Well by now….I am sure the parties have arrived in Ottawa. Game 3 will be contested tomorrow night. For Ottawa, this is the must win game of the series…they can’t fall behind 0-3 to the Ducks. The first two games have featured the Ducks checking line as both an offensive and defensive source. Sami Pahlsson has even gotten some Conn Smythe talk from the writers in the AP, TSN, and CBC. The vaunted line of Alfredsson, Heatley, and Spezza hasn’t even tickled the twine of the net yet. Ottawa hasn’t had a lead since midway through the second period of Game 1….a span of time that feels like a week now.
So is all the hope gone out of Ottawa? It most certainly isn’t. The Senators have to start playing like the way they did in the first three rounds….hard work, tenacity, and timely scoring. Oh yeah, and of course get some damn scoring chances!! The Ducks not only outshot the Sens 30-16 in Game 2…but at one point in the second period…I think scoring chances were 10-1 Ducks….that has to change. Anaheim is dominating this series 5 on 5…and really only Emery kept the Sens in it in Game 2. What is worse for Ottawa is the pounding they took physically in those first two games will have a far reaching effect…they have to counteract that NOW….not later….but right in the opening minutes of Game 3. The biggest key after that is they need to sustain that level because Anaheim will only get more intense as the game goes on.
Have a drink with me Saturday Night for Game 3.
Discipline will also be important. If Ottawa is to ratchet up its intensity, they can’t fall into the trap that the Ducks almost fell into in Game 1. Anaheim does have bonafide talent on the power play that can make you pay for your transgressions. Players like Getzlaf, McDonald, and Selanne along with the Young Guns can keep a team honest. Ottawa is big enough to match up with Anaheim…now they just have to go out and execute. It seems in the first couple games…they could do it for the first 4 or 5 minutes then that was it.
So as the players settle into their routines in Ottawa, Anaheim has the experience of 2003 in their corner on not what to do but Ottawa may just be a little nervous knowing the weight of Canada is on their shoulders. The first ten minutes of tomorrow night’s game should be very interesting to say the least. Expect some fireworks. Here’s what I expect.
A hungry Ottawa team will come out firing and their first line will be kept together, if for nothing else to not admit defeat. They have to play better and breaking them up would be the wrong thing to do at this time. Their power play will get a jump from the crowd and that crowd will be electric from well before the opening faceoff. The environment will be different and the CBC guys capture that better than anyone. That will be Ottawa’s best chance honestly…to feed off the crowd. As for the Ducks, they need to play a solid road game like they have for most of the playoffs….and don’t change a thing…keep on hitting and keep on firing. Who is going to win? I don’t know….but I do know one thing…this has been an entertaining series and I can’t wait to see Game 3.
