RD 1 GM 3 - Ottawa @ Pittsburgh - 4.15.07

That's why we have captains.

The Balance in the Bank:

Final Score: Ottawa wins 4-1
Ottawa Goals: McAmmond, Comrie, Alfredsson (GW), Alfredsson
Making Sens: Alfredsson, Comrie, McAmmond
Lacking Sens: Redden, Meszaros
It was over when: Alfie bangs in his second of the game, a shortie from McAmmond to give us the 3-goal lead, and finally showing results for his hard play.
It was definitely over when: We continued to take the physical play to them throughout the latter half of the third, which was played mostly as 4-on-4 from offsetting minors throughout. Good shut down third.
Message in a Molson bottle: I don’t want to sound dramatic, but if we hang around in the playoffs for a while, then certain players are starting to define their careers right now. Alfredsson has been the best player on either team through three games, Comrie is looking incredible, Phillips and Volchenkov have played lights out shut down defence, and even Dean McAmmond is earning a raise. Nice Gordie Howe hat trick out of DMac today. Eaves is concussed, too, after a hit from Armstrong and McAmmond then picked off Talbot and took him to task.
Courtesy Boxscore: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270415016

Grab a Timmy’s double double and listen to what really happened:

Optimistic Ophelia
We once again dominated on the forecheck. I don’t care if we dump it in once we gain the red line or if we carry it in on the outside, if we continue to cycle like this and hit their defencemen often, we can win these games. Alfredsson, Fisher, Neil, Comrie, Schaefer, Schubert, all those hits will tire out their d-men and it slows them down throughout the game and series. Think Gonchar was tired when McAmmond passed it right by him to set up Alfie’s second of the night? Keep the hits coming.

Pessimistic Patty
Another third period goal allowed. I know that in this game and the first game, they were otherwise meaningless because the game was in hand, but after Game Two, we need to absolutely shut them down in the third. Their goal was just a result of Phillips giving too much room coming in, in my opinion. I’d like to see us shut them out in the third period on Tuesday.

Upbeat Ursula
Players are starting to buy into the program. Schaefer has looked a lot better in the offensive zone and is actually skating after loose pucks, something he hardly did all season. Its nice to see that Comrie has someone to play with. Fisher’s okay, too. Corvo and Preissing continue to do their job defensively, which was a concern mid-season. Corvo actually has been hands down our best puck moving defenceman back there and almost had a beauty goal if it weren’t for that massive f*ing yellow pad.

Debbie Downer
Wade Redden had better be injured, that’s all I have to say. So when a forward is coming at you and dumps the puck by you, aren’t you supposed to either take the man or take the puck? Redden stands there like a deer in headlights and either he is having trouble turning around or he just plain stinks. Either way, he’s a liability right now and if Therrien doesn’t keep his top forwards on the ice when Redden is out there on Tuesday, then he’s a mo-mo-mo-moron.

Keys to the next game
- Take the crowd out early by taking the body to them throughout the first.
- Don’t give up any ice in the neutral zone – its been working so far
- Crash the net – when we go to the net, we score. Easy recipe