As we get set to start another round of playoff hockey, everyone take a step back and appreciate just how far this team has come.
At the start of this season, when experts were putting together their annual predictions, the Ottawa Senators were almost always on the outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Lack of depth. No big splash in the off season. A relatively inexperienced Coach who had been out of the league for years.
Not only did the experts not expect this team to significantly improve over the 2015/2016 debacle, some actually expected them to be worse.
In defence of those so-called experts things like a system and a soul can be hard to predict.
When the Ottawa Senators kick off the second round tonight at the Canadian Tire Centre, they’ll be one of eight teams left standing in the National Hockey League. Just let that sink in for a moment and truly appreciate what this team has been able to accomplish to this point.
Nobody expected the Senators to make it this far and again, those same experts that were so wrong about this team before the season started and that dismissed their chances of getting out of the first round are again doubting their chance of making it any further.
And that’s just fine by me.
Game One of the Eastern Semi-final between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Rangers goes tonight in Ottawa.
While the Senators were able to effectively shutdown the top heavy Bruins in round one, a deep New York Rangers squad presents an entirely different challenge. Their ability to roll four dangerous lines means that the Senators will have to be at their defensive best at all times.
They also have one of the best goalies of this generation and it just so happens he’s playing some of his best hockey coming into this series. Sure he stumbled a bit during the regular season but he looked like the Henrik Lundqvist of old against the Montreal Canadiens. Traffic is a must to beat him the way he’s playing right now.
The Senators are on the ice for their game day skate at 10:30 AM this morning so we’ll confirm the line up then. Based on yesterday’s practice, here’s how they are expected to line up.
MacArthur-Brassard-Ryan
Hoffman-Pageau-Stone
Dzingel-Turris-Burrows
Stalberg-Smith-Wingels
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Claesson-Harpur
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
Still some tickets left for this one so if you’re considering heading to tonight’s game, don’t consider…just GO! You can buy tickets here.
In any given year, there are 30 teams with a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Sure there are your favourites and your longshots but every team has a chance. What may have seemed far-fetched at the start of the year is now within reach. Just eight teams left standing. So, why not us?
GO SENS GO!
