For the first time in the modern day history of the Ottawa Senators, they’ll take on the Boston Bruins in a playoff series. And what a series it figures to be.
Not much separating these two teams during the regular season as they come in with 44 wins a piece and just three points distance in the final standings. The Bruins offence was a little more productive during the regular season but goals against are close to identical. Boston’s special teams were quite a bit better than Ottawa’s but the Senators probably have a slight edge in goal.
Home ice advantage could end up being huge for the Ottawa Senators.
Either way, this has the feeling of a long series that could go either way. And at about 7:00 PM last night, it looked like it wasn’t going to happen.
The fans at the Air Canada Centre may have been chanting ‘We Want Ottawa’ but it looked like the Leafs themselves were avoiding their provincial rivals at all costs. They rolled over with a 2-0 lead and in the process, left hundreds of Ottawa-based Leaf-loving losers with prime seats for a Senators/Bruins playoff game. Sens fans will gladly buy those back by the way. You might even get face value for them. Have fun with Washington, by the way!
The Battle of Ontario would have been fun but an Ottawa/Boston series has been a long time coming.
This Boston Bruins team stumbled out of the gate a little bit this season but they’ve been one of the league’s top teams under interim head coach Bruce Cassidy. And while there were always encouraging signs in their underlying numbers, they really seemed to turn the corner when they canned Claude Julien. Under Cassidy the Bruins went an impressive 18-8-1 which helped them avoid that first round match up with the Capitals and instead draw the Senators in Round One.
And while that’s a more favourable match up for the Bruins, I suspect the Ottawa Senators were more than happy with their first round draw too.
The Senators won all four games against the Bruins during the regular season and have to come into this series feeling pretty good about their chances. Of all the teams Ottawa played during the regular season, it felt like the Bruins always brought out the best in them. Especially in the last couple months of the year where Ottawa won three games in the span of a month.
Also, I get the sense this Ottawa team has another gear that we haven’t seen yet. There’s a good chance they could have a full line up for the first time all season when this series starts on Wednesday
A look at the schedule for round one.
Wednesday, April 12, 7pm: Bruins @ Senators | Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Saturday, April 15, 3pm: Bruins @ Senators | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBC
Monday, April 17, 7pm: Senators @ Bruins | CNBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Wednesday, April 19, 7:30pm: Senators @ Bruins | USA, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Friday, April 21, TBD: Bruins @ Senators | TBD
Sunday, April 23, TBD: Senators @ Bruins | TBD
Wednesday, April 26, TBD: Bruins @ Senators | TBD
Ottawa has the day off today. Both Guy Boucher and Pierre Dorion will meet with the media in Ottawa just after 11:00 AM.
