S7 - Episode 9: Del Boca Vista, Here We Come!

Anyone know a good retirement home?

Yes, the time has come. After 6 seasons and a bit, we at the Underground have made a very difficult decision; season 7 will be our final season doing our podcast. Why? 7 just seems like a nice number? We want to catch up on our reading? We want to spend more time metal detecting on the beaches of Florida? While all these things are true, we did think long and hard about this and it makes sense to us for a lot of reasons. We'll lay these out for you in this episode and we're sure you'll hear lots more about it as the season moves along.

But there's a ton of Sens talk to be talked before we ride off into the virtual sunset. Now that Russell is back from his tropical slacking, the show returns with two weeks worth of games:

Sens 3 - Pens 6

Canes 3 - Sens 4

Sens 6 - Jets 4

Sens 2 - Dallas 3

Sens 2 - Washington 3 OT

Tampa 2 - Sens 4

So the Sens are now back home for the majority of the month after a successful road trip that saw them finish above .500%, a fine accomplishment for a supposedly "last place team". They are still sitting in a play-off position with a great chance to move up during this home stand. If that doesn't put a smile on a Sens fan's face, you're actually a Leaf fan.

Other than that, we discuss a truck-load of stuff this week, including the futures of Butler and Filitov and who's more deserving of a roster spot. Also on the table, Kenopka's role on the team, Spezza 1.5, re-alignment, the schedule for next season, the 20th aniversary of the awarding of the Ottawa franchise....it just goes on and on!

We round it all out with a few e-mails, some stories of Russell's problems with personal space, a new poll question and even a grudging nod from Stooli to Philips. The end must be near!

Please enjoy the show; it's all inclusive.

S7 - Episode 9: Del Boca Vista, Here We Come!

This Week's Show

This week's show will be recorded on Tuesday evening. There's no game that night so it fits well. Also, we'll be making a major announcement regarding Sens Underground.

Cheers!

S7 - Episode 8: How the West Was (almost) Won.

It wasn't a western sweep but it was pretty damn good for a team that wasn't supposed to be able to beat anyone, anywhere! 5 out of 6 points would be considered very successful for any team so all of us Sens fans should be grinning ear to ear this week.

The final two games of the western swing played out as such:

Sens 5 - Oilers 2

Sens 1 Vancouver 2 OT

So where does that leave the Sens? Hovering right around the magical 8th spot, thank you very much! And being that we're right about the quarter pole, we figure tonight is a good opportunity to look back at what we thought would have to happen for the Sens to contend for a play-off spot and compare it to what has actually happened. Some of the results are fairly predictable but what is surprising is that the Sens have excelled despite some things not going to plan.

Filatov don't do good attitude. Yes, it seems like we may have crapped out on the gamble Murray took at the draft in acquiring yet another Russian enigma. However, the GM has given Niki baby one last chance at an NHL career. The question we pose tonight is does he even want one? On the topic of malcontents, we also explore the Turris to Ottawa rumours.

We know that some of your favourite moments on the show over the years have been the Stooil vs Shredder rants. But tonight, we have a twist; Stooli vs Russell! The old Crosby or OV debate resurfaces tonight and Shreds gets to sit back for a change and watch the other two go at it. Also, we question the handling of one David Rundblad and wonder why he's spending so much time filling his face in the pressbox instead of filling the net in Bingo.

We pound out a few e-mails, flip and flop, swallow our pride for a die-hard groundhog and even revive an old favourite segment.

If we were you, we'd set aside the whole damn week and just keep playing this episode over and over. Why? Because.......well, leafs suck. That's as good a reason as any.

S7 - Episode 8: How the West Was (almost) Won.

S7 - Episode 7: James Gordon Goes Underground.

Once a season, we like to bring in Ottawa Citizen Sens reporter James Gordon because... he just gets us. He's kind of like our 5th Beatle. James is the engine behind the Senators Extra section of the Ottawa Citizen's online presence and has a very Underground-ish style to him so he fits in perfectly with us. James helps us cover all sorts of Sens topics such as what to do with the extra bodies on the blue line, Murray's alleged search for a forward, Filatov's behavioural problems and some of the strong showings by the noobs on the team. As always, he does a great job.

Of course, we give you a run-down of the week that was for the Sens:

NYR 3 - Sens 2

Sens 1 - Slugs 5

Sens 5 - Screaming Trees 2

Sens 3 - Flames 1

So, again this week we see Ottawa winning the games they have a legitimate shot at. That, my friends, is a very acceptable state of affairs! Anderson had a rough outing but bounced back very strong. Alfie made his return and though it took a game or two for him to get going, when he did, he gave us a little bit of that old Swedish magic. Bobby Butts finally reported to the scorer's sheet and did it in style. They kicked the crap out of the Screaming Trees! So many great little bits of stuff to be optimistic about!

We also give you our thoughts on a few of the happenings around the league this week, namely the debacle that was the Philly-Tampa chess match and the demo job Lucic did on Miller. Once again, the NHL's and Shanahan's handling of this incident leaves us all scratching our heads but even more baffling is Dean Brown's blog that reveals an unbelievable twist to this story. You won't believe your ears.

And, as always, we throw in a few of your e-mails, the mandatory Stooli-Shredder arguement, a new poll question, sprinkle it all with a little cheese and off you go.

Enjoy!

S7 - Episode 7: James Gordon Goes Underground.

S7 - Episode 6: The Chili Underground

Sometimes on this show, things just kind of go off the rails and we find ourselves talking about things we never planned to and have nothing to do with the Sens. This was one of those shows. Somehow or other, we got talking about Stooli's Hellfire chili and the next thing we know, he's ordering up Ghost chilis on the the web. So, it kind of became a thread on this show. Don't ask us why, these things just happen.

This is not to say there isn't some fine, quality Sens/hockey talk this week. We kick things of by covering the two games the Sens played this week:

Habs 2 - Sens 1

Slugs 3 - Sens 2 (SO)

So, not great results for the boys this week but they were right there in both games. These divisional games are obviously a much tougher test for Ottawa but they're not getting blown out and the goals against are coming down, so things are improving. I think we Sens fans can live with that.

We also meander into various other topics such as Kenopka's leadership qualities, an Alfie update, Filatov's flop, doucher vs the no longer relaxing Milan, and the ever-present bashing of crappy reffing. We also weigh-in on the George Laraque steroid discussion and debate one of Russell's pet peeves; the anonymous source in sports reporting.

Your e-mails, a new poll question and a rather threatening voice mail from a "friend" of Shanahan have this show over flowing like a steaming bowl of chili. Warning: lube not included.

Aaaaaannnnd, go!

S7 - Episode 6: The Chili Underground