2007–08 Ottawa Senators season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=2007–08
Team=Ottawa Senators
Conference=Eastern
ConferenceRank=7th
Division=Northeast
DivisionRank=2nd
Record=43–31–8
HomeRecord=22–15–4
RoadRecord=21–16–4
GeneralManager=Bryan Murray
Coach=John Paddock (Oct-Feb)
Bryan Murray (Feb-Apr)
Captain=Daniel Alfredsson
AltCaptain=Chris Phillips
Wade Redden
Arena=Scotiabank Place
Attendance=19,821 (103.5%)
GoalsLeader=Dany Heatley (41)
AssistsLeader=Jason Spezza (58)
PointsLeader=Jason Spezza (92)
PlusMinusLeader=Dany Heatley (+33)
PIMLeader=Chris Neil (199)
WinsLeader=Martin Gerber (30)
GAALeader=Martin Gerber (2.72)The 2007–08 Ottawa Senators season began on October 3, 2007 in Toronto against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the Ottawa Senators' 15th season in the National Hockey League.

The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was held in Columbus, Ohio on June 22–23, and the Sens used their first round pick, 29th overall, to select James O'Brien.

Prior to the season, the Senators changed their staff, promoting Bryan Murray to general manager, and John Paddock to coach. Previous general manager John Muckler did not accept another position with the Senators and resigned. Two players, Mike Comrie and Tom Preissing, left as free agents and Peter Schaefer was traded to Boston for Shean Donovan.

Pre-season

In the pre-season, a major incident occurred in the game against the Philadelphia Flyers on September 25. Early in the second period, forward Dean McAmmond was hit in the head by Steve Downie of the Flyers. Downie was given a "match" penalty with automatic suspension. McAmmond was diagnosed with a concussion. Four Flyer players were injured in the match, won by the Senators by two goals. [cite web|title=McAmmond injured in Senators win|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/news_story/?ID=219200&hubname=nhl-senators|accessdate=2007-09-28] Steve Downie was eventually suspended for 20 games for the hit, [ [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=219415&hubname=nhl TSN report] ] also adding a 9 game suspension from the NHL's affiliate, the American Hockey League.The Senators won all seven of their pre-season games, and were the only NHL team to do so that year. [ [http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPHaYItfFDeMzFXq7YjDqhxepoyg Canadian Press: Ottawa Senators beat Washington Capitals to cap unbeaten pre-season] ]

Regular season

The Senators opened the regular season with two straight wins over their rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Battle of Ontario. The season opener at Toronto ended in overtime with right winger Dany Heatley notching two goals and an assist to start the season off 1–0–0. That afternoon, Heatley also agreed to a new contract, a six year, $45 million deal. [cite web
url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2007/10/03/senators_heatley/
title=Heatley, Sens get deal done
author=Pierre LeBrun] The Senators earned another win the following day in their home opener, with captain Daniel Alfredsson scoring two goals. Before the game, the 2007 Eastern Conference Champions banner was raised to the rafters of Scotiabank Place.

The Sens went undefeated to start the season until the streak was snapped in their sixth game with a 5–3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, on October 11. In a later win vs. Montreal, rookie and draft pick Nick Foligno scored his first NHL goal off a wrap-around attempt on Carey Price. He celebrated the goal by imitating his father Mike's signature goal celebration, a high jump.

After a 8–1 record to start the season, and with a one week break, head coach John Paddock organized a team retreat to the Muskoka area starting on October 21.cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/story.html?id=9ae1ae26-02af-411e-aa82-8c0071c1407e
title=Senators about to go on vacation
publisher=Ottawa Citizen
author=Allen Panzeri
date=2007-10-15] With their win over the Maple Leafs on November 6, 2007, the Senators set a team record by recording their eighth consecutive win. They also set an NHL record for the best start to a season after 14 games.cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=342481
title=Gerber handles Toronto again
publisher=NHL.com
author=Brian Compton
date=2007–11–06]

Also on November 6, six Senators were named to the All-Star Game ballot: Daniel Alfredsson, Ray Emery, Dany Heatley, Chris Phillips, Wade Redden and Jason Spezza. The most from any one team in the NHL. [cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=342385
title=League-high six players from red-hot Senators featured in XM/NHL All-Star Fan Balloting|publisher=NHL.com|date=November 6, 2007] As of December 5, 2007 Daniel Alfredsson trails only Sidney Crosby in the Eastern Conference voting for forwards with 119,825 votes. [cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/05/sports/HKN-NHL-All-Star-Voting.php
title=NHL 2008 All-Star Voting|publisher=IHT.com|date=December 5, 2007]

After a 4 – 2 win against Montreal, the Senators entered into a 7–game losing skid (0–4–3) recording 3 points, matching a record for straight losses set in the 1995–96 season. The Sens then rebounded with a 6–game winning streak.

On January 2, 2008, coach Paddock was named to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team [cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/01/02/babcock-paddock-allstarcoaches.html?ref=rss| publisher=CBC |title=Babcock, Paddock named NHL all-star coaches |date=January 2, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-03] and Jason Spezza was named the NHL's number one star for the month of December. [cite web |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=226329&hubname= |title=Spezza earns First Star for December |date=January 2, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-03] On January 8, 2008 Daniel Alfredsson was named to the starting lineup for the All-Star game, based on fan voting. [cite web |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=226751&hubname=nhl |title=Luongo, Iginla among All-Star starters |date=January 8, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-08 |publisher=TSN.ca |author=TSN staff] He is the first Senator ever to be voted to the starting lineup. Alfredsson will be making his fifth appearance in the All-Star Game. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3186274&campaign=rss&source=NHLHeadlines |title=Crosby top vote-getter, Red Wings with three in starting lineup |date=January 8, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-08 |author=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN]

On January 11, 2008, Alfredsson's 'CASH line' linemates, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza were named to the All-Star Game roster. [cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/allstar/2008/east_roster.html |date=January 11, 2008 |title=2008 Eastern Conference All-Stars |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2008-01-11] They are the first complete line named since 1981, when the "Triple Crown" line of the Los Angeles Kings was named. However due to Heatley's shoulder injury suffered against the Detroit Red Wings earlier in January, he did not dress in the game.

On January 24, 2008 in a game against Tampa Bay, Daniel Alfredsson set a new team record for points in a single game, getting seven points on three goals and four assists. [cite web |accessdate=2008-01-25 |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=228141&hubname= |title=Alfredsson leads Senators over Lightning |author=Canadian Press |publisher=TSN.ca |date=January 25, 2008] This topped the team record of six, done three times, the last time by Alfredsson himself against Buffalo on November 2, 2005. [cite book |title=Ottawa Senators Media Guide 2007–08 |publishers=Ottawa Senators |pages=pg. 168] A six-point game had also been done by Dan Quinn and Radek Bonk. The seven point night put Alfredsson into the overall lead in the scoring race for the all-star break. Also, Alfredsson was named the "First Star" for the week on January 28, 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=78d6f09e-95ee-4b45–880c-52bf76945d43&k=34542 |title=Alfredsson named NHL's first star |publisher=Canada.com |date=January 28, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-28] He was also named Hockey News "Player of the Week" on that same day. [cite web |url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/13027–Player-of-the-Week-Jan-28.html |title=Player of the Week - Jan. 28 |date=January 28, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-29 |publisher=The Hockey News]

On January 28, 2008, Ray Emery arrived late for a practice in New York on the first day back after the All-Star Game. Emery was fined $15,000 and the money was donated to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation. Despite his team's disappointment with his behaviour, it did not stop Emery starting against the Maple Leafs in a nationally-televised game, following Coach Paddock's "lose and you're out" policy of rotating his goaltenders depending on the team winning or losing, and not the goaltender's performance.

Dany Heatley returned from his separated shoulder injury after a month on injured reserve on February 7, 2008, scoring two goals in a win against the Florida Panthers.

On February 8, 2008, The Sports Network (TSN) reported that Wade Redden refused to waive his no-trade clause for a possible deal with the San Jose Sharks. Redden's agent was quoted as saying that "Redden wants to stay in Ottawa and contribute to Ottawa winning the Stanley Cup. [cite web |last=Dreger |first=Darren |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=229197&hubname=nhl |title=Redden refuses to waive no-trade clause|date=February 8, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-08]

On February 11, 2008, the Senators made a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes sending defenceman Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves in exchange for forward Cory Stillman and defenceman Mike Commodore in a trade for "Stanley Cup experience", according to manager Murray. [cite web |url=http://senators.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=353139 |title=Sens add pair of Stanley Cup champs |date=February 11, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-11] Also that day, the NHL announced that Jason Spezza was named "First Star" for the week, after recording 11 points in the previous week's three games.

On February 27, 2008, after a prolonged slump through January and February during which the Senators won only 7 of 21 games, Murray fired head coach Paddock and assistant coach Ron Low, taking over the coaching duties himself. [cite web |title=Murray replaces Paddock as Sens' coach |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230714&hubname=nhl |publisher=TSN.ca |date=February 27, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-27] Both Low and Paddock were offered other jobs within the organization. Murray said he told them to call him in a few weeks. [cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=6f847d9f-0dff-4b28–bcdb-1b361b655b47&k=45237 |title=Coach going long time coming: GM |publisher=The Ottawa Citizen |accessdate=2008-02-28 |date=February 28, 2008]

The Senators trailed Buffalo 3–1 on March 25, 2008 with under eight minutes to play in the third periodbut scored five unanswered goals to win 6–3. It was only the third time in NHL history that a team scored six-or-more goals in a game despite scoring no more than one goal through the first 52:00. [cite book|title=2007-08 Season in review|publisher=Ottawa Senators|year=2008]

The team remained upbeat after the poor play and coaching change. Alfredsson appeared on the cover of the April 1, 2008 issue of The Hockey News, proclaiming "Don't Count Us Out". This was his seventh appearance on the cover of the magazine. [cite web |url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/imgs/dynamique/downloads/THN_cover_counts.pdf |title=THN Cover Count |author=THN staff |date=November 2, 2007 |publisher=The Hockey News |accessdate=2007-11-30] The article interviewed Alfredsson, Fisher and Murray, and discussed the up and down play of the team, and its defensive play which has allowed more goals than previous seasons. [Brophy, pp. 18–22] Wayne Gretzky was quoted about the team: "This might mature them as a team going through this tough patch." [Brophy, pg. 22]

Entering the final week of play, the Senators needed 3 points in 3 games to guarantee a playoff position ahead of the Washington Capitals who held an edge in a tie-breaker between the teams. In the first game, Montreal would defeat the Senators 3–0. According to the Globe and Mail, before the next game on April 3 in Toronto, Ottawa employed the use of sports psychologist Dr. Max Offenberger. [cite web|url=http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080403.wsptsens3/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080403.wsptsens3 |title=Senators trying to hang on |date=April 3, 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-04 |author = David Shoalts |publisher=globesports.com] The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 8–2, but lost Alfredsson and Fisher to injuries, adding to Chris Kelly who was already sidelined. The Capitals continued to win, and it came down to the Senators final game, on April 4 at home against Boston, needing one point to clinch a spot. Despite a 2–1 Senators' loss that night the Carolina Hurricanes fell to the Florida Panthers and the Senators clinched a playoff berth for the 11th straight season.

On April 6, the final day of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins played the Philadelphia Flyers to decide the final seedings and lost 2–0, drawing the Senators as first round opponents. According to Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer it appeared deliberate:

“Two days after Double Clinch Friday came Letdown Sunday. Fans who filled the Wachovia Center expecting a fresh installment of There Will Be Blood got stuck watching Farce of the Penguins instead. No Sidney Crosby, not much effort. The Pittsburgh Penguins paid the Flyers a huge compliment yesterday. They made it embarrassingly clear that they preferred to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs. After skating through the motions of a 2–0 loss to Philadelphia, the Pens will indeed face the Sens.” [cite web |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080407_Phil_Sheridan__Penguins_gave_in_to_gain_Senators_as_foe.html |title=Phil Sheridan: Penguins gave in to gain Senators as foe |date=April 7, 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-07 |author=Phil Sheridan |publisher=Philadelphia Inquirer]

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Game log

December

Record: 9–3–2; Home: 2–2–1; Road: 7–1–1

March

Record: 6–6–2; Home: 3–1–1; Road: 3–5–1

Playoffs

The Ottawa Senators clinched a playoff spot for the 11th straight year, finishing 2nd in the Northeast Division, and 7th in the Eastern Conference. The Senators faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and lost the series 4–0. The result led to speculation in the media that Ray Emery's contract would be bought out and free agents Mike Commodore, Martin Lapointe, Wade Redden, Luke Richardson and Cory Stillman would not return for the 2008–09 season. [cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Playoffs/Ottawa/2008/04/17/5310996-sun.html |title=Questions Sens will soon have to answer |publisher=Slam Sports |author=Stevenson, Chris |date=April 17, 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-17}] GM Bryan Murray was given a public endorsement by owner Eugene Melnyk and is expected to return. [cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Playoffs/Ottawa/2008/04/17/5310991-sun.html |title=Murray the GM staying put |date=April 17, 2008|author=Garrioch, Bruce |publisher=Slam Sports |accessdate=2008-04-17] On April 18, 2008 Murray confirmed to the media in an end-of-season press conference that Emery would not return: "My plan is not to have him back." [cite web |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=234603&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl |title=Murray's plans for Sens don't include Emery |author=TSN.ca staff |publisher=tsn.ca |date=April 18, 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-18]

Player stats

katers

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes"

Players lost to free agency

Farm teams

The Senators continued their affiliation with the Binghamton Senators for the 2007–08 AHL season. The affiliation with the Binghamton Senators extends to the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL.

ee also

*2007–08 NHL season

References

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