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There is no doubting Ales Hemsky has been a nice addition to the Senators lineup. Over the past two games, Hemsky has assisted on six goals and found instant chemistry with Jason Spezza. For most of the season, Sens fans bemoaned the fact that Spezza was not playing with quality wingers. These last two games with Hemsky have only served to tease everyone, wondering what could have been if Hemsky was riding shotgun with Spezza all season long. But would the Senators be sitting in a playoff spot if they had acquired Hemsky a few months ago? Since Im officially banned from using the phrase "probably not" in this town, I will instead answer by saying I think its highly doubtful the Senators would be sitting in a playoff spot if Hemsky had been here since October. Ottawas big issue this season has been in their own end. And to be brutally honest, that has been their biggest problem since Paul MacLean took over as head coach a couple of years ago. To MacLeans credit, he has drastically improved the offense on this team. When they missed the playoffs in Cory Cloustons last season at the helm, Ottawa scored just 193 goals and was one of only three NHL teams who failed to crack the 200-goal barrier in 2010-11. So heading into MacLeans first season, the big question was: Who is going to score goals for the Senators? But MacLean worked his offensive magic and had terrific seasons from the likes of Spezza, Milan Michalek and Erik Karlsson and the team ended up scoring 249 goals and ranking in the top five in the NHL in that category. Thats a remarkable transformation; bottom five in the league in goals one year to top five the next. But Ottawas defensive game showed no real improvement in that first season under MacLean. They ranked 24th in goals against under Clouston (giving up 250 goals) and they also ranked 24th in goals against under MacLean (giving up 240 goals). In fact, no team that made the playoffs in 2012 allowed more regular season goals than the Senators. And when you give up as many goals as the Senators do, you either make the playoffs by the skin of your teeth - or miss them altogether. This trend appears to be rearing its ugly head again this season, as the Senators have no real problems scoring goals. They currently rank in the top half of the Eastern Conference in goals scored with 185 - more than playoff-bound teams like Montreal, Philadelphia and the New York Rangers. But the Senators have surrendered an astounding 213 goals this season - the second-worst total in the entire NHL. And no matter how many goals Hemsky would have added to the offensive side of the ledger, its hard to imagine how he would have helped with the defensive breakdowns that have been problematic with this team for months. A lot of people will point to the lockout-shortened season a year ago, where the Senators were the stingiest team in the Eastern Conference, sporting a 2.08 GAA. But last year needs to be taken with a grain of salt because it was only a 48-game schedule and the Senators were still giving up a ton of quality chances. Take a look at Ottawas NHL ranking in shots allowed/game since MacLean took over and you will see they didnt actually have a great defensive improvement in that department last season: Shots Allowed/Game (NHL Rank) 2011-12: 32.0/game (29th in NHL)2012-13: 31.3/game (23rd in NHL)2013-14: 34.4/game (28th in NHL) Even though the Senators were near the top of the league in GAA in 2012-13, they were still giving up too many shots and chances each night. They werent necessarily playing a tough, defensive style. Instead, they were bailed out by unbelievable goaltending that was producing numbers that were never going to be sustainable for the long-term. Craig Anderson, for example, had a .933 save percentage while short-handed last season - a number that has tumbled by more than 100 points this year. In short, the Senators brilliant goaltending masked the issues for this team last season. Now that the goaltending has been average this season, it highlights the defensive issues that have been around for the better part of three seasons. The best teams in the NHL over the past three years - like Chicago, St. Louis and Los Angeles - have all ranked in the top 10 in fewest shots allowed. Even a team like the Blackhawks, who have the reputation of being offensive-oriented, have allowed the fourth-fewest shots against this season. Again, MacLean deserves a ton of credit for turning this team into an offensive juggernaut. And if Hemsky re-signs next season, there is every reason to believe he can flourish in this system. But now is the time that MacLean and his staff need to fix the defensive flaws with this team. He is trying to implement a similar system he used in Detroit when they won the Stanley Cup in 2007-08. That season, the Red Wings had no trouble scoring goals, ranking third in the NHL in that department. But they also allowed the fewest shots per game at 23.5 - the best number in the entire league. The offensive comparisons to Detroit are accurate, but its the defensive game for Ottawa that still has miles to go. Bryan Murray didnt make any trades involving defensemen at the deadline because the organization believes they have the right personnel on the back end. If thats the case, its the system that needs to be adjusted moving forward. So when it comes to the re-build that started a couple of years ago, its fair to say the Senators are only halfway there. Adrian Peterson Jersey . The agreement comes a little more than one week after the video game manufacturer agreed to a $40 million settlement in a similar but separate case, bringing the total payout planned for athletes to $60 million, said Steve Berman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, and the NCAA. Minnesota Vikings Jerseys .Ryan Anderson had 14 points for the Pelicans, who trailed 78-63 after three periods before trimming the deficit to 86-83. Jrue Holiday had 13 points and Eric Gordon added 12 for New Orleans.Mike Scott and Jeff Teague each had 11 points for Atlanta. http://www.vikingssale.com/Vikings-Alan-Page-Draft-Jersey/ .com) - Devan Dubnyk stopped all 30 shots fired his way and made several big saves down the stretch for his third shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Tuesday. Adam Thielen Jersey . If there is one club built to handle an off-field controversy, its the Bill Belichick era Patriots. Even if New Englands offence stumbles a bit out of the gate, their defence can help them stay in games, especially in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in the first two weeks. Randy Moss Jersey .28 mph. Logano will start on the front row next to Penske Ford teammate Brad Keselowski, who came in second Friday at 193.099. The Penske drivers swept the top two spots for the second straight race, reversing their qualifying finish in Phoenix a week ago.COLUMBUS, Ohio - John Davidson has travelled the world playing, talking about and scouting professional hockey.He says his current outpost is a great place that few know about.Columbus, to me, in some ways, is a very well-kept secret, said Davidson, the director of hockey operations for the NHLs Blue Jackets.That might change this weekend. The city and the Blue Jackets have a busy, busy few days in the spotlight.Ohios capital city will be the venue for this weekends NHL All-Star game, including the player draft on Friday night, a skills competition on Saturday and the game itself on Sunday at downtowns Nationwide Arena. There are many other related events, drawing thousands of visitors and television viewers.Meanwhile Ohio State, with its sprawling campus just a couple of miles from downtown, will celebrate its national championship in college football at massive Ohio Stadium on Saturday morning. Coach Urban Meyer and his players will speak to whats expected to be a huge crowd while accepting trophies for their 14-1 run to the title.Gene Smith, the athletic director at Ohio State, considers it an embarrassment of riches.When you think about our city and all the great things that have happened here over the years, this is probably one of those exemplar moments, he said. The NHL All-Star game and weekend activities, just by itself, is phenomenal. But then to be able to showcase the national championship, all the media attention for both of those events for our city, its going to be unreal.By Thursday morning, a sledding hill had been built on two lanes of the brick thoroughfare next to the hockey arena downtown, topped by tons of snow that had been trucked in. There was a line of dozens of kids waiting to slide and glide down the bumpy slope.Nearby, just behind an old stone arch that is one of the citys symbols, a large ice rink sits outside. There aree free skates for the general public and the occasional hockey game.dddddddddddd The skaters can warm up with coffee and hot chocolate at one of the nearby heated tents.Months of planning has gone into the All-Star festivities. Columbus was originally picked in January 2012 to host the event the following year. But managements lockout of the players disrupted that plan. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, however, made good on a promise to have Columbus host the game as soon as possible, awarding the city this years event.Columbus is also one of the finalists to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention.Mayor Michael B. Coleman looks at all thats going on this weekend and sees it as a trial run.This is one of the best opportunities to showcase our city to an international audience, Coleman said. They can see how Columbus pulls off big events, and they can get a better idea of who we are as a city.Of course, not much wiggle room was permitted for the plans for Ohio States national championship celebration. The title wasnt decided until Jan. 12 in Arlington, Texas, when the Buckeyes beat Oregon, 42-20.Even though the football teams big day will be held outside in temperatures in the 30s, it wouldnt be a major surprise if Buckeye fans flooded the place. After all, more than 90,000 once showed up for a spring practice game at Ohio Stadium.Smith says Ohio State officials have been working with those from the Blue Jackets. During the national championship celebration, some of the events associated with the All-Star game will be mentioned on the video monitors.Cabs, hotel rooms and seats in restaurants and bars will come at a premium on such a busy sports weekend.The Blue Jackets and the Buckeyes are happy to share top billing.The more the merrier, Davidson said, laughing.___Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP Cheap Warriors Jerseys Authentic Cavaliers Jerseys Cheap Spurs Store Celtics Jerseys Online Cheap Bulls Jerseys Cheap Nets Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Wholesale Raptors Jerseys Cyber Monday Pistons Jerseys Wholesale Team USA Basketball Jerseys Cheap Celtics Jerseys Cheap Nets Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Raptors Jerseys From China Cheap Bulls Jerseys Cavaliers Jerseys From China Wholesale Pistons Jerseys Bucks Jerseys From China Pacers Jerseys Outlet Authentic Hawks Jerseys Cheap Hornets Jerseys Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Authentic Wizards Jerseys Cheap Nuggets Jerseys Timberwolves Jerseys Outlet Wholesale Thunder Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Discount Warriors Jerseys Wholesale Clippers Jerseys Wholesale Lakers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Kings Jerseys Discount Mavericks Jerseys Authentic Rockets Jerseys Discount Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Spurs Jerseys From China ' ' '