One of the most impressive things about this year’s Ottawa Senators is their ability to reload.
Whether in-game or night to night, Guy Boucher’s group has demonstrated this remarkable ability to refocus and direct their efforts toward the task at hand. Never too high, never too low.
It’s a skill they’ll call on again ahead of Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal against the New York Rangers.
Saturday’s game was one for the ages. The kind of once in a lifetime moment fans dream about and the fact is, it’s a game that none of us will ever forget. But in the end, it’s just one win of the four Ottawa needs to take this series.
There’s a ton of emotion that comes from a win like that but the Senators have to park it and now refocus ahead of what is sure to be New York’s best game of the series.
As the Senators broke down the tape from Game 2, they probably saw a few things that need to be corrected. Yes, they’re up 2-0 in this series but they need to be better than they were on Saturday. Ottawa did a great job of pushing back when they needed to but the Rangers controlled that game for long stretches.
On the Rangers side of things, tonight is pretty much a must-win. Guy Boucher has been trying to shift all the pressure to the Rangers in this series and as they return home to Madison Square Garden, they should be feeling the heat. They say you’re never in trouble in a playoff series until you lose at home and that’s true. But you’re in a real pickle if you go down 3-0.
No line up changes expected for the Senators ahead of this one as it seems like Boucher wants to roll with a winning combination.
Tom Pyatt has been skating and is available to play in Game 3 but it’s not clear if he’ll draw in. Clarke MacArthur left the game on Saturday but seems like he’s good to go for this one.
We’ll confirm this line up and the combinations shortly after the 11:30 AM game day skate.
Stalberg-Turris-Stone
MacArthur-Brassard-Ryan
Hoffman-Pageau-Burrows
Dzingel-Smith-Wingels
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Claesson-Harpur
Craig Anderson is expected to get the start in the Ottawa goal. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:00 PM.
GO SENS GO!
