Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza Practices With Team
By Phil Lemay
After a bunch of speculation in the past week, regarding if Jason Spezza will play in the second round, it looks like he might just play. Might being the key word in that sentence. I wouldn’t put to much stock into it but he did practice the entire time with the team and led the stretch to finish off practice.
Apr 21 2012; New York, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza (19) celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Ottawa won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
If Spezza can manage to come back into the line-up for the beginning of the second round, I think it would be a huge understatement to say he would give the Sens a huge lift. Not only would be help the team with his skill he would help the team in putting Kyle Turris back where he belongs, on the second line. With having Turris on the second line it gives Turris the chance to play against a weaker line and maybe help him produce more. Imagine a line-up looking like this? Providing Paul MacLean goes with the veteran first line.
Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson
Zibanejad-Turris-Silfverberg
Conacher-Pageau-Condra
Greening-Smith-Neil
Those are some balanced lines. There isn’t much to not like about the first line, 3 veteran proven players and maybe Jason Spezza can get Milan Michalek going. As for the second line you have some speed and skill all over the line and Mika Zibanejad has been playing some good hockey of late. Now the 3rd line I love. There’s 2 players in Cory Conacher and Jean-Gabriel Pageau have a ton of speed and skill and then there’s Erik Condra who meshes this line together. This line can be dangerous, there’s also the fact that this line has great corsi numbers, only meaning they create some great chances with shots taken. The fourth line is all players that aren’t afraid to play physical which is obviously what you want in your fourth line and lets also not forget that the fourth line also has some skill on it.