Blog World

O.k.  As a die hard Sens fan, anyone who is also in the category knows full well the words 'chokers,' 'instability', and the ever-popular 'goaltending issues.'  Well, after watching my boys lose to the Panthers, despite is being only the 5th game in an 82 game season, I've had enough.  Gerber, you need to go.  PERIOD.

Never mind what the pundits or so-called analysts are always saying about Ottawa's problems and troubles, as fans, we've known FIRSTHAND what ails the Senators and what their achilles heel has always been, except for that brief glimpse of that stacked feeling when Hasek was between the pipes, but that's over and probably best forgotten.  The fact is, seeing as this is the 5th straight game that Gerbs has allowed 3 or more goals not the problem in itself; but rather it's what those 3 goals were!  Letting in softies or tricklers consistently is terrible, not to mention completely deflating to your team mates.  When the onus is put on our top line to score at least 4-5 goals to ensure a victory night in and night out simply because you know you're supposed #1 (and I HATE using that term and Gerber in the same sentence) couldn't be tasked with stopping a beach ball shot from center ice is pathetic at best. 

What's truly boggling is in all fairness, Gerber makes big saves, but for some franked up reason, can't make the easy ones, or the stops that most agree an NHL caliber goalie should be making with little to no effort.  That really throws my mind for a loop.  And to make mattters worse, it seems like Murray has been exhausting all possibilities to replace Gerbs with someone who will at least instill a bit more confidence in the team as a whole, and this particular point brings me to another thought: remember the 2 opener games in Sweden?  Think back, as clearly and unbiasedly as possible...  Now, close your eyes and picture how the team played in game #1, remember all that you can; and now picture how the team played in the following game the next afternoon with Auld in nets...  Honestly, can ANY of you disagree that the boys were playing much harder and more gritty and determined hockey when they knew Auld was their last-defence?  Despite my bias for Gerber, I can't help but realize this reality... and after watching the boys last night against a mostly pathetic Panthers lineup (although Bowmeester never ceases to amaze with his all around play) the Sens looked almost terrified every time a Panther player raised their stick for a slapshot or flicked a wrister on Gerbs.  As a matter of fact, I would be willing to bet that most of the Ottawa fans in attendance collectively held their breath every time that happened...  Is there an end to this lacklustre and pathetic goaltending?  I truly hope so, and after last night, I'm sure both Hartsburg and Murray are not only pissed, but now know without a shred of doubt that Gerber brings NO confidence to the fans, or more importantly as far as I can see, to the team in front of him.

I will be watching friday's game with Auld in nets against the Ducks very closely to see is my hypothesis and observation from the opening games in Sweden were in fact correct or just a fluke.  I truly do believe Auld inspires WAY more confidence in the players and hey, compared to Gerber, he's a BRUTE in nets.  As a co-worker of mine mentioned, who knew of Auld when he was backstopping the Bruins: "the thing with Auld is he's so big in net, you have to make him or goad him to move before thinking where to put your shot; whereas with Gerbs, all you need to do (and it seems the entire league has caught on to this now) is pick a corner and shoot." 
Sad, but true I'm afraid.

At this point, what can we expect from Murray and/or Hartsburg: probably more double-talk to the media, that Gerbs is #1, but really, I'm sure they've both seen the games we as fans are watching... If he can't be traded, do you waive him?  Melnyk has a hard-on for Lord Stanley's mug and he would like NOTHING more than to bring it to the city and citizens of Ottawa at ALL costs (most of us know how competitive and how much Melnyk HATES to lose) so I'm sure he'd be willing to suck up that loss as well...  who knows, but the more I see from Elliott in Bingo, and Auld has proven to be a very effective goalie, I think running with a tandem of Auld and Elliott is our best option and shot.  While it remains to be seen if Auld could shoulder a load of say 60-70 games, I think and feel that deep down in my gut, he WANTS and will relish the opportunity to have center stage and to show to everyone in the league that not only was it mistake to pass him around like a puck bunny, but that Murray made the right choice in signing him and that he could potentially be Ottawa's answer to questionable goaltending, but at this point, will anyone disagree that anything would be an upgrade to Gerbs?

I apologize for this rant, and I should explain that I have NO illusions or misconceptions of beloved Sens hoisting the cup this year, as it would be a welcome bonus, but it's CERTAINLY not a given (and neither are the habs...) but as much as I've supported Gerbs in the past, I'm losing all my patience with him.  I'm sick and tired of this confidence crap.  SHOW ME $3.7M worth of confidence Gerbs...  For that price tag, I'd be working my tail off to showcase my skills and pride at being the backstopper, the #1 goalie, in the nation's capital.  But alas, it seems Gerbs doesn't have it.  I'm not sure what his deal is, mommy or daddy didn't hug you enough or reinforce your sense of self-esteem?!  Who knows?!  Fact is, at the end of the day, you're being handsomely compensated to provide a skill; and the way I see it is, if you cannot keep to your end of the bargain or contract, perhaps it is time to relieve Gerbs of his services...

O.k.  Rant over...for now.