There’s something special about this time of year.
Spring. The temperature is gradually rising to the point where you’ll see the odd guy wearing shorts for some reason. The snow is finally melting away and revealing the familiar smell of dog turds hidden beneath. The days are longer. The sunsets later.
And playoffs. Sweet, sweet playoffs.
It’s a time of year that always seems to bring out the best in Ottawa Senators fans. When a generally reserved fan base comes to life. It’s like Christmas for hockey fans. If Christmas was something that got completely skipped some years.
And it all starts tonight at the Canadian Tire Centre. Bruins/Senators. Game 1.
If you’ve been paying attention to the various playoff predictions, many of the experts that generally ignore fancy stats year round are now pointing to them as the reason the Bruins will win this series. Despite the Senators finishing higher in the standings and despite the Senators winning all four games against the Bruins this year, everyone is taking Boston in this opening round.
And that’s just fine by me. This team has proved the experts wrong all year and to do it again in the playoffs would be so Ottawa Senators.
Guy Boucher had his team on the ice for practice yesterday and they’ll skate again this morning (10:30 AM) ahead of this evening’s 7:00 PM puck drop.
If yesterday is any indication (and Boucher suggests it isn’t) there could be a couple interesting changes to the Ottawa line up.
Based on yesterday’s line rushes, Chris Kelly and Ryan Dzingel could be the scratches up front. Freddy Claesson and Ben Harpur appeared to be the extra guys on the blueline but that will depend on Marc Methot’s status for Game 1. It sounds like he’s a long shot at this point. If he can’t go, Claesson is expected to draw in. If Methot is anything less than 100%, there’s really no need to rush him back. Claesson has done a great job filling in to this point.
A best guess at the Ottawa line up for now but we’ll confirm this after the morning skate.
Hoffman-Pageau-Stone
MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
Stalberg-Brassard-Burrows
Pyatt-Smith-Wingels
Claesson-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Borowiecki-Wideman
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
If you’re going to work today, I feel sorry for your employer. From my experience, there is no day with lower productivity than the start of the NHL playoffs. If you’re headed to the game, have fun. Remember that while playoffs have become a fairly regular occurrence in the Nation’s Capital, there will be years when we don’t have this feeling. So enjoy it.
30 teams had a chance at a Championship when the season started in October. That number is now down to 15 (the Leafs are toast). In mid-June, one team will raise that Stanley Cup.
Why not us?
It starts tonight.
For a breakdown of the Senators opening round series, check out yesterday’s post. And lastly, from Callum Fraser, a video to get you ready for tonight’s game.
