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Franzen leads Red Wings past Senators

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 5:49 PM EST 13/10/08

Johan Franzen scores two goals in the third period to rally Detroit to a 3-2 win over Ottawa ...Read the full article

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  1. Gordon Howe from HockeyTown, United States writes: Well back on a winning note. I don't know wether claud saw the game or not but the Wings were good for the win and the Hens have goaltending problems already by the looks of things. Maybe he was watching his leafs play, afterall he was on their board on Thursday.
  2. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Gerber is a good goalie, he just doesn't have any luck.
    the winning goal could have bounced twice and deflected off the post, but it went in the net instead. Still, when the visiting team gets twice as many shots, you have to wonder just where the Senators will place at the end of the season.

    Spezza - what can I say? The stupid jewellery ad is back and his play reflects that. Paul I and Mariposa are going to have a little talk with the store owners.

    Hartsburg is going to explain to Jason why he is a third line forward. Stick the C on Foligno, his play tonight was pure leadership.
  3. Fester Boyle from Bert's, Barbados writes: Not a bad game for the Sens if you ignore the first period where they got beat to the puck consistently and generally stood around as the Wings skated past them. Lucky to finish 1-1. In the second, they woke up and in the third slacked off enough to finally get beat.

    Gerber played well - all 3 goals were well earned by the Wings. The line of Heatley and Spezza was a non factor, if you overlook Spezza's give-aways. Ruutu added nothing and not surprising that he was eventually moved with Fisher and Neil where he seems to be better suited. The Vermette-Kelly-Winchester line was good as well. All 6 defensement played well.

    Even though the bad habits that the Sens displayed in seasons past are still there, there is progress. By Christmas, they should be firing on all cylinders.
  4. ray ittac from Canada writes: AH FESTER, FESTER, FESTER....such optimism. I, however, beg to differ. They may be firing on 6 cylinders by then but it takes a North American V8 to take the silver bowl home. As long as they have Spezza as a #1 up front and Gerber as the #1 at the back, I will continue to worry. So many positives elsewhere but those two....hmmmmmmm! Am happy a couple of the tumors are gone but these two are weak links right now because they simply do not measure up to what the Sens need at those spots. Granted Gerber has shown it in the past but Spezza has prima donna written all over him and always has. I am however really enjoying these Flames/Canucks games.
  5. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Gordon - thanks for your comment, it proves you have little to offer. Your Dead Things did outshoot and dominated tonight, but a knuckleball goal gave the team a win tonight, but the wheel does turn.

    Then you slag off PC for posting on popular thread of the evening.

    Gord, come back when you have something interesting to say, or even mildly amusing. Both could prove a challenge.
  6. Fester Boyle from Bert's, Barbados writes: AH, RAY, RAY, RAY...such dispair by a Leafs fan. I agree with you regarding Spezza. He's a prima donna and it'll be Hartsburg's job to turn him into a hockey player. He has 6 months to do this.
  7. ray ittac from Canada writes: Well he'll definitely earn his pay if he can do the water to wine miracle with Spezza. Others have tried and failed miserably one after the other. And by the way....where did you see the despair? LOLOL...I am a fan of both squads and a realist for both teams' prospects.
  8. Proud Canadian from Canada, Canada writes: Gordon, there's something in Charlotte NC tonite that is a lot more interesting than watching a hockey game. Be back once the NASCAR season is over.
  9. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: Just goes to show what a dominant team the Red Wings are. I was horrified in the first period to see what they were doing to the sens. The score might well have been 6-1 in this game too. Sens actually looked nervous in the first period. On top of all that, 2 out of the 3 goals scored by the wings were as a result of errors by the sens. The first one, when Fisher lost the puck in front of the wings goal and the wings quickly took the puck out of their zone and got a 3 on 2 rush on the sens. The 2nd time it was a bad line change which allowed franzen to shoot without being challenged. Bottom line is that the Wings capitalize on every single mistake made by the other team.

    Nobody seems to have mentioned that twice the puck hit the sens crossbar and so the score could have easily been 5-2.

    That Franzen guy is gonna score a bunch this season.

    Kuba, once again, got a point from the game and generally played well. Foligno made a great play to score the 2nd ottawa goal. Heatley and Spezza seem to disappear when Alfredsson is not playing on their line.

    Also it was curious to see how Neil, Smith and Ruutu were a non factor against a highly mobile team like the wings.
  10. Fester Boyle from Bert's, Barbados writes: Ray, that's your opinion and you know what they say about opinions and ar$eholes - everyone has one. Despair. Are you kidding me? You're a Leafs fan. Do the math.
  11. ray ittac from Canada writes: first sign that the logic to someone's argument is disappearing...namecalling. You lasted 2 rounds Fester. Two rounds! No more for you. I'll move on to others with more staying power.
  12. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: ray - I can see Hartsburg putting Spezza on the third line. It would certainly send a message.

    We saw it last year, and with one game gone we see it this year, the Sens compete for Stanley with Alfie, without him - the results speak for themselves. Someone on the team has to step forward to lead.
  13. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: Ray Ittac, only a true leaves devotee like you needs to hedge his bets
    by being a 'fan' of both squads.

    The Spezza bashers are out in force once again!

    Mariposa, Whats your problem with Spezza's Jubilee ads? What does it have to do with any mistakes he might make in the game.

    Why arn't you blaming hartsburg for the bad line change that resulted in the equalizing goal?

    Why do you have a soft side for Gerber not stopping the 3rd goal? Bad bounce or not, it wasnt the hardest shot he faced this evening.
  14. Fester Boyle from Bert's, Barbados writes: Ray, sorry you feel that way. I've never namecalled anyone and will never to that.
  15. ray ittac from Canada writes: Ummm..first of all Rainbow, one hEdges one's bets in order to possibly win...If that was my goal, choosing the two Ontario teams isn't the best move. Maybe a Detroit as a backup team would be smarter. second, it isn't bashing when Spezza tries so hard to back up his critic's comments by playing the way he does whenever his team really needs him. I do agree on Gerber's non-save though.
  16. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: " Well he'll definitely earn his pay if he can do the water to wine miracle with Spezza. Others have tried and failed miserably one after the other. "
    ........................................................................................................
    Atleast, we wouldn't have to 'gut' this Senators team and 'rebuild' it all the while sitting outside any playoffs berth for another 3-5 years.

    And face it, Luke Schenn is nothing. Thats right. There are a gazallion defencemen like him in the league who can play the role of a checking defensemen who will barely score any points. Instead of getting a talented forward like Filatov only the brilliant leaves are going to settle for a defenceman with hardly any scoring talent.

    At 6-3, 216 pounds the great cornerstone of the leaves rebuilding effort still needs 'seasoning' in the minors.
  17. ray ittac from Canada writes: Now there you go...doing exactly what is the core problem with the entire Sens family. AS LONG AS WE KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING RAINBOW....COMPARING OURSELVES TO THE WORST HOCKEY TEAM IN THE WORLD...THE LEAFS..we will never win. Great..we are better than the Leafs. Sens would be better served with comparisons to teams that are proven hockey powers like the Wings and the Avs teams and, have to admit, perhaps the Habs of the next couple of years. Aim higher. I am. That's why I hope that we can somehow improve on the Spezza and Gerber spots in the lineuP. I stand by what I said ...if Hartsburg can turn Spezza into the hockey player the Sens thought they signed...he deserves everydarned dollar he gets and more! Aim higher now Rainbow and don't come back with that "Oh, Yeah....Spezza's better than Stajan! Ha, we win" crap.
  18. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: Well Ray Ittac, since you have said it, why don't you look up the word 'hedge' in the dictionary again. And this time consider using a financial dictionary because thats where the origin of the word lies. Hedging is used to either mitigate losses or guard against losses.

    Which is perfectly applicable in your case, since you are through and through a leaves phan. But, because the leaves will be playing in the suck fest this season instead of the NHL therefore you have decided to jump on the next closest bandwagon of the Ottawa Senators. While still carrying your priceless leaves in your heart.

    Stop your double talk and choose your camp.

    Also, what exactly in this game did Spezza did which was so offensive to the 'critics'? Did he cause a bad turnover that resulted in the first goal today? Did he cause a bad line change resulting in the 2nd goal today? Did he fail to stop the puck cleanly, which resulted in the 3rd goal today? The truth is that a few wise people out there are magnifying his each and every mistake and everybody else out here is towing their line in this matter, blindly.

  19. Howard Young from Canada writes: In Ottawa for Thanksgiving so I was able to watch the game on TV. Had I still been within the blue & white shroud of Leaf Nation I wouldn't have been so fortunate. Unfortunately, Cogeco won't let you buy the NHL Centre Ice package by itself (have to buy the whole sports package). I thought Gerber played pretty good. He was definitely under fire during the 1st period. His positioning in the net was much better this game. His bad positioning during the Pittsburgh game was something I had called him out on in the threads so I was watching for it tonight. I would like to see Gerber play a little more stand up goaltending. Tonight he had a tendency to drop down too quickly. That really cost him on the 2nd goal he allowed. However, I will say that it didn't help that the team made a really bad line change when Detroit came flying down the ice (there was only 1 Senator in the play while 4 were off changing). I really liked Winchester and Foligno's play tonight. I also like how Ottawa makes it hard for the opposition when they are trying to crash the net. Detroit was the better team tonight, but not by much in my opinion. It looked like the Sens were trying to protect the lead in the 3rd and were sitting back on their heels, big mistake. These last two games Detroit has looked beatable. I'll chock it up to post Stanley Cup fatigue. I'm sure they will be back to their top form when I'm watching them play Buffalo in April. Get well soon Alfie, we could use you out there. Plus, I'll be watching the Sens in Buffalo on the 27th, so for selfish reasons I want you back on the ice. :)
  20. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: Ok, i apologize for my last two comments.

    We both are Sens phans.

    ;-)

    Peace.
  21. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Rainbow Warrior - since you have decided to accept the moniker I bestowed upon you, I shall respond to your questions.

    The jewellery ad is trash - it depends on Spezza being the top Senator, something the hockey player is far from being, as I can name 5 players I believe are more important to the team than Spezza.

    Poor line changes happen. Franzen roofed it with a very good shot.

    Third goal. Ever play goal RW? Knuckleballs and bouncers at speed are difficult to stop. You may have the best of positions, but it bounes off you armpit, hits your butt and rolls in behind you. It's the frozen version of a reverse-swing googly.
  22. Howard Young from Canada writes: Rainbow, I would agree that Spezza played a pretty good game tonight. I only noticed one situation when someone was able to poke the puck off of his stick. It looks like he's taken what happened after the 1st game against Pittsburgh seriously and is trying to change his ways.

    Nonetheless, nobody needs to be subjected to the Jubilee Jewellers commercials.
  23. ray ittac from Canada writes: Wow---reverse-swing googly.???????????????? That was worth a trip to google and a welcome addition to my vocabulary. Thank you MB
  24. Howard Young from Canada writes: Mariposa, I thought Gerber was in the right position to play the angle of that 3rd goal. If it had not gone off of Kuba's stick I'm sure Gerber would have ate that one up.
  25. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: Mariposa, please brush up on your cricket lingo.

    There is no such thing as 'reverse swing googly'

    There is 'reverse swing' and their is a 'googly'.

    I have utmost respect for your hockey knowledge but wouldnt trust you with the 'c' of cricket.
  26. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: "I only noticed one situation when someone was able to poke the puck off of his stick."

    Ya, howard, thats the only one that happened. But, that kind of poke happens all the time with other players too(of equal or better caliber than Spezza) but nobody bothers about them. Its only that in this case it was the 'great defensive liability' spezza that media people are going to talk about it. The fact of the matter is, that Spezza is a smart, thoughtful player, who was able to override his defensive problems by learning. It is no coincidence that he is 83 in his last 4 seasons. Now, that is not one stat you would see in a player who is a defensive liability - as potrayed in the media.

    My problem with this entire affair is that we in the general public somehow are being driven by this illusion of his defensive problems, soon the media picks up on it and the whole story gets magnified 10 folds. We need to have some faith in the guy for crying out loud! We have three guys on this team who get over 90 points. And people come out here suggesting that we should trade him away! Thats not smart at all.

    And no! I am not a Jason Spezza fan myself. But i do realize his immense role in this team and therefore i am willing to defend him.
  27. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: RW - reverse-swing googlys do not exist. In cricket.

    But it was the best way to describe Detroit's third goal. In hockey.

    Sens to the second round of the playoffs, Windies to take the Tests and lose in the ODIs.

    And the Spezza adverts for the local jewller are trash.
  28. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: ok now i understand your cryptic(as always) comment better.

    It could be possible to imagine a 'reverse swing googly' (not to beat a dead horse but their is no dash in between reverse and swing) in hockey, where a puck might bounce at a certain angle along its edges and move in a direction different to what is expected, all the while swinging in the air.

    About the jewellery ads - they are not the most crafty ones, but i have no problem with any senator or any sportsman for that matter, earning any side money that way. Which is pretty much what the 'Jubillee ads' and the 'Jim K Ford Lincohn' ads are all about.
  29. Howard Young from Canada writes: I don't have problems with endorsement deals or forms of legal off ice income generating activities, but could they make the commercials less cheesy?

    If I was endorsing a product I would require artistic control, if the commercial doesn't cast me in the best light, no dice. Where was Spezza's agent in all of this?
  30. Rainbow Warrior from Canada writes: lol howard. I know what you mean.

    It is hard to like those ads when besides the fact that those ads are cheesy the players are playing bad!

    i guess nhl player agents do not bother themselves with the actual content of the ad when the product itself is clean. But, what these players actually need is a PR agent to take care of their image and push for better quality ads featuring them.
  31. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: What is it with you Sens fans that requires you to mention the Leafs on every thread?

    Especially this year.... the Leafs won't see the playoffs and the Sens are in tough against the Habs and Bruins in their own division... then the Flyers, Pens, Caps and Rangers in the rest of the conference.

    You played the Stanley Cup champions tonight and by the sounds of it played them pretty tight..... after losing to the Leafs you think maybe they were motivated?

    New coach.... new system... and no Alfie.... patience children.

    btw.... the Spezza jewlery ad is embarrassing.

    Cheers
  32. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Rainbow Warrior's man-crush for Jason Spezza is now evident for all to see. Spezza remains excellent trade value: let's hope either Hartsburg straightens him out or Murray swaps him.
  33. Gordon Howe from HockeyTown, United States writes: Mariposa. I'm not here for you or any other Hens fan. It's me and claud. if I was you I'd still worry about your golatending and the fact that Redden is in the top 5 or 6 in scoring. Didn't the Hens have a chance to resign him? Be that as it may you may micromanage your thoughts about your team as best you can but you'll still struggle to make the playoffs. Your divisional winner showed the Leafs how to play the game. Your Hens found out that hard work wins games and Cups. Also Spezza likes to take time off while on the ice. You wonder where his head is at sometimes. He's supposed to be the franchise isn't he?
  34. Robert Lepage from Canada writes: Oh Gordie, it's nice to see you again. I guess it was only a matter of time before you made your apperance, but I should of known better, it only happens when the wings win. Do you cry yourself to sleep when they lose or do you just change allegiances to the winning team? I wonder. Afteral, dead wings fans are more fairweathered than snowbirds! Never in NHL history have I seen a team so successful at collecting bandwagon fans.
  35. Daniel Plainview from Canada writes: Scot, it's called kicking you when you're down, rubbing salt in your wound etc.

    Call us evil but some of us Sens fans relish in the disaster the Leafs have become.
  36. Howard Young from Canada writes: Robert, I was thinking quite the opposite. I've never seen a team less successful at collecting fans. I was shocked by the number of empty seats at Detroit's home opener and banner raising.
  37. Emilio Garazgos from Kanata, Canada writes: It's not the low-budget local jewellery store ad that's embarrassing. It's no worse or better than any other local market advt.

    It's the Spazza that's embarrassing. No doubt, the guy does provide fans with a few dazzling moments but unfortunately, his gaffes seem to outnumber the ones where he does shine.

    That in itself would not be a big problem but the fact that he's lauded for the few bright moments and gets a paycheck that's bigger than the captain's no doubt swells his head making him think that he's God's gift to hockey and really doesn't need to change one bit.

    I remember in an interview some time ago when the interviewer commented on one of his blind-pass giveaways, the Spazz-a's reply was something to the effect "That's part of my style (and I'm not going to change)".

    I'm guessing that Hartsburg has "talked" to him about his bad habits and Sat. night's game is the result.

    Instead of playing his "style" he plays it safe by not doing much of anything at all while he's on the ice. I remember at one point in the 3rd period where he was deep in the Wing's zone and a pass went to one of the Wings right in front of him.

    He just stood there, upright -- didn't even move his stick, and did nothing but twirl his head to watch as the Wings all skated around him and up the ice.

    I'd sit him out for a game or three and put one of the hard-working young rookies in his spot. You think he'd get the message ? Or just throw a hissy fit and stop trying altogether ?


  38. Gordon Howe from HockeyTown, United States writes: Robert Lepage from Canada writes: Oh Gordie, it's nice to see you again....

    Well thanks Robert. So I show up when the Wings win? You mean when they won the cup last year? When did these Hens of your win the cup? I never came here until your Proud Claud started bad mouthing the Wings/Americans(where he works)/Detroit.. etc.. etc..He yipped last year when his Hens beat the Wings in Ottawa. I wouldn't be here if he stayed away from the Wings board. No problem there. There's many here that saw his true colors last year. So now are you going to take his place? As an Ottawa fan you saw last night what it takes to win divisions and cups. It's called hard work and not taking time off while you're on the ice. No matter what you guys thought of Redden last year I guarantee by Christams you'll wish you had him back.
  39. Sean O'Reilly from Canada writes: I see everyone is in mid season form on the trashing of each others team.

    Just want to say, glad to have the wings back, and in the win column.

    Thanks to the CBC for staying with the Leafs game instead of going to a quality game. Thank god I have the sports package, or I'd be even more ticked.

    Go wings!
  40. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Rainbow, your flashy, dandified, technicolor persona is a mirror of your idol Jason. Sorry you can't handle the 'pressure'. Perhaps croquet is more your sport. :-) The point is this. Spezza is a selfish player who does not fit Hartsburg's work ethic. If he can't change, he should be dealt. Have a nice day!
  41. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Emilio - well said. I guess that is why my blood pressure rises every time I see that pathetic advert, showcasing a player that needs to work more.

    I certainly will not be sending my custom to that jeweller.
  42. Daniel Plainview from Canada writes: Dave- not so sure Spezza is selfish so much as lazy. Minus-4 so far this season. Get going Spezz or those you-for-Luongo rumours will start to heat up again. Boy that'd be sweet.

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