Alfie Hockey Dad Feature

Team Chara 12, Team Alfredsson 9

When Zdeno Chara retires as a player, maybe he should consider being a GM. His top 6 forwards in this game were Corey Perry, Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin, Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, and Pavel Datsyuk. That's pretty impressive, even for an All-Star team.

There was also a line that featured Tyler Seguin alongside Phil Kessel. They both had an assist on Team Chara's 12th goal, scored by Maple Leaf Joffrey Lupul.

The star of the show was Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson, who scored twice in a losing effort.

The show was slightly stolen by the Trencin Express. That's what I'm calling the combination of Hossa, Gaborik, and Chara. All three of whom are from Trencin, Slovakia. Gaborik won the MVP with 3 goals and an assist. And Chara was +7. Chara also won the hardest shot contest, once again breaking his own record with a 108.8 mph blast.

The All-Star Game is usually a torturous snuff film for goalies, but Tim Thomas held his own. He's now 4-0 in All-Star Games, getting the 'W' in all 4 he's played in. He allowed 3 goals on 21 shots, which doesn't sound great, but his 18 saves were the most among all six goalies. His .857 save percentage was also the highest. Only he and Carey Price broke the .800 barrier. And some of his saves were simply brilliant. You could tell he wanted to show off his talent as much as the forwards.

As unpolished and even awkward as he seems when answering questions from the press, he is comfortable to the utmost when between the pipes.

Bruins host the Senators Tuesday night.

-The Commodore

NHL All-Star Teams Selected

There's really only two interesting parts of the NHL's All-Star weekend: the draft, and seeing whether or not Chara can break his own fastest shot record. Last night was the draft, with Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and former Senator Zdeno Chara picking teams.

Not surprisingly, all the Slovaks and Bruins wound up on Chara's team. All the Swedes and Senators found their way to Alfredsson's team. Carey Price will also be on Team Chara. So will Dennis Wideman. No Canucks wound up with Chara.

But Phil Kessel did. I'm so glad Kessel is not on the Bruins. He puts up impressive numbers (except against the B's), but he's such an awkward creep. Chara's assistant captain for the draft was Toronto's Joffrey Lupul, so the Maple Leaf connection saved PK81 from more shame.

So Tim Thomas, Tyler Seguin, and Zdeno Chara will be on the same team. I'm going to predict that Thomas will allow 4 or 5 goals (no defense in the All-Star Game), Chara will win Fastest Shot, and Seguin will get a hat-trick.

-The Commodore

The Foligno/Smith Video

Here's the video from the game tonight vs Phoenix where the game tying goal by Alfie was called off after a ridiculously bad call of goaltender interference was called on Nick Foligno. The video says it all. I have no words on how badly they dropped the ball on this.

Thoughts?

Alfredsson Mural

Yep those are post it stickers made into an Alfie mural in the market. The All Star Game must be getting close. Only a few more days now. The city is getting excited.

Alfredsson All Star Jersey Available Tomorrow

Daniel Alfredsson in his 2012 All Star Jersey for the the first time

Now that we know that Team Alfredsson will be sporting the white and red jerseys at next week's All Star Game, many of you have been asking me on Twitter and by email when they will be available to purchase. Well I contacted the Senators front office and they told me that starting tomorrow afternoon they will be available at The Sens Store at Scotiabank Place and at their other locations starting on Friday.

Update @ 7pm: 

I have talked to the people at the Sens org some more and there will be a limited amount of Alfie replica All Star jerseys available at The Sens Store at SBP starting at noon tomorrow and more will be made continuously until the All Star Game weekend and they will go for $249.99+taxes, which is at least $50 more than the usual name and numbered Sens jerseys. They will also have authentic on ice All Star Alfie jerseys available next week in time for the weekend and they will retail for $379.99+tax.

All In The Family. Karlsson To Go #1.

And with this declaration all of Leaf nation is going insane no doubt. Plus with Chara as the other captain, the Leaf players may be waiting awhile to hear their name called next Thursday at the draft.

Alfredsson and Chara Named All Star Captains

The 2012 All Star Game in just over a week away now and things are starting to get rolling here in Ottawa, so it comes as no surprise that the 2 All Star captains were named today and they are both very familiar to Sens fans. One of course is Ottawa legend and the franchise, Daniel Alfredsson, while the other is former Senator Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. The draft takes place next Thursday the 26th at the Casino de Lac Lemy in Gatineau. I like the choices personally. Team Alfredsson will wear the white and red, while Team Chara will wear the blue uni's.

Thoughts?

All Star Reaction Video

How did Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek and Erik Karlsson react when they found out they were voted in as starters to the All Star Game? Watch the video to find out. It's cool to see how happy they were.

Mission Accomplished

It's official! Four Ottawa Senators players will be in the starting lineup for the 2012 All Star Game here in Ottawa. Alfie, Spezza, Michalek and Karlsson all were voted in as starters for the end of January game. Erik Karlsson was the leading vote getter in the whole league with 940k votes. Congratulations to the quartet.

Thoughts?

Alfredsson Family Portrait

Many of you had noticed that Daniel Alfredsson had grown his stache long after movember ended, and if you didn't know, it was in order to have a family picture at Christmas time with his dad Hasse and brother Henrik. Here are the glorious results. I have to say it came out pretty well. Long live the stache.

Thoughts?

400

Alfie Scores 400th In OT Comeback Win

Was there any doubt that Daniel Alfredsson would score his 400th career goal in style? The Sens got down 3-0 in the first period and Alex Auld was awful yet again, before the Sens snapped back to life and Craig Anderson held down the fort for a 4-3 comeback overtime win off the stick of the one and only Alfie.

Other thoughts from the game:

• What a goal by Karlsson to tie the game and awesome to see him so excited for Alfie's 400th.
• I thought Brian Lee had a very solid game for him.
• Alex Auld was bad again.
• While he still hasn't scored, I thought Turris had another decent game.
• Zack Smith scored on a very nice shot. He's one of my faves on the team.
• Cowen had another quiet but very solid game. Very underrated attention wise for rookies in my opinion.
• Foligno had another hard working game. You've go to be impressed with his effort all the time.
• Good to see Condra was ok after that potentially dangerous hit.
• I thought the reffing was off tonight as well.
• Great comeback and awesome to see them compete when they easily could have shut it down after being down 3-0 after 1 with a game coming up tomorrow. Team has a lot of heart.

For a recap from The Citizen's James Gordon click here.

Daniel Alfredsson posing with the puck he scored number 400 with after the game via Stuntman Stu's twitter.

Thoughts?

Sens Beat Pens

The Sens got back in the win column tonight, winning a wild one against Pittsburgh 6-4 with several Sens having very big nights. Rookie stay at home defenceman Jared Cowen had a goal and 3 helpers, while Jason Spezza 2 of each to vault him into 3rd overall in the NHL scoring race. Erik Karlsson also had a big night with 3 assists and #11 had a goal and 2 helpers as well. Alex Auld was his usual subpar self but all's well that ends well and the Sens got the important 2 points.

The Legend Turns 39

A very happy 39th birthday goes out to the one, the only, the captain, the legend, the franchise Daniel Alfredsson, who in 1972 was born today in Gothenburg, Sweden. As a birthday gift, remember to vote for him as much as you can for the upcoming all star game. Bonne anniversaire Alfie!

Alfie Out With Concussion Problems

Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson will be out a minimum of a week after suffering a concussion on a cheap shot elbow to the head at the hands of the Rangers' Wolski on Saturday afternoon. Alfie, who missed the game on Sunday as well, will be re-evaluated in a weeks time, though there is no guarantee he will be back then. What a shame to happen to him of all people and the stunning part is there was no suspension handed out to Wolski after the NHL spent all pre season bombarding us with suspensions.





In case you missed it, here is the hit from multiple angles. I mean I don't know what more Brendan Shannahan and the NHl are looking for. It's pretty black and white to me. A clear cheap shot that deserved suspension.

Ian Mendes tweeted this about the Alfie hit, which wouldn't be all that newsworthy normally other than because it's from Mendes, who for the record is my favorite Sens media guy, but it got a player to respond.........

Former Sen Mike Fisher retorted and I think it says it all about the NHL's consistency. Smarten up and fast.


Thoughts on the Alfie injury?

Heritage Jersey New Look

Here's another view of the new heritage jersey that will be fully unveiled on Saturday morning. Looks sharp.

Heritage Jersey Teaser

We're getting closer.

Good News

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20th Anniversary Promo Posters

 

More material from Thursday's 20th season anniversary launch, this time 3 promo posters that feature the new Hockey Makes Us slogan. The posters feature current Senator Chris Neil, living legend Daniel Alfredsson and HOFer Frank Nighbor, and I have to say I like the look of them and the slogan used with different adjectives is much better than Hockey Makes Us on its own.

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