30 teams started this 2016/2017 NHL season with dreams of a Championship and now just four remain.
And the team from the Nation’s Capital is one of the last ones standing.
The Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins play Game One of the Eastern Conference Final tonight in Pittsburgh. A spot in the Stanley Cup Finals up for grabs.
Sens hockey on a Saturday night in mid-May. It doesn’t get much better than this.
While the players should be focused on the task at hand, as a fan, don’t be afraid to take a step back. If the last decade has taught us anything, it’s that success doesn’t always come easy. Take time to appreciate what this team has been able to do this season and appreciate the opportunity they now have.
Four teams, including our Ottawa Senators, battling it out for the Stanley Cup.
There are many keys to this series for the Senators. Find a way to contain Crosby (Pageau) and Malkin. Production from top forwards. Match the Penguins depth scoring. Control the pace of the game through the neutral zone. Stay out of the box. Bring back the old Marc Andre Fleury. Karlsson doing those wonderful Karlsson things.
The Penguins are certainly the best team the Senators have faced to this point but they can be beat.
Guy Boucher will meet with the media at 4:00 PM today so the line up will remain a mystery until then. Viktor Stalberg didn’t skate yesterday but according to Boucher, he should be available. If he can play, one of Ryan Dzingel or Tommy Wingels would sit. Mark Borowiecki won’t be available to start the series.
Based on the combinations at yesterday’s practice, here’s how the Senators are expected to line up to start this series.
Ryan-Pageau-Stone
MacArthur-Turris-Hoffman
Dzingel-Brassard-Burrows
Pyatt-Smith-Wingels
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Claesson-Wideman
Craig Anderson gets the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
Predictions are fun but in the end, they aren’t worth a damn thing. The game and this series will be decided by the 18 skaters and a goalie on each side. In the end, it will come down to which team wants it more. It’s that simple this time of year.
All year long, the Ottawa Senators have found ways to get it done. Found ways to prove people wrong. Now it’s time to do it on the league’s biggest stage.
Time to shock the hockey world.
GO SENS GO!
