On the ice, the hatred is building. Tension between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens is at an all-time high. Outside, the sun is shining on a warm Friday in early Spring.
For a hockey fan, it really doesn’t get any better than this.
Game Two of the best of seven series goes tonight at the Bell Centre with the Senators desperately trying to even the series up before returning to Ottawa for Game Three on Sunday night.
You could tell nerves got to the Senators a little bit in Game One. They got away from the things that have made them successful over the last six or seven weeks and let the Canadiens dictate the pace of the game. Ottawa was far too loose defensively and while Hammond wasn’t as sharp as he has been, he can hardly be blamed for the loss.
The Senators have to be better in Game Two.
It’s only natural for the Senators and their fans to want to avenge the slash on Mark Stone but the reality is, the best possible revenge would be winning the hockey game. Although if Ottawa was to get up by a few goals (or down), I fully endorse the idea of someone reminding PK Subban that his wrists are just as vulnerable as Mark Stone’s were.
Yes, the Senators should focus on the game. Yes they should avoid taking stupid penalties. But yes, they should also stick up for their injured teammate. Life should be miserable for Subban from this point forward. Not only because of the shitty thing he did to our best forward but also because he’s immature and rarely in control of his emotions and likely to retaliate.
Just an optional morning skate for the Senators this morning so line up and line combinations will be a bit of a mystery up until puck drop. Mark Stone has not yet been ruled out for the game and yesterday, Dave Cameron made it clear he was at least considering adding Chris Neil to the line up. We shall see. The Senators begin their optional skate at 11:30 AM. Will add the line up information to this post as it becomes available.
Andrew Hammond makes the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM with the game available on CBC.
GO. SENS. GO.
