Sens still outaged, goons go unclaimed, Canucks finally to be tested

  Can one be shocked by the outrage in Ottawa this week. Already missing Jason Spezza, Peter Regin, Milan Michalek and Guillaume Latendresse due to injuries; Wednesday’s injury to Norris defenseman Erik Karlsson for 3-4 months due the Achilles surgery cut the teams hopes a playoff berth in half. When one sits back and thinks about the consequences for the team, this easily could mean them losing millions of dollars(if they do not make the playoffs).

    Senators owner Eugene Melynk had a candid conversion with the Ottawa Sun. “I’m very upset, actually more than upset, I’m outraged that in this day and age this continues. It’s something that never should have happened. This player should never be playing in this league. It’s a league for elite players,” said Melnyk. “Get him in the Central League. He can be a $60, 000 a year guy playing pickup hockey there.”

    Melynk went onto say how he wants goons out of the league. “I’m on the record when Spezza got hurt and I said one day it’s going to be somebody’s else’s superstar and sure enough within 60 days Crosby got taken out.” What I find hypocritical is how recent the Senators employed Matt Carkner and Zenon Konopka, and still employee Chris Neil.

    I for one agree with him sort of, I personally get sick of Matt Cooke and the Penguins keep saying it was an accident. It’s not the first nor last time we’ll hear this song and dance from the Penguins and Cooke.

“Goons” falling by the waste side

   This week was not a good week for one that likes the toughguy. Both the Oilers Darcy Hordichuk and Wild forward Matt Kassian went unclaimed on waivers. Hordichuk has been used sparingly this season and when he has played has been horrible. The writing was on the wall for Kassian when the Wild acquired Mike Rupp. 

One would assume Jody Shelley is due to be waived. The former Blue Jacket has played one game; but has seen as many as five players be recalled and play from the AHL farm team.

   The next tougher player to be on the way out could be the Flames visor wearing Tim Jackman. He’s been a healthy scratch this season, something he wasn’t all of last year. The main reason why he could be done sooner rather than later is continuous softness. Being down 4-0 after 1 period of play, Jackman continued to play a soft game, refusing to challenge Blues enforcer Ryan Reaves.

Canucks to be tested

    All the uproar in Vancouver these days is the return of Ryan Kesler and the team six game winning streak. The fact remains five of six wins have been versus the Northwest Division; (6-0-1 this season vs the NW). Nobody aside from the Canucks have made the playoffs for two years in the (NW). Against the Pacific Division they've gone 2-2-1, the next eight games starting tonight is against the Central and Pacific Division.