Sens Rookie Analysis

With a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins rookies, let’s take a closer look at some of the Sens’ rookies.

The Forwards

Corey Cowick had a great game. Playing a power forward game, threw his weight around the ice all game. Cowick notched two goals and an assist and displayed his awesome shot.

Derek Grant was part of the best line yesterday along with Cowick. The pair were able to cycle down low and were hard to knock off the puck.

Mika Zibanejad showed flashes of why he was picked sixth overall. With good speed and hands, Z-Bad was not afraid to work in heavy traffic too.

Andre Petersson didn’t do too much all game until he scored late in the game. He skated well, but needs to be more assertive.

Shane Prince showed his great speed and almost scored a beauty. Might be a steal as a late second round draft pick.

Matt Puempel showed off his great shot and speed. He’s a sniper and played more physical than I expected.

Mark Stone look huge on the ice and used his frame to make space for himself. Always seemed to be around the net when there was a scoring chance.

Stephane Da Costa looked great all game. He had a number of rushes and showed off his hockey IQ and his creativity. Played with more physicality since we saw him last.

Louie Caporusso was not too noticeable all game. Hopefully he has a better outing in the next game.

Stefan Noesen was the third man on the line with Cowick and Grant. He held his own and battled hard all game.

Darren Kramer did what he does best – fight!

Jakub Culek was disappointing. With his size and skill set, he was barely noticeable on the ice.

Wacey Hamilton and Jean-Gabriel Pageau were the healthy scratches for the game.

The Defense

Jared Cowen was solid all night. A force in his own zone, his steady defense allowed his partner (Rundblad) to join the rush without having to worry. He also was a beast as he asserted himself on everybody. He showed a lot of confidence and leadership on the ice too.

Eric Gryba played a solid defensive game. Not flashy at all, but he gets the job done. Was hoping to see him rock someone, maybe next game.

Mark Borowiecki lived up to the hype as he ran over a number of players and was a rock in his end. Got into a fight too.

Patrick Wiercioch seemed a little nervous put looked better as the game went on. Still looks awkward on his skates and needs to add more weight. Takes too many hits too. He may turn out to be more of a steady defenseman rather than a offensive D-man.

Josh Godfrey played steady and showed an offensive touch.

David Rundblad was all over the ice. He had a number of rushes up the ice and showed off his slick moves. He definitely was not afraid to try things and was a threat every time he was on the ice. He also threw his weight around and handled himself in his own zone. He got caught a few times up the ice, but no damage was done. But he may have to be more selective in picking his moments.

The Goalie

Robin Lehner was plain and simple, amazing. He stoned everybody and was huge in the net. He kept his temper under control and oozed confidence. His solid play also gave the team confidence to take chances and not worry that the puck would end up in the back of their net. He looks ready for the NHL and will make it hard to keep him down in the AHL all season long.

**Don’t forget to buy your Tickets for SenShot’s Alfie Night in Ottawa on November 11th, 2011. Click here for more details**

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