After a three day stretch that felt like an eternity, the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens are finally ready to drop the puck.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal goes tonight at the Bell Centre in a Montreal in a series that sees the 2nd seeded Northeast Division Champions open up against the surprising Ottawa Senators. It's a match up that seems to have the so called experts divided and it all gets started in Montreal tonight at 7:00 PM.
There are those that will suggest that this first round match up is just like any other playoff series.
But for Sens fans that have lived in Ottawa and attended games at Scotiabank Place the past few seasons, you'll know this is about so much more. It's another opportunity for this team and this fan base to put themselves on the map in this part of the country and beyond. Much like those match ups against the Leafs, it's a chance to step out of big brothers shadow and get the attention this organization and this city deserves.
It's about bragging rights in your office. It's about revenge for all the times you had to sit in SBP while those goofs chorused along to their modified soccer chant. It's a chance to have that "edge" in every debate you have with a Montreal Canadiens fan between now and the next time these two teams meet in the post season.
So yes this is the NHL playoffs but as you'd expect, there's a little something extra that comes with playing a close division rival.
After having Monday off, the Sens practiced once in Ottawa in once in Montreal in preparation for the series opener. Head Coach Paul MacLean's biggest decision heading into Game 1 comes on the blueline as he needs to decide between Eric Gryba and Patrick Wiercioch to start the series. Based on a couple days of practice it certainly sounds like it will be Gryba that plays to start the series.
The Sens are scheduled to take the ice for their morning skate at 11:30 AM in Montreal so we'll confirm this line up shortly. Here is how the Sens are expected to line up.
Michalek-Turris-Alfredsson
Latendresse-Zibanejad-Silfverberg
Conacher-Pageau-Condra
Greening-Smith-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Phillips-Gonchar
Cowen-Gryba
Puck drop is at just after 7:00 PM with the game available on CBC. This is the absolute best time of year and it's finally here. Enjoy it, Sens fans!
GO SENS GO!
- For Sens fans still looking for tickets, the good folks at Broker4Tickets.com still have some excellent seats available to both Game 3 and Game 4 here in Ottawa and at reasonable prices. Check out there website here and give them a follow on Twitter @Broker4Tickets.
