S4 - Episode 14: Michael Sharp Goes Underground!

We got ourselves a guest for this show. In this week’s Behind the Jock segment, we have Bingo reporter Michael Sharp, who writes for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton. He can also be read online at pressconnects.com. Michael delves in the B-Sens with us, recapping the first half of their season, giving us some insight into some of the prospects we’ve seen and some we haven’t. He also tells us how Gerber is adjusting to his new digs. With not much to be hopeful for now in the big league, it’s always good to get a look at the future.

Then we have our boys. The record this week was 2-2 but even the wins didn’t thrill us:

Washington 2 – Ottawa 3
New Jersey 4 – Ottawa 1
Ottawa 3 – St.Louis 1
Ottawa 0 – Columbus 1

What no one will mistake the games this week for is entertainment. The Columbus game was as close to slow death as we ever want to come to. But we had some off ice stuff to spice up the week as Melnyk once again decided the world needed to hear from him and the response to his ill-chosen words was somewhat less than he expected. Let’s just say his pep talk “bombed”. Mike Commodore had some choice words for his old GM and team that caused a bit of a stir. Even some Sens players had some things to say after their Jersey loss that had us less than impressed. The first significant benching of the year, Jason Smith, stirs the Underground pot this episode. Lots of opinions on that. At least it all helps to distract from the poo on the ice.

News, emails, showers and the reason fathers tend to drink too much round out the show. And Russell WILL be keeping an eye on Stooli whenever his daughter is around from now on.

Cheers and Bawls!

S4 - Episode 14: Michael Sharp Goes Underground!

S4 - Episode 13: Just for the Hell of it, Elliot!

Hey again, Undergrounders! We’re back with your weekly, sort of, Ottawa Senators podcast and this week things are a little happier. WE FINALLY WON SOME GAMES!! Not only that, but the boys looked pretty damn good doing it!

Has hell frozen over? No, just Ottawa. Damn it’s cold! But after a decent week, our cockles are just a little bit warmer:

Ottawa 4 – Boston 6
New York rangers 2 – Ottawa 0
Carolina 1 – Ottawa 5
Ottawa 3 – Atlanta 2
Montreal 5 – Ottawa 4 SO

We got a little bit of everything out of the Sens this week, topped off by an incredible end to the Montreal game. The wins and excitement were a far cry from earlier in the week when we saw Hartsburg calling out the stars and Murray threatening big moves. Whenever trades get mentioned, it always seems that Jason Spezza is right in the middle of the talk but after his play of late, he really has given us, and especially Murray, a lot to think about. Your e-mails repeated asked the same question; can you risk losing this guy? We discuss.

What is no longer a question is Martin Gerber’s future. He’s off to Bingo and his days with the Sens are certainly done and maybe even his days in the NHL. But not before we get into one last rowdy tiff over him.

This, of course, lead to the recall of Brian Elliot from Bingo and the young man did just fine. We take a closer look at his debut.

Stooli does his thing with the news, a pile of e-mails and wee bit of silliness at the end of the show involving our love for you and facial hair.

Note to the Underground poolies: Don’t forget to e-mail me (Russell) sub picks before midnight Sunday, Jan. 25th.

Rise up Tank Army!

S4 - Episode 13: Just for the Hell of it, Elliot!

S4 - Episode 12: Nothing Changes on New Years Day

Let’s get this out of the way first. Happy New Year!

We here at the Underground hope 2009 will be a great year for all of you and your families and we certainly hope it’s started off better for you than it did for the Sens.

The road trip from hell is all but over and, as expected, the little team that couldn’t has very little to show for it. All our fears have come true as we have seen the Sens cement themselves further and further into the basement floor. Last place isn’t far now but that Tavares kid sure does look good!

Because of our extended time off, we have 7 games to cover this week:

Ottawa 4 – Philly 6
Ottawa 3 – Calgary 6
Ottawa 0 – Vancouver 3
Ottawa 3 – Edmonton 2
Ottawa 2 – Toronto 4
Ottawa 3 – Jersey 4
Ottawa 2 – Buffalo 4

Ahhh, the Buffalo game. Now there was a game you can sink your teeth into! Or at least Ruutooth thought so. That’s what it’s come to. The most entertainment we get now is when one of our players goes Tyson.

Apart from the regular e-mails, News and bitching, we take a look at the culture of the Ottawa Senators. What do we lack that some of the legendary teams have? Changes seem to be in the wind but what can Murray realistically do? Should he do anything? Should he be one of the changes? Can a dedicated Sens fan want their team to finish last and get that #1 pick? All these questions give us headaches this week. We also award the prize for the latest contest, “give the Sens a new logo”.  Lots of great entries on this one. We so proud of you all!

And speaking of proud, congrats to the Canadian Juniors, 5 time champions! You guys rock our world! Gold, Jerry, GOLD!

S4 - Episode 12: Nothing Changes on New Years Day

A New Contest!

Christmas is the time for giving and we at the Underground are no different. So, I take this opportunity to give to you some stuff that has been sitting on the floor in my house for the better part of a year.

Yes, you now have the chance to win the last of the Sens Fan Packs that we received last year from the Ottawa Senators. These packs include:

1 Sens Army T-shirt
1 Sens Army car window sticker
1 Sens lapel pin
Several packs of Sens hockey cards
1 Sens pom pom
1 unused ticket from last spring's playoffs for game 6 that never happened.(I'm throwing that in)
Unchallenged bragging rights in the Sens Underground.

What do you have to do for these fabulous prizes? We are asking you to help us out with finding the Sens a new slogan. A few years ago it was "Be Red". Not so creative. Last year it was "One Mission". That lasted One Round. This year's "A Force United" has done nothing but unite us with the bottom dwellers such as the Leafs and the Thrashers so we think it's time for a change. All you have to do is send us your suggestions for a new logo more reflective of this year's Sens. For example:

Sens Army: Tanking For Tavares
or
Sens Army: Quit Whining or We'll Bring Back Yashin.

We'll be selecting a winner during the first show of the new year so you have about 2 weeks to get your entries in. Send them to Russell.

Hey, when things are this bad, you have to have some fun with it, right?

Good luck, season's best to you all.

S4 - Episode 11: Merry Christmas Undergrounders

Welcome to episode 11 everyone, a little something to listen to on your iPods as you wander through the malls, doing your Christmas shopping. If any of you happen to spot a little magic pill out there that we can give to the Sens to get them out of this season-long funk, please pick it up and send us the bill. Hartsburg and Murray have as much as admitted that they don’t know what’s wrong with these guys so maybe all that’s left is a little Christmas miracle.

Three more games this week and outside of a so-so win in OT over Dallas, it was yet another forgettable week for the Sens:

Atlanta 4 – Ottawa 1
Ottawa 1 – News Jersey 5
Dallas 4 – Ottawa 5 OT

Where they found those 5 goals against Dallas, we have no idea. My God, even Vermette scored in that one! And Gator with the winner??? But the down side is that we lost our captain to a non-called boarding infraction which once again leads us to wonder where the NHL’s priorities are when it comes to penalties. Maybe more disturbing is the fact that we are once again left wondering where the team was after said hit. No one did anything about it. Where have we heard that before?

Hartsburg shook up the lines, bag skated them, threatened them and once again we saw a team unable to respond to the challenge. So what’s left, we ask ourselves this week. And if you really believe, as we do, that there is talent on this team, then why do we so rarely see it any more? Is the answer all in their attitudes? Are they still too comfortable? That and more Jason Spezza trade talk also make the cut in this week’s Open Ice.

The News, your e-mails, some Christmas cheer and a new contest for you all to participate in this week. We will be taking next week off so get out your note pads while watching this long road trip the Sens are on. There will be a test when we return two weeks from now.

We wish you, our Underground family, and all of your families the best during the holiday season. Raise a glass to the Sens and hope the goodwill brings us some good luck in the New Year.

Peace!

S4 - Episode 11: Merry Christmas Undergrounders