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The CASH line is a forward line of ice hockey players, playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). The members of the line include Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley, who are all considered star players. The nickname 'CASH' is derived from the first letters of Captain Alfredsson (Daniel Alfredsson - Ottawa Senators team captain since 1999-2000 season), Spezza (Jason Spezza), and Heatley (Dany Heatley).[1] The line is notable as a top offensive line, the top line of all time for the Senators, and is widely regarded as one of the top lines in the NHL earning such quotes as 'best trio in the NHL'[2], 'most dangerous line in hockey'[3], 'high-flying trio'[4], "league's highest scoring line"[5] and 'potent first line'[6] in the sports media and hockey fans, both of the Senators and other teams.[7][8] In each of its first two regular seasons the line led the league in points, 2005-06 with 296 and 2005-06 with 279 points.[9] The success continued in the 2007 postseason as Alfredsson, Spezza and Heatley led their team to its first Stanley Cup Finals appearance and finished at the top of the playoff scoring race, all tied at 22 points (a franchise record for post-season points). As of the beginning of the 2007-08 NHL season the high-scoring trio remains together.[10]

Line History

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The line made a dramatic and historic debut, having been assembled in the historic first game of the 2005-06 season on October 5, 2005 by then Senators' coach Bryan Murray after Brandon Bochenski had been playing with Heatley and Spezza during the pre-season. The line made a dramatic debut, being put together in the last five minutes to spark a successful comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto, scoring a game-tying goal with 62 seconds to go. Heatley and Alfredsson would then go on to score the first shootout goals in NHL history to win the game that night.[11] Their sticks from that night are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

'CASH' or 'Pizza' line?
After that dramatic debut against the Senators top rivals, the line had more success and became a hit with the fans. In conjunction with the line's success and popularity, the Ottawa Citizen newspaper held a contest to give it a name.[12] Cash Line won out over finalists 'Dash Line' and 'Dazzle Line,' which Spezza reputedly despised and wanted to veto.[13] However, during the press conference to introduce the teams for the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, Dany Heatley went on record to say he likes the 'Cash line' name.[14] The alternative name 'Pizza Line' is used by the Citizen's news competitor in Ottawa, the Ottawa Sun.[15]
The name has not become well-known outside of Ottawa, with various commentators such as Jean Lefebvre of the Calgary Herald commenting "attempts to hang a nickname on the tandem, however, have met with miserable failure."[16] However, the line has become well-known. The media immediately noticed the line, including Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated calling the name 'egregious', and suggesting no name is appropriate, or rather that a slogan such as 'We Deliver in 60 Minutes' for 'the NHL's best line.'[17] He was referring to the offensive numbers the team put up that month causing the Pizza Pizza company to change a promotion where a free slice was given away to all ticket holders after the Senators scored five goals to six.[18] Flyers manager Bobby Clarke was quoted "a very dangerous line combination. They always have the puck, [so] you're chasing them the whole time".[17] Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal said it was 'no catchy nickname' but 'the best unit in hockey'.[19] Wayne Scanlan of the National Post reported that "Ottawa's so-called Cash Line was doing a cha-ching!! act" after a 7–0 drubbing of the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 22, 2006.[20]

2005-06 season

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The line had an extremely successful first regular season, with both Heatley and Alfredsson finishing with over 100 points, and Heatley scoring 50 goals. However, during the 2006 playoffs, the line was effectively stopped by the Buffalo Sabres in their second-round series, and was on the ice for the series-winning goal. Bochenski, who had played well with Spezza during the 2004-05 lockout for the Binghamton Senators, could not repeat that success, could not stick with any other line and was traded.

2006-07 season

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In the 2006-07 season, the pattern was reversed. The line started out without success, and Spezza was injured for a long period. During Spezza's absence, Heatley and Alfredsson continued to play well and when he returned, he did not return to his place between the players, but the line was reunited later in the season with great success. During the playoffs, the three players tied for the playoff lead in points, with 22 each, (Alfredsson having 14 goals) leading the playoff underachieving Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, with Alfredsson scoring the goal to put Ottawa into the finals, defeating the Buffalo Sabres in overtime. However, during the Finals, Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle employed his top checking line and his two Norris Trophy-winning defencemen together to stop the line.[21][4] The strategy was successful against the line and the Ducks would win the Stanley Cup as the line was ineffective.

The players are popular outside of Ottawa. The players have all appeared on the cover of The Hockey News several times. As of November 2, 2007, Alfredsson and Heatley are tied for third among active players with 6 appearances and Spezza has 5 cover appearances.[22] Both Heatley and Spezza have appeared on video game covers, most recently in September 2007.

2007-08 Season

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The Senators continue to periodically test combinations of different players, sometimes due to injuries. Coach John Paddock, like Bryan Murray before him, sometimes splits up the line together for combinations of games, but usually puts them back together if the team is behind in the score during a game.[10] When Spezza was injured in November 2007, Mike Fisher filled in well and speculation began that Spezza would be moved elsewhere.[23] The line is the Senators' top power play unit, but sometimes Alfredsson plays the point in place of a defenceman, with or without Heatley and Spezza.

On January 2, 2008 Jason Spezza was named the NHL's number one star for the month of December.[24]

All members of the line were named to the 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta. On January 8, 2008 Daniel Alfredsson was named to the starting lineup for the All-Star game, based on fan voting.[25] 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.[26] On January 11, 2008 Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza were named to the All-Star Game roster.[27]

Captain Daniel Alfredsson improved his play in the 2007 Playoffs, tallying the playoff leading 14 goals and 22 points

Daniel Alfredsson

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Daniel Alfredsson, who plays right wing, has played his entire NHL professional career for the Ottawa Senators, joining them for the 1995-96 season, winning the Calder Trophy for outstanding rookie in a season. He is the only Senator to win the trophy. He became captain for the Ottawa Senators in 1999, and has been their captain ever since. He has played in every playoff game for the Ottawa Senators in their history.

Since the line was formed, Alfredsson has recorded the two highest point totals of his career, 103 and 87 points. Daniel had an outstanding 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, leading all scorers. He scored the overtime goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference finals series to get the Senators to their first Finals appearance. He has scored over 300 goals in his career, 72 in the past two seasons alone since the line was formed.

He has represented Sweden in several World Championships and Winter Olympics, and was a member of the gold medal winning team in 2004. He is the first European NHL team captain of a team in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Forward Dany Heatley netted two consecutive 50 goal seasons in 2005-06 and the following year.

Dany Heatley

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Dany Heatley, who plays left wing, joined the Senators in a trade in 2005 for Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrashers, where he had starred since being the second overall draft pick in the 2000 NHL Entry draft, winning the 2001 Calder Trophy. He had requested a trade from the Thrashers after a automobile crash in 2003 in which he was driving, which led to the death of a team-mate.

Since joining the Senators, his goal production has increased. He has scored 50 goals in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, the only player in the NHL to do so, and the first in over 10 years to do so. Both were higher totals than any individual season with the Thrashers. As of the end of the 2006-07 season, Heatley has scored 180 goals in 354 regular season games, and is considered 'the best pure goalscorer in the NHL'.[28]

Notably, starting from his first game in his first season with the Senators, Heatley put together a 22-game consecutive point streak while a member of the line, the second-longest to Wayne Gretzky's 23-game streak while playing for the Los Angeles Kings after joining a new team. As of the end of the 2006-07 season, Heatley has played in every Senators game since he has joined the team.

Dany has represented Canada in several World Championships, including two gold medals in 2003 and 2004 and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Jason Spezza

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Jason has developed his playing skills as he has matured
Main article: Jason Spezza

Jason Spezza, who plays centre, joined the Ottawa Senators as a first-round draft choice, the third overall in the 2001 Entry Draft. The draft pick was obtained from the New York Islanders as part of the trade where Alexei Yashin went to the Islanders. He was widely regarded as a top-notch offensive player in junior hockey when he played for the Mississauga Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League.

Former Senators coach Jacques Martin was reticent to use Spezza during his first years in the league, because of his concern about Spezza turning over the puck to the opposition, famously bowing to fans' pressure to play him in the 2003 playoffs in the fifth game of a Conference Finals series against the New Jersey Devils and the Senators were behind 3-1 in games. The addition of Spezza sparked the team and the team would take the series to seven games before losing. The arrival of Heatley in 2005-06 created a potent combination of scorer and set-up man. Spezza has now recorded his top two seasons, recording 90 (71 assists) and 87 (53 assists) point seasons playing with Heatley.

Spezza was chosen as a substitute for Team Canada in the 2006 Olympics, but did not see action.

On September 11, 2007, Spezza was featured on the cover of the NHL 2K8 video game. He is the first Senator to be on a sports game cover.

See also

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References & Notes

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  1. ^ Moore, David Leon (May 31, 2007). "Senators' top line has not been money in first two games". USAtoday. Retrieved 2007-12-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Garrioch, Bruce (October 30, 2007). "Team Reports". The Hockey News. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Mendes, Ian (May 29, 2007). "Spezza back on top line?". TSN. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Romig, Matt (May 29, 2007). "Check mates". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Associated Press (January 11, 2008). "Spezza, Heatley join Alfredsson at all-star game". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 1008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ Greenstein, Kevin (May 30, 2007). "Senators' Top Line Must Divide to Conquer". Retrieved 2007-11-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ hockey fans (October 29, 2007). "Top nhl line today?". Yahoo Answers. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)}
  8. ^ Talking Thrash weblog (November 20, 2007). "Best Line in the NHL?". Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Senators reunite top trio". cbc.ca. October 12, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b Warren, Ken (October 2, 2007), "Sens banking on Cash Line", Ottawa Citizen, pp. C1 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Canadian Press (October 6, 2005). "Sens Edge Leafs in First Shootout". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2007-12-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Citizen staff (November 17, 2005), "The Cash Line easily wins the vote", Ottawa Citizen, pp. C1 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Brennan, Don (November 13, 2005). "Saturday night's all right". Ottawa Sun/Slam Sports. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Panzeri, Allen (May 28, 2007), "Sens carry a nation's hopes; Ducks hope playing with less pressure is to their advantage", Calgary Herald, pp. D1 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Garrioch, Bruce (October 2, 2007), "Pizza Line Ordered Up", Ottawa Sun {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Lefebvre, Jean (December 11, 2005), "What's my line?: Naming Sens trio as hard as stopping 'em", Calgary Herald, pp. F5 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ a b Farber, Michael (December 5, 2005). "Refreshed by New Ice". Sports Illustrated. 103 (22): 70. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ staff (November 25, 2005), "Spezza, Heatley lesson in chemistry", The Province, pp. A72 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Spezza lets his play do the talking", The Edmonton Journal, pp. D3, November 30, 2005 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Scanlan, Wayne (January 23, 2006), "The Senators are starting to smell blood", National Post, pp. S3 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Senators determined to defy Ducks". cbc.ca. May 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ THN staff (November 2, 2007). "THN Cover Count" (PDF). The Hockey News. Retrieved 2007-11-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Mendes, Ian (November 14, 2007). "CASH line back?". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Spezza earns First Star for December". January 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ TSN staff (January 8, 2008). "Luongo, Iginla among All-Star starters". TSN.ca. Retrieved 2008-01-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Associated Press (January 8, 2008). "Crosby top vote-getter, Red Wings with three in starting lineup". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-01-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "2008 Eastern Conference All-Stars". NHL.com. January 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Barnwell, Bill (November 28, 2007). "Draft in Review: NHL, 2000". IGN. Retrieved 2007-11-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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