Onward and upward, and as a well-oiled machine
The Balance in the Bank:
Final Score: Ottawa wins 3-0 (Ottawa wins series 4-1)
Ottawa Goals: Heatley (GW), Vermette, Kelly
Making Sens: Alfredsson, Emery, Vermette
Lacking Sens: NA
It was over when: Heatley scores and Fisher follows it up by absolutely railing Ouellet and Staal into the ice, setting the tone for the rest of the period.
It was definitely over when: Kelly’s goal put this one away for good, up 3-0 in the second period. We may blow a 3-goal lead in the regular season, but not here.
Message in a Molson bottle: As the guys on TSN said, we may have had a bad period or two, but we never had a bad game. Heatley’s goal was a monkey off his back and really let the team take off on their usual second period rampage, but the momentum was ours after killing off two 5-on-3s in the first period. Defence + offence + goaltending + secondary scoring + PK = win
Courtesy Boxscore: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270419014
Grab a Timmy’s double double and listen to what really happened:
Optimistic Ophelia
Ray Emery absolutely became a more consistent and reliable goaltender as the series went on. Games 4 and 5 were without a doubt his best of the series. I hope the week off now doesn’t allow him to lose focus, because he’s the first #1 goalie we’ve ever had in the playoffs. Quick, move him into Muckler’s apartment and let him hide there from the media for a week. On a side note, this was easily Redden’s best game, too. Hooray, he won’t get traded yet!
Pessimistic Patty
Not much to touch on here, although I guess some people say that having a week off is too long between series. The way that this can be alleviated is if Tampa Bay, or Hockey Bay as their 10,000-12,000 call themselves, win over New Jersey and we get the equally rested Rangers in Round 2. All we can hope for is the Murray keeps the whip on them and that Redden and Heatley can nurse themselves back to health.
Upbeat Ursula
I’m not getting into the rah-rah we’re a different team than before bit, because then it would just seem like TSN’s Brent Wallace asked that question again (“no, Brent, we’re not the same team as the one in 2000…”). I’ll say this about what we’re seeing for the first time this year. We’ve never seen Alfie as the leading scorer in a series and he led both teams with 6 points. We don’t usually see us on the right side of a 2-1 win and we did that in the pivotal game 4. And we’ve never seen a coach that can roll four lines in all three periods of all five games and Murray had the luxury of doing that. This is shown in the numbers where only Oleg Saprykin had less than 10 minutes of icetime – amazing. It is a combination of getting early leads and also having guys like McAmmond on our fourth line. I think this group of players is the most cohesive and intelligent bunch we’ve had.
Debbie Downer
Alfie was 0-for-2 in the faceoff circle. He stinks. That’s all I got in this one. Oh wait, you know what is a downer? Watching this beauty of a game on Versus Network here in the US and A. I know Crosby is a spotlight player, but at no point during these five games did the play-by-play team talk about how well Ottawa was playing. They didn’t acknowledge anything about the Roberts hit on Volchenkov in the third period that could have been a charge, and clearly didn’t know that it was a major issue in the papers this morning. They didn’t know that Redden was involved in rumours all day for his poor play, instead praising him as the smartest defenceman out there. If the executives at Versus Network or OLN or whatever it is, if they read our website, let it be known that these buffoons have to join the Pens on the links. Or go bass fishing with some of the other network stars on this ridiculous TV station. At least I can go to MTV or VH1 for some music down here, right? Wait, what was that? Just reality shows there now? I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the Hockey Night in Canada team.
Keys to the next game
- Um, get rested and healthy
Friday, April 20, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Rd 1 Gm 4 - Ottawa @ Pittsburgh - 4.17.07
Winning a one-goal game in the postseason? Preposterous!
The Balance in the Bank:
Final Score: Ottawa wins 2-1
Ottawa Goals: Spezza, Volchenkov (GW)
Making Sens: Emery, Volchenkov, Comrie
Lacking Sens: Redden, Heatley
It was over when: Volchenkov takes a backhanded saucer pass from Comrie and blasts home a 30-footer with 10 minutes to play
It was definitely over when: Scrambles in front of our net result in us just icing the thing and then counting on Vermette to win the ensuing draw throughout the final minute.
Message in a Molson bottle: If we gave one away last Saturday to the Penguins, Ray Emery stole this one back. He was lights out throughout the game, especially in the second period when we killed off 8 minutes in penalties. Great goaltending, shutdown defence, and timely scoring – something we had never really seen in April and May before. Feels good.
Courtesy Boxscore: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270417016
Grab a Timmy’s double double and listen to what really happened:
Optimistic Ophelia
There is light in the nets. People had been saying that through three games, Emery was good, but not great. People were waiting for him to make that timely save that shifted momentum in our favour. Tonight, he made a lot of those saves as Crosby and his sleepover buddies spent a lot of time driving to the net, and Gary Roberts spend a lot of time at the net. Great job by Emery, he got us this win. Write it down, Ottawa, we have a goalie.
Pessimistic Patty
What the balls is wrong with Wade Redden? That is the question going around the water coolers this morning, as Redden was just laughable in this one, whether it be getting burned on the outside because he was flatfooted, or getting taken down in front or right behind his own net because he can’t play physical. Whatever is wrong with him, and lets hope for the sake of discussion that he has some lingering injury to his groin that is making him play like this, that Murray either hacks away his icetime or just canes him old school rules to get him to snap out of this. Then again, how much can we expect from him now when this is how he’s played all year?
Upbeat Ursula
Guys like Comrie and Vermette and Volchenkov are perfect examples of doing the little things right. Comrie is a menace on the forecheck, even in his small stature, as he hits anything and cycles the puck like a champ. Vermette is key in winning faceoffs, an area where we’ve trumped the Penguins this series and was key in the dying minutes of this one. Volchenkov is an absolute machine, what else can you say? To have him rewarded for his efforts with the game winner last night was very fitting.
Debbie Downer
I know it is tough to pick up a negative in a hard-working win, but I thought some of the guys looked a bit tired in this one. Let’s be honest, Pittsburgh kinda took it to us for the better part of the game. I thought we were by far the better team in the third period and really controlled the pace, but they outhit us pretty bad and it just looked at times that some of the stars of the early games were a bit slower in their takeoffs. All the more reason to handle our business on Thursday and get some rest.
Keys to the next game
- Use the crowd and the motivation of not wanting to travel until the second round
- Stay out of the box – 8 minutes of PK in the second period could have been a recipe for disaster.
- Clear the paint – too often was Roberts parked in front of Emery with only a weak shove from #6 (I’m not naming names here…)
The Balance in the Bank:
Final Score: Ottawa wins 2-1
Ottawa Goals: Spezza, Volchenkov (GW)
Making Sens: Emery, Volchenkov, Comrie
Lacking Sens: Redden, Heatley
It was over when: Volchenkov takes a backhanded saucer pass from Comrie and blasts home a 30-footer with 10 minutes to play
It was definitely over when: Scrambles in front of our net result in us just icing the thing and then counting on Vermette to win the ensuing draw throughout the final minute.
Message in a Molson bottle: If we gave one away last Saturday to the Penguins, Ray Emery stole this one back. He was lights out throughout the game, especially in the second period when we killed off 8 minutes in penalties. Great goaltending, shutdown defence, and timely scoring – something we had never really seen in April and May before. Feels good.
Courtesy Boxscore: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270417016
Grab a Timmy’s double double and listen to what really happened:
Optimistic Ophelia
There is light in the nets. People had been saying that through three games, Emery was good, but not great. People were waiting for him to make that timely save that shifted momentum in our favour. Tonight, he made a lot of those saves as Crosby and his sleepover buddies spent a lot of time driving to the net, and Gary Roberts spend a lot of time at the net. Great job by Emery, he got us this win. Write it down, Ottawa, we have a goalie.
Pessimistic Patty
What the balls is wrong with Wade Redden? That is the question going around the water coolers this morning, as Redden was just laughable in this one, whether it be getting burned on the outside because he was flatfooted, or getting taken down in front or right behind his own net because he can’t play physical. Whatever is wrong with him, and lets hope for the sake of discussion that he has some lingering injury to his groin that is making him play like this, that Murray either hacks away his icetime or just canes him old school rules to get him to snap out of this. Then again, how much can we expect from him now when this is how he’s played all year?
Upbeat Ursula
Guys like Comrie and Vermette and Volchenkov are perfect examples of doing the little things right. Comrie is a menace on the forecheck, even in his small stature, as he hits anything and cycles the puck like a champ. Vermette is key in winning faceoffs, an area where we’ve trumped the Penguins this series and was key in the dying minutes of this one. Volchenkov is an absolute machine, what else can you say? To have him rewarded for his efforts with the game winner last night was very fitting.
Debbie Downer
I know it is tough to pick up a negative in a hard-working win, but I thought some of the guys looked a bit tired in this one. Let’s be honest, Pittsburgh kinda took it to us for the better part of the game. I thought we were by far the better team in the third period and really controlled the pace, but they outhit us pretty bad and it just looked at times that some of the stars of the early games were a bit slower in their takeoffs. All the more reason to handle our business on Thursday and get some rest.
Keys to the next game
- Use the crowd and the motivation of not wanting to travel until the second round
- Stay out of the box – 8 minutes of PK in the second period could have been a recipe for disaster.
- Clear the paint – too often was Roberts parked in front of Emery with only a weak shove from #6 (I’m not naming names here…)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
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
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
Rd 1 Gm 2 - Pittsburgh @ Ottawa - 4.14.2007
Can't exorcise ALL our demons, I guess.
The Balance in the Bank:
Final Score: Pittsburgh wins 4-3 (series even 1-1)
Ottawa Goals: Spezza, Alfredsson, Kelly
Making Sens: Alfredsson, Spezza, Comrie
Lacking Sens: Heatley, Fisher, Redden
It was over when: Crybaby Crosby sneaks behind Phillips and bangs in the winner
It was definitely over when: We rattle two off the post in the third and can’t get it by the man in the yellow pads
Message in a Molson bottle: Sometimes you can outplay someone and still lose and I think that’s what happened this time. The problem for Ottawa is that it seemed only half the players bought into the game plan and the other half were not pulling their weight. The problem with this loss is that it opens the team up to media scrutiny about Crosby’s success, the missing Roberts trade, our inability to get a 2-0 series lead, and the fact that the Penguins are a real team. We need to put all of this to bed in Game 3 and restore world order.
Courtesy Boxscore: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270414014
Grab a Timmy’s double double and listen to what really happened:
Optimistic Ophelia
Spezza and Alfredsson were unbelievable for the second straight game. Alfie scored a great PP goal, hit bodies and was great with the puck. Spezza looks like an elite player out there, too. You need your best players to play like your best players, and that’s what we got from these two. If only this would rub off on the rest of the forwards. Joe Corvo was our best puck-mover today, too. He is fast and he’ll take the space that you give him without the dumb plays that he was making mid-season.
Pessimistic Patty
Dany Heatley and Mike Fisher were very disappointing today. Heatley was just not himself, didn’t have his timing or his puck control and just lost battles far too often for someone his size. Mike Fisher was just in another world and couldn’t do a single thing right this time around. Both of these players need to pull 180 degree turns quickly and get ready for the next one. Ray Emery was no picnic either and while he can’t be completely faulted for the goals, he needs to make the big save, like the one Fleury made on Fisher in the dying seconds.
Upbeat Ursula
Mike Comrie, Chris Phillips, and Anton Volchenkov were our physical leaders. Comrie did an amazing thing in fighting (sort of) Armstrong to open the third, payback for running Emery in the previous period. Comrie switched sides with Schaefer for the faceoff with the sole intention of dropping his gloves and this truly should have been enough to lift us with the momentum to dominate the third. It wasn’t.
Debbie Downer
What is it going to take for these guys to win two in a row? We had a chance to take a complete stranglehold on the series, but the Redden/Meszaros pairing shite in their shorts and some key forwards could do no right. What the balls is it going to take?! The bright side is that most of the key players here are new and haven’t experienced our past letdowns (Corvo, Comrie, Preissing, McAmmond), but at the same time, they must be amazed at how we can completely negate the entire Wednesday night performance and go to the Burgh to open a best-of-five series on the road. I still think we win this series, but I’m pretty exhausted from the total lack of killer instinct of some of our star players. I want to see Wade Redden play his best game since Game 3 of the first round matchup last year when he took over the TB game. If not, then I’ll run out of expletives in the next report.
Keys to the next game
- Take over the first period, set the tone and hit the shite out of their defencemen on the forecheck
- Defensive positioning must be mistake-free – no pressure, guys.
- Heatley must score a goal
- Oh yeah, powerplays. When we sent the puck to the point for the shot, it didn’t work. When we brought the puck down low between the top three guys, we scored. I’m no mathematician, but those numbers kinda favour one strategy over the one that made our powerplay a league-wide joke coming into the playoffs. Give the puck to your best players, not defencemen that can’t hit the net.
The Balance in the Bank:
Final Score: Pittsburgh wins 4-3 (series even 1-1)
Ottawa Goals: Spezza, Alfredsson, Kelly
Making Sens: Alfredsson, Spezza, Comrie
Lacking Sens: Heatley, Fisher, Redden
It was over when: Crybaby Crosby sneaks behind Phillips and bangs in the winner
It was definitely over when: We rattle two off the post in the third and can’t get it by the man in the yellow pads
Message in a Molson bottle: Sometimes you can outplay someone and still lose and I think that’s what happened this time. The problem for Ottawa is that it seemed only half the players bought into the game plan and the other half were not pulling their weight. The problem with this loss is that it opens the team up to media scrutiny about Crosby’s success, the missing Roberts trade, our inability to get a 2-0 series lead, and the fact that the Penguins are a real team. We need to put all of this to bed in Game 3 and restore world order.
Courtesy Boxscore: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=270414014
Grab a Timmy’s double double and listen to what really happened:
Optimistic Ophelia
Spezza and Alfredsson were unbelievable for the second straight game. Alfie scored a great PP goal, hit bodies and was great with the puck. Spezza looks like an elite player out there, too. You need your best players to play like your best players, and that’s what we got from these two. If only this would rub off on the rest of the forwards. Joe Corvo was our best puck-mover today, too. He is fast and he’ll take the space that you give him without the dumb plays that he was making mid-season.
Pessimistic Patty
Dany Heatley and Mike Fisher were very disappointing today. Heatley was just not himself, didn’t have his timing or his puck control and just lost battles far too often for someone his size. Mike Fisher was just in another world and couldn’t do a single thing right this time around. Both of these players need to pull 180 degree turns quickly and get ready for the next one. Ray Emery was no picnic either and while he can’t be completely faulted for the goals, he needs to make the big save, like the one Fleury made on Fisher in the dying seconds.
Upbeat Ursula
Mike Comrie, Chris Phillips, and Anton Volchenkov were our physical leaders. Comrie did an amazing thing in fighting (sort of) Armstrong to open the third, payback for running Emery in the previous period. Comrie switched sides with Schaefer for the faceoff with the sole intention of dropping his gloves and this truly should have been enough to lift us with the momentum to dominate the third. It wasn’t.
Debbie Downer
What is it going to take for these guys to win two in a row? We had a chance to take a complete stranglehold on the series, but the Redden/Meszaros pairing shite in their shorts and some key forwards could do no right. What the balls is it going to take?! The bright side is that most of the key players here are new and haven’t experienced our past letdowns (Corvo, Comrie, Preissing, McAmmond), but at the same time, they must be amazed at how we can completely negate the entire Wednesday night performance and go to the Burgh to open a best-of-five series on the road. I still think we win this series, but I’m pretty exhausted from the total lack of killer instinct of some of our star players. I want to see Wade Redden play his best game since Game 3 of the first round matchup last year when he took over the TB game. If not, then I’ll run out of expletives in the next report.
Keys to the next game
- Take over the first period, set the tone and hit the shite out of their defencemen on the forecheck
- Defensive positioning must be mistake-free – no pressure, guys.
- Heatley must score a goal
- Oh yeah, powerplays. When we sent the puck to the point for the shot, it didn’t work. When we brought the puck down low between the top three guys, we scored. I’m no mathematician, but those numbers kinda favour one strategy over the one that made our powerplay a league-wide joke coming into the playoffs. Give the puck to your best players, not defencemen that can’t hit the net.
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