Poolsider Report: Sens/Ducks from the Honda

Poolsider reporting from Honda Center...

When was the last time you saw a coached tossed? Or two unsportsmanlike penalties from refs who lost complete control of it by the second period? Alfredsson's out indefinitely with an upper-body injury thanks to a blatant crosscheck from Beauchemin directly in front of one of the zebras...with no call.

Add up one superb goaltending performance by Jiggy, and it resulted in a bitter, but spirited, 3-1 loss to Ducks. Never mind. I thought the Sens played a couple of good periods, showing some of the spunk they last displayed against Detroit in January....7 weeks ago!

Perhaps it was because 'Friends" star and Ottawa superfan Matthew Perry was in the barn? Nah, this game was lost in the early moments of the third when Giguere played like Gump Worsley stopping Spezza point-blank several times. The Gerber baby played well. So did the new acquisitions, Lapointe and Stillman. Sorry, but can't say the same about Redden, who might have to play in Germany next year...because no other team will want him.

Like they did last June, the big Duck D shut us down as well...prompting one SoCal hack from the cheap seats to remark, "look familiar...from last spring?" This from a guy who pronounced Jason's name as "SpEEza" and called Emery a "flake." (Well, he was half right...).

Whatever, Murray's tossing might be what this placid squad needs right now...as they attempt to discover whether they're the team of 2007 or the one that suffered four consecutive playoff losses to the Leafs.

Poolsider signing out...and heading back to the 80F weather in Palm Springs...