Senators need Alfredsson and Fisher ASAP

It doesn't matter who the Senators put on the ice in this series because the Penguins are simply the dominant team. Together they have gelled and can put in a solid 60 minutes of hockey every night. Right now, the Senators are lucky to get 5 minutes of such play. Be it 5-on-5, power play, penalty kill, raw goal scoring, play making, defense or goaltending, in each category they have the Senators beat. The Senators team from a year ago would be able to compete against this year's Penguins in some of those categories, but I would still give the Penguins the edge in that series too!

This has nothing to do with Alfie and Fisher and now Spezza rather now it has do to with the delinquet Ray Emery. His self cenetredness and unconcious choices have taken a toll on the team, considering he was their main goalie. Thats like Patrick Roy playing for the Avs and he happens to miss a pratice and a couple of games because of a court date and then slacks his @$$ off (I mean no offence Roy, you are an awesome goal tender, its just that your name popped up first). That is going to kill the teams spirit, and the fact that Emery is still with the Sens is rather disheartning. The sens can win games with keyplayers, but their spirits are down. That is why they are waiting for Alfie, to help give them that motivation. If Spezza is out, The pens have a easy road to the second, but could struggle in the next round if they play either Boston or Montreal. Right now, Ottawa is in the oven, stuffed with stuffing and is slow roasting at 250 Celcius and is only waiting till its done cooking.

It is my understanding that all Professional Hockey Players in the most elite hockey league in the world are Professionals?
Why can't the sens pick up the pieces and move on without alfie, fisher, kelly?
Are these guys really that important?
I know I wouldnt want them on my team, in fact i might dump some of the guys who can't seem to get along without them?

i think you are wrong even if all the sens arew back ,it won,t matter,the kids are better now and faster,and have better goaltending,one comment i have Don,is dont run the goalies,you would not like that if you were between the pipes

ALEX FRAZER

This is true. I watched Game one expecting to see Ottawa play amazing hockey, but in turn, no. They played sloppy and disorganized. Crosby and the Pens are playing with only one things or their mind; winnning the cup. I think the sens need to stop hoping that Alfredson and Fisher return sooner, and start focusing on plausible chance on advancing to the cup. Ottawa is no push over team, but their thinking is causing them to play like push overs.

What was with Don's comments on April 9th that running the goalie was a legitimate strategy? In minor hockey, especially at the Midget level, we have enough trouble keeping the games under control without someone running the goalie. When this does occur, it inevitably leads to a parade of cheap shots, fighting, suspensions, and, often, injuries. I worry especially for the goalies because they focus on the puck, are unable to prepare themselves for a collision, and are at high risk of concussions. Not only that, deliberately injuring a goalie is cheating... is that really what we want to condone? Now we just had 2 million kids told by Canada's hockey guru that this is what they should do. Way to go, Don...

Even if Fisher and Alfredsson were 100%, the fact Bling-Bling Boy-Emery disrupted the Senator's rythm half-way though the season, compounded with the front office getting rid of the wrong person - Padock; the season was doomed then.

Ian "Grand Master Flash Daddi "I"

I remember Mr Cherry from his days in Kingston and he is one of the best THANKS

I'm a Torontanian by birth and moved my family to Victoria in 1995. The only thing I miss about Toronto is going to the Leaf games.
I have been watching hockey night in Canada since I was a pup when Foster Hewitt hosted HNIC.
Even out here in Victoria Don Cherry and Ron MacLean
"ARE" hockey night in Canada- period.
When they are on in the 1st intermission they have everyone's attention. That is the one and only time during the telecast that myself and my buddies shut up and don't leave the room for a cold wobbly pop. We don't want to miss one word they say.Ron is the best 2nd banana in the business and Don is the most respected, recognized, knowledgable, and admired hockey figure with everyone that I know.Don Cherry is the apitamy of hockey-end of story.
Mike

i got a great solution to the alfie fisher kelly problem.. i think murray should call Dallas Cowboys wr Terrell owens and ask if they can borrow his hyberbaric chamber.. if it does what it did for t.o the boys will be back by monday... i know as far out as they come.. but it is a point to nhl teams.. maybe time to catch up to some more modern healing practices

Hello Mr. Cherry,

My little daughter Bailey, who is 6 today and has autism, was watching Coaches Corner on St. Patrick's Day. She had been instructed that week to wear green to school, but when I handed her a green t-shirt that morning, she said, "No, this isn't what I want to wear - I want a St. Patrick's Day suit!" She's quite particular about what she wants! I didn't think anymore about it until you came on the screen that night, in your shiny green suit with yellow accessories. Bailey's face just lit up when she saw you. "Mommy, that's the suit I wanted!!" she said. She might not understand much about hockey yet, but she knows what she likes when she sees it! Thought you might enjoy the little story.

God Bless, Deanna Froese

i have never played the game of hockey even though it is a passion of mine, but i did grow up in the game of football.. and one thing i have to say is u look at playoffs in any other sport and u see players sucking up alot of pain and play throuhg broken bones and torn muscles.. and this happens in most conact sports.. and we have seen i in playoff pasts in the nhl as well namely i don't think any canadian can forget what stevie y did for detroit a few years back.. that showed pure heart and devotion to winning and overcoming.. i mean the man played on one leg.. which brings me to my next point.. as a die hard senators fan i have to admit how very disapointed with what is going on with the likes of fisher and alfredson right now, i think they are great players, but i am questioning their determination right now.. if stevie y could skate through the plaoffs on 1 leg and still be a contributer i have a hard time beliveing these 2 backbone players for the sens can suck it up and contribute some.. gotta remember it's do or die. it's gut check time and i think showing some heart and lacing them might just inspire their teamates... alfy needs to dow hat he did last year.. lead by example but u can't lead from the box...i belive we are still good enough and still have enough in the tank to give it a run in these 08 playoffs but we need a leader on the ice right now. not in the stands with us

Last time a Canadian hockey team won the Stanley Cup - '93 Montreal Canadiens. We (Baker Lake) travelled 300 miles, via snowmobile to join the Netsilik Cup,in Gjoa Haven, NU.

Carrying with us; gears, gas, grub, and players on the sled. It took us 3 days to reach our destination, travelling with a large group.
We won the tournament, losing only one round robin game.

I would like to say hello to my friends and family back home in Baker Lake, that were part of this hockey story, that I've been meaning to send the last few years.

Hoping a Canadian team will finally bring back Lord Stanley home.

Good luck!

Moses Kayuryuk
Kugluktuk, NU

Agreed.. everyone can remember watching Yzerman carry his team in the playoffs on one busted leg. That is heart and determination.

After being in the finals, the Senators have to remember what that was like and take their game to another level and the person to take the entire team to that level is Alfie.. Get him back if he can walk, he can skate..

Jim

I'm taking Montreal.Calgary will go up 2-0,Hasek better not get smoked,pulled,lit up,We are all on pins and needles about Red Wings Goalies,Jimmy Howard deserves a shot.Memphis always comes at us hard in the 1st.PS did Montreal take Darcy Tuckers teeth in the 1st last game????????

I agree with Don, If the Sens had Alfie alone it would be a different team completely. He is the captain for a reason, he leads that team on so many levels! I hope that he makes it back just so it is a series worth watching. For the record, GO LEAFS!!!

I wish Grapes was right, but as good as Alfie and Fisher are, they don't make up for the lack of defence. And I wouldn't want to see Alfie carry Ottawa on his back again.
We need to rebuild with young talent.

Go Sens Go

Beautiful coat Grapes!!!! I'm not sure it can get much better than that one. I can't wait to see what you wear tonight. GO WINGS!