Sens vs Pens - Hasek's wait over [Archive]

View Full Version : Sens vs Pens - Hasek's wait over

Madferret

9-23-05, 9:53 AM

443 days after signing with Sens, goalie will finally suit up tonight
By BRUCE GARRIOCH
Ottawa Sun

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The last time Dominik Hasek played an NHL game, Sidney Crosby was a rookie with the Rimouski Oceanic.

It was 653 days ago when the Dominator led the Red Wings to 3-2 victory in overtime vs. the L.A. Kings. Then, poof, he was gone. Sidelined by a nasty groin injury for the remainder of the 2003-04 campaign.

Hasek and the Red Wings parted ways following the season, and on July 6, 2004, the Senators signed the free-agent goaltender. And it's been 443 days since that splashy news conference at the Corel Centre to announce Hasek had inked a two-year deal.

Tonight -- long removed from that Dec. 8, 2003, victory and the NHL lockout -- Hasek, finally, will don a Senators uniform when they take on the Penguins in a pre-season game. "Geez, it seems like an eternity since we announced Hasek's signing," Senators GM John Muckler said yesterday. "Remember the excitement that day? Well, I'm pretty excited about finally getting to see him. We've call been waiting a long time for this ... including Dominik. He wants to play.

"It's only his first game and it's only the pre-season so I'm not expecting him to be in mid-season form. He's not going to be a world beater right away, but I believe he's going to be strong for us. He's had some great days in practice and I think he's ready to play."

THIRTY MINUTES OF ACTION

Hasek will play 30 minutes tonight before giving way to Kelly Guard. He'll also face the Maple Leafs at the Corel Centre on Sunday night for 30 minutes.

"I think it's about time to start playing some games. I've taken a lot of shots in practice and I'm ready to get going," said Hasek. "I feel pretty good. I'm ready to go in there and play. The game is going to be something different. I'm looking forward to competing again.

"You can work hard in practice, but it's not the same as playing in a game. I'm excited. I've had a good seven or eight practices to get ready." Even the players are chomping at the bit about getting a chance to see Hasek in the net.

SMOLINSKI IMPRESSED

"You look at (Hasek) in practice and he's had some great days out there," said Senators centre Bryan Smolinski, who will watch tonight from the stands. I'm looking forward to seeing him in there and seeing what he can do.

"The one thing you notice in practice is how hard he works and how much he wants to stop the puck. He doesn't like to be beaten in practice." Senators coach Bryan Murray said he just wants to make sure Hasek is ready for the regular-season opener Oct. 5 against the Leafs in Toronto.

"I get a chance to see him every day. He works hard in practice and we do a lot of shooting and I've got a pretty good handle on where he's at. From what I've seen, he's going to be able to do the job for us," said Murray. A job he hasn't performed 77 days shy of two full years.

*No Crosby for Binghamton fans

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Ottawa/2005/09/17/hasek_dominik250.jpg

Source (http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Ottawa/2005/09/23/1232199-sun.html)

Madferret

9-23-05, 10:39 AM

I hoping CI will play this game tonight, or did I hear it was on SN?
Anyone hear what the Sens lineup card is going to look like?

Madferret

9-23-05, 4:13 PM

Still haven't heard if it's on, I've got my fingers crossed that CI is playing it, they've been playing a preseason game each night.

Max Power

9-23-05, 4:37 PM

Still haven't heard if it's on, I've got my fingers crossed that CI is playing it, they've been playing a preseason game each night.

WTF is CI?

Madferret

9-23-05, 4:42 PM

WTF is CI?

Centre Ice, you know the 169$ hockey package you have to buy if you're not a Leaf fan and want to watch other CDN teams..

:D

Max Power

9-23-05, 4:49 PM

Centre Ice, you know the 169$ hockey package you have to buy if you're not a Leaf fan and want to watch other CDN teams..
:D

Ohh I see =]
Sunday's game is on TV 22 (Rogers cable 22)

Man.Utd

9-23-05, 5:40 PM

Sens lineup:

Heatley - Spezza - Bochenski
Schaefer - Fisher - Neil
Hamel - Kelly - Eaves
Potulny - Martins - Bois

Phillips - Chara
Ward - Meszaros
Schubert - Evans

Hasek (half game)
Guard (half game)

Man.Utd

9-23-05, 7:46 PM

0-0 after 20 minutes of play. Hasek made 3 or 4 really good, quality kick saves. Other than that he sounded steady when called upon for the easy stops. Hard to tell with a radio feed in regards to how a save appears, and it's early, and I'm still concerned about his health issues, but if he can keep this form I think we got ourselves a 'tender. :)

Darsehole Tucker

9-23-05, 7:57 PM

Heh. 20 min in, groin and back still intact. Elgin or Bank for the parade? ;)

just jokes. my computer feed doesn't seem to be enjoying the team 1200's stream, so I've got nothing. Maybe I'll drive around in my car listening to the game while the price of gas is still reasonable :|

Man.Utd

9-23-05, 8:33 PM

Have a radio in your house, DT?

Sens score! Bochenski on the PP from Heatley and Spezza. Not much else to report from the second period. One successful PK for us. Hasek replaced by Guard and was perfect on his 19 shots, many of them qulity chances since Pittsburgh had 7 man advantages in cluding one 1:55 5-on-3 where Dom bailed us out a few times.

We got a fight. Bois vs. Bonvie. Bonvie takes it. Heater has 2 posts tonight.

Man.Utd

9-23-05, 9:15 PM

Heatley scores with a huge one-timer (from Bo and Spezza). But all the work was done on a great shift by Bochenski. This kid no doubt makes the team if he keeps playing like this. 2-0 Ottawa with 5:00 to go in the third.

Man.Utd

9-23-05, 9:23 PM

3-0 Ottawa. Very generous play by Spezza to pass to Chara for the empty netter. Heatley will also get an assist on the play. Shoot-out coming up.

The first two Penguin shooters are stopped, although apparently the second one would have been stopped had Guard not been using illegal pads (he has yet to recieve reduced ones). Third shooter hits the bar.

Bochenski is up. Glove save.
Hamel up next for Ottawa. Scores!

Ottawa wins 3-0 and the shoot-out.

Madferret

9-23-05, 9:28 PM

Heats / Spezz / Bo line...SOLID

Man.Utd

9-23-05, 9:58 PM

Forgot to mention, 3 stars as selected by the TEAM 1200:

#3 Hasek

#2 Bochenski

#1 Heatley

charlio lemieux

9-23-05, 10:07 PM

I like the way they are playing Bochenski, and he doesn't seem out of place on the line. Hopefully the Leafs are taking notes and do something similar with some of their young players.

Madferret

9-23-05, 10:22 PM

Hopefully the Leafs are taking notes and do something similar with some of their young players.

I doubt it. It wouldn't suprise me one bit if Wellwood gets sent down in order to give Antropov more 'opportunities' to prove himself.

Darsehole Tucker

9-23-05, 11:00 PM

So....what's going to end up happening with Vermette do you think? I glanced at the report in the paper today and it's basically been saying what I've always said. I think this kid is much better then a fourth line forward and playing with "grinding" players wastes his talent. On no other team in the league would this guy be a fourth liner. I guess I just think he's under-appreciated and I think I'd like to see a Schaefer - Fisher/Vermette - Fisher/Vermette 3rd line with Varada out. Then slap together a McGratten - Hamel - Neil line for the 4th line or something. I mean, I'd even try Vermette up between Havlat and Alfie. I think he'd be a great goal scorer if he's given the chance. Just venting a little maybe.

charlio lemieux

9-23-05, 11:21 PM

I doubt it. It wouldn't suprise me one bit if Wellwood gets sent down in order to give Antropov more 'opportunities' to prove himself.

F*** Antropov! They may keep Thomas! :confused: :doh: :hammer2:

So....what's going to end up happening with Vermette do you think?

Ask Alyn McCauley, he rotted on Toronto's third or fourth line for years. Hopefully Vermette will avoid the injuries that seemed to catch McCauley every time he came close to earning a spot on the top two lines. :thumb:

Madferret

9-24-05, 7:39 AM

Man.Utd

9-24-05, 10:31 AM

I too would like to see Vermette in the top-six, but as a center and if he earns it. There not much room on the wings as I can't see him bumping one of Havlat, Heatley, or Alfredsson and I think we have to keep Bochenski where is he is as long as he keeps producing at this rate.

I'd promote Mike Fisher if anyone. He's been all over the ice, we all know how much energy and grit he brings to the lineup, and his skating ability although not as good as Vermette's will still easily see him keep up with his wingers. Perhaps most importantly, I strongly believe he has lots of untapped offensive potential that injuries have kept us from seeing. He's only played more than 60 games once. We all know he's strong two-way aswell and most of all he's paid his dues and deserves a shot at the place. Vermette could take his place as 3rd line C once Fisher moves up but would then have to move to wing, giving Smoke the pivot position. We lost that "perfect" energy line feel but Vermette would be a fine substitute. Neil would have to be demoted back to a 4th line scraper however, which makes McGratton suddenly far less useful.

Bochenski - Spezza - Heatley
Havlat - Fisher - Alfredsson
Schaefer - Smolinski - Vermette
McGratton - Kelly - Neil

Madferret

9-24-05, 11:08 AM

There's always a strong possibility of moving Smoke for a pick or something as to both make more room for Vermette and dump Smokes contract.
I know there won't be GM's tripping over themselves to offer Mucks a pick for Smoke but who knows, Milbury could call.

http://www.sparkimg.com/emoticons/sheepish.gif