Ann 22008 Playoffs - Round 1: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators Game 1 Preview
April 9th 2008 20:03
As exciting as a series between the Pens and the Sens sound, this year's contest is a more perplexing event.
Consider how the two teams got here. After getting to the Stanley Cup finals last year and a 15-2 start to the 2007-2008 season, the Senators were set to dominate the Eastern conference once again. Instead, the Sens found themselves tumbling down the standings after the Christmas break to finally finish in 7th place, barely making the playoffs. On the other side, the Penguins had a good season. After losing Sidney Crosby to an ankle injury that took him out of action for 28 games, Evgeny Malkin stepped up to the plate and led the team to a second place finish in the East.
Both teams will have something to prove during these series.
Word on the street is that the Pens flubbed their last game of the season (2-0 defeat against Philadelphia) in order to avoid the Flyers and face instead a dysfunctional Senators team. I find myself agreeing with this point of view. You know there's something weird going on when an offensively talented team like the Pens goes 0 for 8 on the power-play.
Let's just hope that this game doesn't come back to bite them in the ass. With Crosby, Malkin, and trade-acquisition Marian Hossa providing the firepower, the Pens will have to prove that they are able to deal with the pressure of the playoffs, something that they couldn't do last year against Ottawa. Inexperience and youth won't be an excuse this time around.
Right now, the Senators are a demoralized team. They recent play has, basically, sucked except for a 8-2 trashing of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But then again, the Leafs are not what people would call a top-quality team. The only reason they're in is because there were no more games to lose. Their goaltending has been an issue all season long with Martin Gerber in the nets for the majority of the season. Ray "The Razor" Emery has become a cancer in the dressing-room and is permanently assigned to GM Bryan Murray's doghouse. I doubt that the Sens will want to keep Emery at the end of the season but then I don't think that any other team will want him. If he gets to play during these series, don't expect his defense to make his job easier than it has to be.
What's worse is that the Sens will be playing the first game of the series without forwards Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, and their captain, Daniel Alfredsson, who's the heart and soul of this team. Without Alfie in the lineup, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza will have to work harder. Antoine Vermette and Chris Neil will also be expected to raise their level of play. The Sens will have to play as a team and support each other if they want to survive this round.
Consider how the two teams got here. After getting to the Stanley Cup finals last year and a 15-2 start to the 2007-2008 season, the Senators were set to dominate the Eastern conference once again. Instead, the Sens found themselves tumbling down the standings after the Christmas break to finally finish in 7th place, barely making the playoffs. On the other side, the Penguins had a good season. After losing Sidney Crosby to an ankle injury that took him out of action for 28 games, Evgeny Malkin stepped up to the plate and led the team to a second place finish in the East.
Both teams will have something to prove during these series.
Word on the street is that the Pens flubbed their last game of the season (2-0 defeat against Philadelphia) in order to avoid the Flyers and face instead a dysfunctional Senators team. I find myself agreeing with this point of view. You know there's something weird going on when an offensively talented team like the Pens goes 0 for 8 on the power-play.
Let's just hope that this game doesn't come back to bite them in the ass. With Crosby, Malkin, and trade-acquisition Marian Hossa providing the firepower, the Pens will have to prove that they are able to deal with the pressure of the playoffs, something that they couldn't do last year against Ottawa. Inexperience and youth won't be an excuse this time around.
Right now, the Senators are a demoralized team. They recent play has, basically, sucked except for a 8-2 trashing of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But then again, the Leafs are not what people would call a top-quality team. The only reason they're in is because there were no more games to lose. Their goaltending has been an issue all season long with Martin Gerber in the nets for the majority of the season. Ray "The Razor" Emery has become a cancer in the dressing-room and is permanently assigned to GM Bryan Murray's doghouse. I doubt that the Sens will want to keep Emery at the end of the season but then I don't think that any other team will want him. If he gets to play during these series, don't expect his defense to make his job easier than it has to be.
What's worse is that the Sens will be playing the first game of the series without forwards Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, and their captain, Daniel Alfredsson, who's the heart and soul of this team. Without Alfie in the lineup, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza will have to work harder. Antoine Vermette and Chris Neil will also be expected to raise their level of play. The Sens will have to play as a team and support each other if they want to survive this round.
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