Game Day Thread 50: Senators Vs Bruins

Written by Nichols

Monday, 18 January 2010 10:58

thomasbruins

Ottawa Senataaaahs (24-21-4) Vs Tim Thomas' Massive Cranium (23-16-8) @ 1pm ET, Masshole Center; Television: Sens TV

Here is my prediction that ran as part of James Gordon's Ottawa Citizen prediction panel...

4-1 Bruins

Tim Thomas' 11-game winning streak against the Ottawa Senators should prove to be a good litmus test for whether Mike Brodeur's Cinderella story is too good to be true. One streak will come to an end and even though today's game starts at 1pm, I'm wagering that Brodeur turns into a pumpkin sooner rather than later.

While Jason Spezza is reportedly a week or so away from a return, today's game will thankfully mark the expected return of defenceman Filip Kuba. Although it should be noted that the previous sentence shouldn't be read with flattery for Kuba. It's more a condemnation of the Chris Campoli / Erik Karlsson defensive tandem. Watching these two defend their end is more painful than watching Sportsnet try and convince us that Nick Kypreos is a compelling broadcast interviewer.

Here are the expected lines for this afternoon's game: Foligno-Fisher-Alfredsson; Shannon-Regin-Kovalev; Ruutu-Kelly-Neil; Donovan-Smith-Cheechoo. If Kuba makes his return to the lineup this afternoon, I expect Chris Campoli to be a healthy scratch. Mike Brodeur gets the nod in nets.

Nyet Yet

Courtesy of ESPN's Pierre Lebrun, Sens fans have some news concerning Anton Volchenkov's contract negotiations. Here is what General Manager, Bryan Murray, told Lebrun,

"I'm hoping this week to have some concrete discussions in that regard," Sens GM Bryan Murray told ESPN.com on Saturday.

And here is how Murray responded to the media's assessment of now being a good time to move Kovalev,

"He's not going anywhere, Alex is a real good player for us," said Murray. "He's a talented player. That's why we signed him. He gives that dimension on the second line that we were looking for."

No way! You mean that with Ryan Shannon's impending unrestricted free agency and only Peter Regin who projects as a NHL ready top six guy, Murray doesn't feel compelled to move Kovalev this year? Get the hell out?!

More Rumours: Let's Get E-Tarded in Here

According to Bruce Garrioch, you can add Petr Sykora's name to the growing list of veteran bags of crap that Bryan Murray reportedly has interest in. Which makes a lot of sense because it's always fun to add a former 20-goal guy who was a healthy scratch during the Penguins playoff Cup run last season. Especially when a similar one-dimensional player in Miroslav Satan could have been signed without having to move any assets.

With the March 3rd trade deadline approaching quickly, everyone's favorite anonymous rumour source is hot and heavy with some names and locations that typically have a 3-percent chance of coming to fruition. Here's the latest on the Senators, they are also in heavy on Jack Johnson and they are working out a deal which I have heard "could be done in 48 hours."(e3)