuble has a hot stick and fired one off the post and in. Does no one remember the huge saves Leclaire made? I can name 6, in fact. Ovechkin and Semin in the first, Steckel, Backstrom, and that huge scrum late where Leclaire was fantastic. Finally, that beauty of a save off Tomas Fleischmann in the 3rd, which really should be seen more. No goalie can save that other than maybe Martin Brodeur and Marc-Andre Fleury.

The real story should be how poorly Ottawa’ offense played. They barely could get any good, quality chances of another backup, this time Jose Theodore. They have to get back on track. That of course will be hard now that Milan Michalek is out with an upper-body injury, after a hit by freakin’ Mike Green. So the top line is now gone, the sitch now just got worse. Thank god we play teams below us the next week or so. Martin St.Pierre and Zack Smith have been called up, meaning one forward will be out of the lineup, and I think it may be Jesse Winchester, who didn’t play so good last night. Here’s what the lines might looks like tomorrow against the Cats.

Shannon – Fisher – Kovalev
Foligno – Regin – Neil
Ruutu – Kelly – Cheechoo
Donovan – Smith – St.Pierre

I would expect (hope) Leclaire would start.