From: simpson@bnr.ca (Scott Simpson)
Subject: SENATORS NEWS: Quick game review, ticket info, Madeley update
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 10:03:49 GMT

So.

After 20 minutes of tonight's game (Leafs at Ottawa), I was damn near
retracting anything bad I had to say about the Sens in last night's update.  

Tonight, the team seemed downright inspired for the first period, outshooting
the Leafs 16-14 (I would guess about 10-3 in good scoring chances), outhitting,
outskating, out*playing* those darned Ontario rivals.

But this pesky little weenie, Felix Potvin, kept getting in the way of that
little black thingie going into that meshy-square thing.  Yeesh, was he on fire
tonight (he stopped 36 shots tonight).  You can't tell me Fuhr is going to be 
with the Leafs for long.  I would imagine he'll get back from the injury, 
they'll play him a few times to show he hasn't lost anything, and *whammo*.  
See ya in the papers, Grant.

But then, seemingly a wave of chloroform overcame the team and I'd be generous
if I said we got 5 more decent chances in the second and third periods combined.

The only thing that kept this game close in the first was Potvin, plus the 
fact that the Leafs played very poorly for most of the night.  It was 1-0 
after 1, and 3-1 after 2.  Nothing of interest happened in the third, except a 
Toronto non-goal.  Final score: bad guys 3, us guys 1.

Mike Foglino scored twice (goals number 2 and 3 on the year) and yes, he still
does his jumping-thing after he scores.  The first goal came at 18:25 of the 
first (set up by Anderson), and it was pretty average, but the second goal at
9:36 of the second (Ellett, Gilmour) is worth a mention.  Foglino is in the 
slot dealing with a couple of Senators checking him pretty good.  Gilmour
centres the puck, Foglino is facing away from the net with the puck, but he 
spun his body around and shot the puck blind, not even seeing the net.  The 
puck goes in and Foglino is standing around, not realising it was him who put
it in, he realises it and then he does his jump-thing again.  I believe both
were power-play goals, although the second might have been bagged just after
the penalty expired.

At 18:31 of the second, Sacco (Gilmour, Pearson) made it 3-0 on another 
centering pass from behind the Senators' net.  49 seconds later at 19:20, the
Sens got their only goal of the evening as Turgeon flipped a backhander past
Potvin (assists to Smail and Lamb).  Lamb gave Smail a near-two-line offside
pass to set it up.  A pretty spanky goal, I'd say.

In the third, Foglino had two more good chances, but Sid stopped one, and the
other trickled behind him but MacIver (apparently) shooshed it away before it
could trickle over the red-line.  It looked in to me.

Things of note:
  o  Indeed, the 2nd line is now Murphy-Archibald-Jelinek.  They got plenty 
     of ice time tonight.  Archibald looked great in the first, but seemed
     to poop out in the later periods.  He's said he's not in game-shape, yet.
  o  The Civic Centre was at least 1/4 full of Leaf fans cheering and booing
     at the wrong times (they probably drove home on the wrong side of the
     road, too...).  Man, they're like this everywhere, as I've been to plenty
     of games in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and the Leaf fans appear
     *everywhere*.  I've never seen it this lop-sided before, though.
  o  The usual bad news:
     # of "waves"                   : 1 (but it was an awfully *long* 1...)
     # of "Rock and Roll (Part II)" : 2
     (On the bright side, these numbers *are* down from the last game)
  o  Dave Archibald is wearing sweater number 15
  o  The Sens' power play was simply pathetic.  No-one in front of the net,
     no movement in the box.  (Peluso seems more apt to stay on the outside 
     and try to pass and shoot).  Sure Potvin was playing well, but you're not 
     going to get too many past any netminder if he can see everything.
  o  In fact, for much of the game, you could see two (or sometimes three)
     Senators around the puck.  At times it was like Midget hockey where no-
     one plays positions and just tries to get the puck.  Oops.  I'm getting
     bitter again, aren't I?
  o  Your three stars were (in order): Potvin, Turgeon, Foglino
  o  Loewen and MacIver had strong games.  MacIver must have played near 40
     minutes tonight, altering between Brad Shaw and Ken Hammond as partners.
     Marsh (as always) played hard.  He blocked a shot at one point that 
     remained lodged in his pants until Scampanello pulled it out (Ouch!)
  o  Shick called a good game (that is *not* a typo)
  o  I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but I am convinced we have the
     absolute *lamest* seond-period intermission "shoot off" known to hockey.

     In other cities, you shoot from centre ice, or the opposite blue-line into
     a net with a wooden cover and a few puck-sized notches on the bottom and
     if you get it in, you win prize "X", yes?  Here we get three randomly
     selected individuals to come to the near blue-line and they each shoot ten
     pucks into a wide-open net.  The person with the most in the net gets to
     try for the big prize, wherein he/she shoots a puck from centre ice into
     a wide-open net.  If that puck goes in, the shooter is entered into a draw
     for prize "X" at the end of the season.  

     Now, I'm not a good hockey player.  In fact, I am likely the worst player 
     in our corporate league's history.  I am nothing more than 280 pounds of 
     uncoordination.   But for Pete's sake, even **I** can get 8 or 9 out of 
     10 pucks into a wide open net from the blueline by just cradling the puck
     and gliding it towards the net.  But some of these jokers who play take 
     *slap shots* and get 1 or 2 in.  There's little skill (or luck) involved
     here.  I don't get it.  Maybe the slap shot guys are trying to impress 
     their dates.  Which brings me to my next pointless tirade...
  o  So, one of these guys shoots 6 or 7 in (he cradles them, like you should),
     and cradles another shot into the net to be entered into the draw.  Fine.
     No problem so far.  But then the P.A. guy calls this guy over and the
     following events occur over the P.A.:

     P.A.: "So, Jim.  Nice shooting."
     Jim:  "Thanks."
     P.A.: "Are you here alone tonight, Jim?"
     Jim:  "No.  I'm here with my girlfriend Jane."
     P.A.: "Could Jane come down to the P.A. booth by the ice, please?"
     [Jane comes down.  A song begins to play.  You know what's coming next...]
     P.A.: "Is this your favourite song, Jane?"
     Jane: "Yes."
     P.A.: "Jim, is there something you want to say to Jane?"
     Jim:  "Will you marry me?"
     Jane: "Yes."
     [The crowd errupts in applause and Jim and Jane leave the ice.  Cute.]

     Now, I'm all for love n' romance n' getting engaged, but isn't the old
     "Propose whilst at a major sporting event" schtick getting a bit
     tiresome?  Just *once* I'd like to see a proposee say "No".  Just *once*.
     And isn't it just a *little* coincidental that a guy picked randomly from
     the crowd has set up this whole proposal thing with the P.A. guys?  Hmmm...

     But then again, maybe I'm just bitter 'cuz we looked pretty pathetic for
     the most part tonight.  Then again, maybe I'm just bitter 'cuz I'm still
     at work at 4:30 in the freaking morning...  Maybe I should wrap this thing
     up.

To sum, the first period was great, the second and third were pretty awful.  I
hope they play a full 60 minutes against the Nordiques on Wednesday, 'cuz I 
have *really* good seats for that one!

Oh yeah, upcoming games, TV schedule and ticket news:

Wednesday, November 11  Quebec at Ottawa           CJOH
Friday, November 13     Ottawa at Tampa Bay        CHRO
Sunday, November 15     Ottawa at Philadelphia     (Radio only)
Tuesday, November 17    Montreal at Ottawa         TVA
Thursday, November 19   Hartford at Ottawa         (Radio only)
Saturday, November 21   Ottawa at Montreal         CBC
Monday, November 23     Boston at Ottawa           CHRO
Wednesday, November 25  New Jersey at Ottawa       CJOH
Friday, November 27     Ottawa at Buffalo          CHRO
Sunday, November 29     Buffalo at Ottawa          (Radio only)

If you want to get tickets for these (or any) of the remaining Senators home 
games, here's two tips:

  o  TicketMaster has 200 single-seats (and some pairs) for every Senators
     game available for purchase.  They come in all price ranges ($17-$84)
     and even if you can't get seats next to each other, you can frequently
     get seats that are one row in front of the other, but the same (or 
     close) seat numbers.  I picked up a dozen games for this year this way
     and I am yet to be dissapointed with my seat selection.  The phone
     number for TicketMaster is (613) 755-1111, or you can call the Sens' 
     Ticket Office direct at (613) 721-4300.  Both places take major credit 
     cards.

  o  Big Man Chappy Tours (I know, I know... nice name) is selling pairs (and 
     singles) for most games at a moderate markup (usually 5 or 10 bucks).  
     The advantage is that you can almost always get seats together, but the 
     cost for the "big" games can be quite extreme.  Their number in Ottawa is
     (613) 721-0749.  As an example, they appear to be selling tickets to
     Wednesday's 'Diques game for $30-$35 for $20-$30 tickets.

And finally (really!), it looks like Darrin Madeley (0-2-0 GAA around 5) will
get the start either Wednesday night, or on Friday in Tampa Bay (likely in TB, 
I would imagine...).

I think I could be more long-winded and boring, but that would take some effort.

Like always, comments 'n' questions are welcome...


Later kids,
That Scott Guy
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