The Ghosts of Ottawa’s Goalie Graveyard Rear Up Again

 One of my favourite things to bounce around my mouth is this word: Bailiwick. Definition – “one's sphere of operations or particular area of interest.” Contextually this week, we’re using it to address the netminding graveyard known as the Ottawa Senators. A ‘particular area of interest?’ You betcha. Tuesday night’s

It’s here, it’s finally here

 Never let a good idea get untold . . . again? Well, it’s a damn good idea. With that in mind, after discovering Sportsnet’s National Hockey League regular season primer sitting on my laptop earlier this morning, my interest and ability to pilfer were fully engaged. In essence, the crew

Canadian teams look to post-season and draft

 Above: Morgon Reilley will return to the Leafs lineup (Courtesy NHLI via Getty Images) It’s lonely at the bottom. The Ottawa Senators – as discussed at great length in this space last week – won’t be taking part in the 24-team slap-and-tickle know as the NHL playoffs later this summer.

Report cards come a little – too – early

 We are supposed to be gunning for a playoff season just around the corner. We’re supposed to be talking about who’s going to win the goal-scoring race, Auston Matthews, Alex Ovechkin or David Pastrnak. We’re supposed to be talking about MVP and whether the unexpected Leon Draisaitl can accomplish the

Dearth of hockey brings about ‘classic’ possibilities

 If you could have your choice of NHL games or series to re-watch, what would populate your list? That thought popped into my head Saturday night as I sat in front of my TV going: something’s missing . . . right – Hockey Night in Canada. Sure it was great

Making the grade – your Ottawa Senators

 A new year, and for a change, the Ottawa Senators head in with a modicum of hope. Couldn’t say that on the brink of 2019, or 2018. Been a while, eh? Face it, the farm is filled with potential plums and if you’ve been watching the world junior tourney, there

Sens empty dust-bin of calamitous past few seasons

 “Who is Chris Tierney, Alex?” It’s the type of stumper that’ll perplex even the best of Jeopardy champions (even James Holzhauer, me-thinks). Answer being: This player lead the Ottawa Senators in scoring by a forward last season. Matt Duchene was long gone to Ohio by the time the year ended,

Few passing grades as Senator season passes

 Photo courtesy of NHLI via Getty Images “Well, at the very least we had – at the very least – umm, Brady Tkachuk!” Offers Glass-Half-Full-Guy. “That’s like doing back-flips cause you got one of the six numbers in 6/49 right!” Counters Glass-Half-Empty Guy. That kind of season, eh Ottawa? For

Spirits lifted for Senators during dads’ trip

 Photo courtesy NHLI via Getty Images I imagine if my dad was watching, I’d work at about the same level. In this grim swamp of a season for the Ottawa Senators, this past week presented a rare light and positive look. The dads’ trip. As far as I know, most

Not all miserable in Senator land

 Photo credit: NHLI via Getty Images Well now, wasn’t that a party? Not the kind where everyone has a festive time and hugs, good feelings and smiles are shared around the room. Nope, this was more of the kind of party where your guests drink too much, break some chairs, accidentally

Senators can’t stop the onslaught

 Photo credit: NHLI via Getty Images The Buffalo Bills can’t seem to score touchdowns. No problem for the Buffalo Sabres though. (Plus a two-point conversion). That 9-2 pounding by Buffalo’s hockey team on the foreheads of the Ottawa Senators Saturday afternoon represented a very low point in what – to this

Senators: They can’t be this bad again, right?

 Photo courtesy of NHLI via Getty Images Is it time for the Ottawa Senators to finally turn the page on what can only be hailed as a year-long tire-fire? Well, duh. Face it, if this bad juju keeps going, we’re talking Harold-Ballard-era material in spades. Yup, it has been that

Senators Hit Mute Button on Trade Deadline Day

 SENATORS: A Week in Review is a weekly column looking back at the week in Ottawa Senators hockey written by OLMSports Dave Gross. Feature photo Courtesy NHLI via Getty Images (Andre Ringuette) Ian freakin' Cole? That's it? That's all she wrote? C'est tout? This National Hockey League trade deadline was supposed to

SENATORS: A Week in Review

 SENATORS: A Week in Review is a weekly column looking back at the week in Ottawa Senators hockey written by OLMSports Dave Gross. Feature photo Courtesy NHLI via Getty Image Do the Ottawa Senators actually have the ability to win another game before this horror show of an NHL season gets

SENATORS: A Week in Review – January 16-22, 2017

 SENATORS: A Week in Review is a weekly column looking back at the week in Ottawa Senators hockey written by #OLMSports Dave Gross. Here we sit at the halfway point of the NHL's regular season for the Ottawa Senators. Summing up the first half? Have to give the team as a whole

SENATORS: A Week in Review – December 5-11, 2016

 SENATORS: A Week in Review is a weekly column looking back at the week in Ottawa Senators hockey written by #OLMSports Dave Gross. Images from NHL.com. Well, this has zero danger of being inducted into the 'too-dull' hall of fame. It was an interesting week for the Ottawa Senators - one that

SENATORS: A Week in Review – November 21-27, 2016

 SENATORS: A Week in Review is a weekly column looking back at the week in Ottawa Senators hockey written by #OLMSports Dave Gross. Images from NHL.com. Not a shocker - Craig Anderson named on Monday as the NHL's first star of the week. What is a shocker? The idea that Anderson is

SENATORS: A Week in Review – November 14-20, 2016

 SENATORS: A Week in Review is a weekly column looking back at the week in Ottawa Senators hockey written by #OLMSports Dave Gross. Images from NHL.com. The timing couldn't be better for - well - bad timing. Let's face it, as the Ottawa Senators' brain-trust was reminiscing about two stinkers this past

Hammond Stars as Senators Edge Closer to Playoffs

 Photo courtesy Losangeles.cbslocal.com Saturday was a great night all around for the Ottawa Senators as they romped to a 5-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens to strengthen their push for a playoff spot. As well as sending off one of their main rivals in a game that saw the Sens

Ottawa Life Guide to the Sens

 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons. Whether you are new to town or have just decided that this year you are going to join the slew of hockey fans inhabiting Ottawa’s pubs, bars or other fine drinking establishments, there are a few things you should know about the capital’s NHL team. The modern

Senators Must Remember Lehner is the Goaltender of the Future

 Photo courtesy Losangeles.cbslocal.com Andrew Hammond’s stellar play between the pipes has injected life into the Ottawa Senators’ playoff hopes, but it’s important the organization remembers that Robin Lehner is their man moving forward. Not Hammond, nor Craig Anderson. At the time of writing this article, “The Hamburglar” has a sterling

Senators should trade Anderson

 Photo courtesy of vavel.com Craig Anderson is in the midst of another superb campaign in which he has been the backbone of the Ottawa Senators . . . but it’s time to trade the 33-year-old goaltender. Anderson, at the time of writing this article, has registered a .929 save percentage,

The Importance of Sample Size and the Senators’ Hot Start

 The Ottawa Senators celebrate after a road win against the Montreal Canadiens. Photo credit: Francois Lacasse/Getty Images If the early going of the NHL regular season has taught us anything over the years, it’s that small sample sizes can be deceiving. Just ask the Toronto Maple Leafs, or the latest sample