rd2 gm3 - New Jersey @ Ottawa - 4.30.2007

In terms of oversight from officials, we’re even now.

The Balance in the Bank:

Final Score: Ottawa wins 2-0 (Ottawa leads series 2-1)
Ottawa Goals: Preissing (GW), Spezza
Making Sens: Alfredsson, Volchenkov, Comrie
Lacking Sens: Schaefer, Gerber
It was over when: The Preissing goal ignited this time to a level to which the Devils couldn’t match
It was definitely over when: Killed off the Phillips penalty and went into total shutdown mode for the final four minutes
Message in a Molson bottle: The better team won this game, no doubt about it. Just like in the first round, we have outplayed our opponents and are in a 2-1 series lead. The only difference is that the guy in the other net is standing on his head. Brodeur was amazing and it took a funky goal to win it. However, we were the team that was able to roll four lines, saw the role guys like Neil and McAmmond, Saprykin and Schubert play their precious little hearts out. Oh yeah, and Phillips and Volchenkov continue to cold-cock people as they enter the zone, which helps. Great team win. Enjoy it tonight and come back to work tomorrow to get ready for the next one.
Courtesy Boxscore: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270430014

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

Optimistic Ophelia
The second line was our best line tonight, finally. For the first time in this series, Mike Comrie showed the Tasmanian devil in him, Mike Fisher played out of this world, and Peter Schaefer recognized that there was a game being played and he was a part of it (expectations in check with that fella). This is a scoring line for us, but it is also an energy line and needs to forecheck hard and get the dirty goals. The game-winning goal tonight was a result of their solid play. Good to see. Third and fourth lines looked great tonight, too. They’ll need to keep it up if we’re to win this series.

Pessimistic Patty
Make no mistake, Romans, we’re facing the absolute best goaltender in the wonderful world of men’s ice hockey. Game One was an anomaly, games two and three are what we can expect from him for the rest of the round so it will take continued traffic to the net to crank out another two wins. We’ve never beaten an elite level goaltender and this is the toughest one yet. Luckily, our team is playing with a different vision and if anyone can do it, it’s the guys we dress right now.

Upbeat Ursula
Did you know that Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley have combined for 27 points in 8 games? Not too shabby for a has-been and a couple of never-will-be’s, eh? Actually, these three are playing great hockey in their own end right now, including the last minute of the game when we had all three of them backchecking hard enough to free up the puck and all record a point on Spezza’s empty netter. Your best players need to play like your best players, and guess what Scotty? We’re covered. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Debbie Downer
The Joe Corvo giveaway might have been the worst turnover recorded in post-War history, people. I love the guy and have defended him vehemently all season long, and even though he’s getting icetime and playing with lots of confidence, that one was bad. Redden and Spezza also had some bad turnovers in this one and if any team is going to make us pay for those, it’s the Sabres. But after the Sabres, the other team that will make us pay for those is the Devils. Can’t do it anymore from here until next preseason. That’s why we have goalies, though.

Keys to the next game
- Traffic in front of Brodeur.
- Keep pucks high – he’s too good with his pads and stick.
- Stay out of the penalty box
- No turnovers ever.

One final note, I'll say that I liked the way Sweet Lou responded to the media re: Fisher's tap on Brodeur on the game winning goal, but Brodeur WAS out of the crease and incidental contact is not a penalty. Sometimes you don't get the breaks (goals with 2.7 seconds left are impossible) and sometimes you do.