(UPDATE 1:30 PM)- Paul MacLean provided an update on Alfredsson this afternoon and suggested that Alfie suffered a setback between the morning skate and game time yesterday. He is still considered day to day with his Game 4 status up in the air. If he can't play, Bobby Butler will stay in the line up.
The Ottawa Senators threw everything they could at Henrik Lundqvist.
In Game 3, both teams tightened up defensively and both goalies stood on their heads but it was the Rangers that came out on top. Brian Boyle converted a lucky bounce to give New York a hard fought 1-0 win at Scotiabank Place.
As the number eight seed, the Sens knew they were going to have to outwork the Rangers to upset the best team in the East. And in Game 3, Ottawa did exactly that. They out hit, out shot, and out hustled the New York Rangers but just couldn't find a way to beat Lundqvist.
The Sens threw 39 shots at the leading Vezina candidate and he stopped each and every one of them.
At the other end of the ice, Anderson was not tested quite as much but still stood on his head at times, making a number of highlight reel saves in the second period that kept the Senators in the hockey game.
In the hours leading up to Game 3, the Sens got some bad news as Daniel Alfredsson, who had taken the morning skate earlier in the day, was taken out of the line up. His status for Game 4 is still up in the air but if I'm a betting man, I would assume he is in the line up.
Bobby Butler did an admirable job stepping in to a top six role and actually led the Sens with five shots on goal.
Getting shutout on home ice always sucks but it's important the Sens don't let it get to them. A bounce here, a bounce there, and this could have been a completely different hockey game.
And even though the home side couldn't give them a goal to cheer about, full credit to the fans last night. From 10 minutes before puck drop, right through to the final horn, this was as electric an atmosphere as I've ever experienced at Scotiabank Place. And as the game moved on, you could see that the players were feeding off the energy of the crowd. Fans need to bring that same level of intensity to Game 4 to help the Sens even the series.
The Sens will practice at noon today at Scotiabank Place. Will post updates from that as they become available.
