With all the new faces in the senators line-up, the results were surprisingly the same as usual.

"I've been on this ride before", I told myself. It's the "Sens-score-first-but get-tied-up-quickly-then-struggle-in-the-third-to-finally-allow-enough-goals-to-be-out-of-the-game-at -which-time-they-try-to-dig-themselves-out" ride (SSFBGTUQTSITTTFAEGTBOOTGAWTTTTDTO for short).

One thing is certain, Bobby Butler has arrived and shaken some cobwebs off the team. He and Jason Spezza, and to a lesser extent Milan Michalek, were an amazing force last night and tested Boston's Tuuka Rask over and over again. Also very effective on the attack was the line-up of Nick Foligno, Peter Regin, and Alex Kovalev.

Speaking of Kovalev, some have told me they don't expect Kovakev to be picked up by anyone because of his work ethics. That's just a bunch of crap. Kovalev is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. We're not talking about someone signing him for another $5 million plus deal. As a rental player, AK-27 is desirable, and making himself more and more desirable of late with his excellent play. I still expect someone to pull the trigger soon.

On to the Battle of Ontario for tonight. Likely Craig Anderson's first start in the Ottawa nets.

GO SENS GO!!