The Ottawa Senators still sit on top of the Northeast Divison, but now just three points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens. The team has been miserable lately and are 17-19 since their 15-2 start to the 2007-08 season. After a big loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach John Paddock called a crisis meeting with his players to try to prevent the team from falling apart even further.
The Sens have been playing without their captain, Daniel Alfredsson, for a while, he is recovering from hip injury, and Dany Heatley has missed 10 straight games. Considering how well the Sens played earlier in the season and also how great they were last season and through out the playoffs; who could have guess they of all teams would fall apart at the seams without a couple of key players? Yes, they have a very dominant first line, but they did get a lot of goals from other lines also. Since Heatley is a plus/minus machine, without him the Sens top line gets scored on a lot more. Jason Spezza, the only of the big three who is healthy, and Alfredsson both have great plus/minus stats but after them there is no one among the Ottawa forwards.
I don't to what extent the continuing problem with Ray Emery is affecting the situation, but I am pretty sure it isn't helping the team. It is unfortunate to have a goalie who isn't thinking team first, and I am sure John Paddock would be glad to get rid of Emery if only they weren't in the situation where they still need him.
It is clear, however, more of the Sens need to step up in the absence of Heatley and Alfredsson, especially Spezza. With those two out he is the guy the other players look to and he has to step it up and produce.
I am sure the Senators will get through this, and maybe they will be a stronger team for it, but I also think they have realized they are more vunerable than they thought. For that reason they remain a strong contender in the race to aquire Peter Forsberg.
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