Chris Neil News

To borrow from Satchel Paige, the Buffalo Sabres shouldn't look back. Something might be gaining on them.

For those who perhaps believed the passions have stilled in the Battle of Ontario, it took only two minutes and change for the bad blood to well up in the most recent engagement.

The Ottawa Senators' Alex Kovalev is contributing behind the scenes. Alex Kovalev is a different cat.

Fisher pots pair to sink Leafs Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his go-ahead goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with his teammates on the bench in a game at Scotiabank Place on November 17, 2009 in Ottawa, Canada.

Expect GMs to clash over head shots Chris Neil of the Ottawa Senators throws a crushing bodycheck on Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning as he skates around the back of the net during a game at Scotiabank Place on November 5, 2009 in Ottawa.

SENATORS' EFFORT 7/10 THE GAME This one could have been called the "Six Degrees of Dany Heatley" contest, and several players connected to No.

Misfiring Alexei Kovalev has a backer in his corner. While Cory Clouston admits he's had chats with Ottawa's marquee free-agent signing about the way Kovalev has played in his first 16 games, the Senators coach was trying to absolve the talented winger of any blame during his daily session with the media following practice yesterday.

Ottawa Senator Jason Spezza slips the puck past Edmonton Oiler goalie Jeff Deslauriers to win their NHL hockey game in a shootout in Ottawa November 10, 2009.

It had been a while between starts for Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jeff Deslauriers.

Ray Emery always gave the Senators plenty to talk about during his time in Ottawa.

Even an ugly win can be a thing of beauty. On a night winger Jonathan Cheechoo finally scored his first goal in an Ottawa uniform, Jason Spezza was the hero, scoring the winner in a 4-3 shootout decision over the Edmonton Oilers.

Heading into tonight's game against the Edmonton Oilers, that was the message from Senators coach Cory Clouston after his club woke up yesterday as the most penalized team in the NHL.

Daniel Alfredsson could have passed as a Maple Leaf. Following Saturday's big gag, the Senators captain looked like he had been raked.

That 7-1 home ice beating the Ottawa Senators put on the Tampa Bay Lightning a couple of weeks ago was obviously an aberration.

Hedman feels OK after Neil hit Chris Neil #25 of the Ottawa Senators throws a crushing bodycheck on Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning as he skates around the back of the net during a game at Scotiabank Place on November 5, 2009 in Ottawa, Canada.

Depending on who you talked to Thursday night, Senators winger Chris Neil is either: a) A good, hard-nosed player who hits with the best of them.

Jason Spezza scored the game-winning goal in overtime and assisted on both of Ottawa's regulation tallies, as the Senators edged the Lightning, 3-2, after having two goals disallowed late in the third period.

THE STORY: If the Ottawa Senators are playing the Tampa Bay Lightning, someone's probably going to get a beating.

Welcome to CBCSports.ca's Fantasy Hockey 1-on-1, where every Friday our resident nerds a ' er, experts a ' Jesse Campigotto and Jordan Shifman, debate three hot topics of interest for poolies.

Ottawa Senators right winger Ryan Shannon showers Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Mike Smith with ice as he makes a first-period save during an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct.