It's still VERY sweet to beat the Maple Leafs at the ACC.
There were a couple of good things to take out of last night's W:
1) Mike Fisher did not look a bit out of place on the second line alongside Daniel Alfredsson and Peter Schaefer, furthering confusing the situation with Alexei Kaigorodov. Previously, I stated I would prefer Fisher on the third line, but he sure looked like a second-line center on this night. Combined, the trio racked up seven points and were, far and away, the best line the Sens rolled in the Hog.
2) Ray Emery was terrific and is making life very difficult for Bryan Murray (and in turn, John Muckler). While he hasn't downright sucked, Martin Gerber has yet to assert himself as the bonafided number one goalie. To say he's been ordinary would be an understatement. Meanwhile, Emery has shined more often than not and if the job truly wasn't Gerber's regardless, as Muckler said back in July when he signed the Swiss 'tender, then I would think Emery has to be considered for the starting job. Economics (as in the fact Gerber makes $3.7 mil per season) might play a factor, but if it's all about who's playing better, there can be no disputing that Emery is the frontrunner on that criteria alone. In the third period, he was sensational.
3) In addition to scoring another goal, Dean McAmmond had a strong outing. Having another speedster in the line-up can never hurt.
On the flipside, it was another piss poor performance from the Russian that was supposed to save us. Murray gave Kaigorodov every chance to succeed even though he took him off the Alfredsson line. He was lined up with red hot Denis Hamel and Patrick Eaves, who has an uncanny ability to find the net, and yet he still didn't generate much in the way of offensive chances.
We'll see how things go tonight when Montreal comes town.
There were a couple of good things to take out of last night's W:
1) Mike Fisher did not look a bit out of place on the second line alongside Daniel Alfredsson and Peter Schaefer, furthering confusing the situation with Alexei Kaigorodov. Previously, I stated I would prefer Fisher on the third line, but he sure looked like a second-line center on this night. Combined, the trio racked up seven points and were, far and away, the best line the Sens rolled in the Hog.
2) Ray Emery was terrific and is making life very difficult for Bryan Murray (and in turn, John Muckler). While he hasn't downright sucked, Martin Gerber has yet to assert himself as the bonafided number one goalie. To say he's been ordinary would be an understatement. Meanwhile, Emery has shined more often than not and if the job truly wasn't Gerber's regardless, as Muckler said back in July when he signed the Swiss 'tender, then I would think Emery has to be considered for the starting job. Economics (as in the fact Gerber makes $3.7 mil per season) might play a factor, but if it's all about who's playing better, there can be no disputing that Emery is the frontrunner on that criteria alone. In the third period, he was sensational.
3) In addition to scoring another goal, Dean McAmmond had a strong outing. Having another speedster in the line-up can never hurt.
On the flipside, it was another piss poor performance from the Russian that was supposed to save us. Murray gave Kaigorodov every chance to succeed even though he took him off the Alfredsson line. He was lined up with red hot Denis Hamel and Patrick Eaves, who has an uncanny ability to find the net, and yet he still didn't generate much in the way of offensive chances.
We'll see how things go tonight when Montreal comes town.
