Sens, Habs and Leafs Headed in Different Directions

 No matter how well your team is going, as an NHL general manager, worry and anxiety are common bedfellows. Teams can be one major injury or a couple of poor goaltending outings away from singing sayonara to the post-season. Here in Eastern Ontario – and readers of this space will

On Battles and JR . . .

 This week, it’s a little game of questions in search of answers. Let’s get it rolling.   WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE ‘BATTLE OF ONTARIO?’ Seriously, where have you been? When Ottawa and its Senators travel to Toronto to face its Maple Leafs tonight, there just doesn’t appear to be any

NHL’s Atlantic Rich with Talent and Troubles

 It’s a relatively quiet time in the National Hockey League. Late August. Camps still a few weeks away. Outside of a Laine trade here, a Blues-Oilers offer sheet tussle there, not a whole heck of a lot rocking on. Hence, the dawning of the month-of-the-lists. TSN’s been at it. So

Toronto Maple Leafs analysis and predictions on Stanley Cup

 The Toronto Maple Leafs, adorned with a legacy of triumph and tradition, are poised at the precipice of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, embarking on a campaign marked by lofty ambitions and meticulous examination. Reflecting on the 2023-24 NHL season, this storied franchise has navigated through heightened expectations and analytical

Hurry up and Wait, Ottawa

 Most of you are well into your cups as far as New Year’s resolutions. A full three(!) days(!) in(!) . . . which might suggest the gym is now slowly re-entering the rearview mirror, the Haagen-Dazs has been restocked in the freezer and you’ve barked at your kids or dog

NHL Quiz Show

 What’s up this week? Well, I’ll tell you what’s up this week: questions and answers that potentially could carry great relevance to a 2023-34 National Hockey League season, which opens in less than one month. That’s what’s up. The one caveat here – as it tends to be since we

Fresh Fish in The NHL’s Atlantic

 Last season the gun was jumped by this corner in regard to the ever-evolving Atlantic Division. Sure, the thing was evolving but not evolving as rapidly as we’d thought and forecasted. The young ones on the block – the Ottawa’s, Buffalo’s, and Detroit’s were on the move, but only incrementally.

Leafs’ killer instinct not to be found

 Here it is Ottawa, your absolute favourite subject . . . hello there, Toronto Maple Leafs. I know what you’re thinking: ‘C’mon man, there’s more than one Canadian team in the playoffs. I mean, c’mon!’ Agreed. But consider the bare facts (or Barefax depending on your positioning on certain matters):

Trade-deadline turmoil in Toronto?

 It’s expected the Ottawa Senators will look a lot like the Ottawa Senators come Monday next week. In other words, don’t expect much noise at the trade deadline (3 p.m. ET March 21st). Outside of shipping out a couple of minor role players and potentially Swiss army knife Nick Paul,

Leafs’ lesson a tough pill to swallow

 I hope you were watching, Ottawa Fan. I hope you were listening, Ottawa Fan. ‘Cause Saturday night you were schooled, and even though you despise your teacher, best you’d been paying attention. In the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-0 dummying of the Ottawa Senators a number of things stood out. And

String of losing needs to be snipped

 Photo: Courtesy iHeart Radio You know about that saying re-insanity right: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? If you’re the latest rendition of the Toronto Maple Leafs that means, of course, nailing it repeatedly during the regular season then coughing up a hairball in

Leafs house in disrepair

 ABOVE: Sheldon Keefe, head coach of the Leafs. (courtesyNHL.com) Supposing you bought a house and decided to invest millions of dollars into upgrades. A few months into renovations you discovered there were enormous cracks in the foundation and all that money you’d shot into the home were wasted. Then supposing you decided

Rivalry week did not disappoint

 Here’s how last week shaped-out for the Ottawa Senators: Monday – 6-5 win vs Toronto Wednesday – 2-1 loss vs Toronto Thursday – 7-3 loss vs Toronto Sunday – 3-2 win vs Montreal That’s a two-win week for the Sens – a continuation of their trend in the right direction.

Senators a ‘fragile group’ after stretch of losses

 Well, where do I start? It's going to be a long season for the Ottawa Senators. In three games versus the Vancouver Canucks this week, the Senators combined for 116 shots on goal, besting Vancouver’s tally of 95. The combined score was 16 to 3 in favour of Vancouver, and

No man is an Island(er)?

 People who know me know this – I generally like to bounce around from favourite team to favourite team. (I get called on it a lot, but I like to reference it as a privilege of age). Used to be the Ottawa Senators, but that was a little too homey.

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.

Canadian clubs: the good and the bad and the in-between

 We’re right around the halfway point in this NHL season and as we are prone to do a couple of times per season, let’s have a glance at how our seven Canadian teams are faring, and what might lie ahead in the upcoming months. Across Canada? It’s truly a mixed

Leafs still a work in progress, without the work

 Photo courtesy of NHLI via Getty Images Boston’s Patrice Bergeron pretty much nailed it after his Bruins took the Toronto Maple Leafs to the woodshed Saturday night in a wild 4-1 win in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Bergeron – post-game – talked about “compete” and “determination.” His team had it;

Another week, another calamity

 Photo courtesy of NHLI via Getty Images There’s a cute little thread-header on the hockey chat-board site HFboards that reads: “Days since Sens incident.” At the very least, the folks on the site sport a very good sense of humour . . . and a sense of reality. It was

Leafs visit supplies shining example

 Photo courtesy of NHLI via Getty Images Finally the day arrives. For the first time (for some reason) this season the thousands of Toronto Maple Leaf fans in the capital region (cough if you’d like to at this point) get satiated with a taste of their team. Saturday night, the Leafs

Toronto adds while Ottawa – apparently – set to subtract

 Photo courtesy NHLI via Getty Images So, how was your weekend? If you’re the Toronto Maple Leafs, not too bad. With the signing of John Tavares, the Leafs might not be a certainty for a Stanley Cup, but they’ve sure put themselves in a solid position to compete for the

Look Away Ottawa Fans: Toronto Has Big Months Ahead in Sports

 Just as the Senators’ terrible season seems to be closing out with a limp whimper, Toronto seems to be going from strength to strength. It’s not just in NHL either, where the Maple Leafs are in the mix once again. In NBA The Raptors have posted the third-best record and

Bye Week for Sens and Leafs. How Does Ontario Hockey Look Moving Towards the Playoffs?

 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 Fun in the sun week for both the Ottawa Senator and Toronto Maple Leaf players, but I kind of get the

Different Splash of Colour in Battle of Ontario

 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 Colton Orr - Matt Carkner. Tie Domi - Chris Neil. Darcy Tucker - The entire Ottawa bench. Yep, the Battle of

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: J.P. Parisé

 J.P. Parisé: Athlete, Ice Hockey Imagine being 16-years-old and recruited by the NHL. This is a dream for many young hockey players. Amazingly, for J.P. Parisé, it was reality. Parisé began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins and then played for the Minnesota North Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, New