GAME 4 - 2010 Stanley Cup GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators (1) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2), Tuesday Apr. 20, 2010 - 7:00PM EST.

On a more positive note the Sens have a 44.4% rating on the PP so key message? Draw some freakin' penalties.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Good morning all. Just thought I'd drop in with my "Ray of Sunshine" report:

This is from the NHL.com preview:

Stat pack: Six times the Senators have lost Game 3 in a series, and all three times they went on to lose the series.

Um... something doesn't add up there.

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Good morning all. Just thought I'd drop in with my "Ray of Sunshine" report:

This is from the NHL.com preview:

Stat pack: Six times the Senators have lost Game 3 in a series, and all three times they went on to lose the series.

Um... something doesn't add up there.

hahahaha. I never noticed that. Too funny.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:On a more positive note the Sens have a 44.4% rating on the PP so key message? Draw some freakin' penalties.

Everything ties into their forcheck. It needs to be great along with great goaltending, good wont be good enough. It's obvious The Sens cant count on Spezza and Alfi looks to be either on the down side or playing injured, other guys are goign to have to take the ball.

All that said, I wont be too upset with a 1st round loss because there are a lot of young guys getting their feet wet and this will only help. Smith, Winchester are learning how to grind it out in the playoffs and have been very impressed with both. Karlsson is getting more mins then he should based on The Sens lack of a puck mover, he isnt ready for these mins but it will help him in the future, right now he looks a little lost at times, but not intimidated which is a HUGE positive. Regin, well he's been awesome and only going to get better. Carkner has looked ok, nothing special, but that's his game, nothing special.

The guy I think that is getting lost in all this from a positive side is Campoli, he has been VERY solid. Moving the puck well, taking hits to make plays, jumping into the rush when he can... I think that 1st rounder for him wasnt all that bad a deal right now, he has elivated his play, that's all you want from a guy like him.

As for Elliott, I think tonight will tell the story for him. His first everything is always tough it seems, never comes out of the gate setting the world on fire but he ALWAYS seems to rebound, learn, and give his team a chance to win or wins it himself. His first home playoff game wasnt his best, but if I was a betting man I would say tonight will be his best game of the series, maybe his life. This game will go a long way in determining what kind of goaltender he is, I hope for The Sens sake and his he is steller.

Ottawa isnt a true contender and wont be for a while, but in a couple years when Lehner and Elliott are both here, the defense becoming stacked, and hopefully some forward prospects coming into the ranks they should be ready to contend against the best. Right now, they should just be building on this expeirence and hopefully taking this series to 7. That would be a successful season IMO.

Spezza, Fisher, and Foligno have to play a lot better with the mins they are getting though. I think Cullen has been great thus far, he's all over the ice, playing in every situation. Alfi, well, something's wrong.

All in all, next year looks promising but they need a good, hard fought series to build on.

People counting on Spezza to turn it up though and chance the series, dont hold your breath. Easist 1st line center in the league to play againt. You know he might make a great play but you also know he will do something dumb, they just have to wait for it.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:On a more positive note the Sens have a 44.4% rating on the PP so key message? Draw some freakin' penalties.

Easier said when done when the ref's seem to turn a blind eye.

+1 Neely, that was a good analysis and I agree with it.

am i wrong to think if Neils hit on Malkin was a charging then Crosby should have recevied a penalty for his hit on Alfie?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Good morning all. Just thought I'd drop in with my "Ray of Sunshine" report:

This is from the NHL.com preview:

Stat pack: Six times the Senators have lost Game 3 in a series, and all three times they went on to lose the series.

Um... something doesn't add up there.

hahahaha. I never noticed that. Too funny.

According to Brent Wallace of TSN, the stat is: 10 times the Sens have been down 2-1 in a series, and 10 times they've gone on to lose that series.

Let's fix that.

I think Fisher is starting to step up and the team woke up when it was 4-1. They need to continue where they left off last game and carry that momentum into tonight. A stronger forecheck as Neely pointed out, a stronger effort by Elliott and a stronger commitment to team D should secure a win.

Another big key is bury your chances. It's not often you'll be given open nets and if you don't get those in it'll result, most likely, in a loss.

My stars for tonight's game are Elliott, Cullen, Regin with Fisher as hardest working Senator. I expect a goal from one of Alfie or Spezza along with at least an assist from either.

I expect an assist from Spezza every game, no one makes a better career off of that 2nd assist then Spezza, that's for sure.

The defense has to do a better job of clearing bodies in front of Ellott too considering the size of our D. They also have to pay attention to detail, too many break downs last game.

Sutton needs to get back to doing what he does best... hitting, blocking shots and shutting down. I think that Leopold hit is in his head now... shake it out and get back to basics.

N4L wrote:I expect an assist from Spezza every game, no one makes a better career off of that 2nd assist then Spezza, that's for sure.

The defense has to do a better job of clearing bodies in front of Ellott too considering the size of our D. They also have to pay attention to detail, too many break downs last game.

We need another hit similar to the Sutton on Leopold hit (doesn't necessarily have to knock the guy out of the game either) within the first 5 minutes of the game. I also want to see the Sens massively out hitting the Pens in period one without it costing us a goal or a penalty. Set the tone early, draw some penalties and be relentless on Crosby and Malkin and everything else you said above.

OH and shoot the damn puck at Fleury from everywhere and drive the net like you plan on taking out Fleury, the net, the boards, glass and people in the first five rows.

Sens 100% need to set the tone early, Elliott no matter what the situation has to make a big save early if he happens to get tested. If he gets beat on a 2-0 from Malking and Crosby, it will be game, set, match. He has to be better then good tonight.

If they can play their game, get pucks in and cycle down low, they can beat The Pens and force at least 6 games. The Sens are an ok team with upset potential, but they cant have any lapses.

My hope is that CC stops trying to match Spezza and Alfie with Crosby's line. It seems to me that they are thinking too much about D rather than just controlling the play, and it ain't working. Make Crosby's minutes harder, hit Malkin again and again, punish Gonchar and Letang on the forecheck and make the Pens worry about us rather than worrying about them.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

N4L wrote:I expect an assist from Spezza every game, no one makes a better career off of that 2nd assist then Spezza, that's for sure.

The defense has to do a better job of clearing bodies in front of Ellott too considering the size of our D. They also have to pay attention to detail, too many break downs last game.

We need another hit similar to the Sutton on Leopold hit (doesn't necessarily have to knock the guy out of the game either) within the first 5 minutes of the game. I also want to see the Sens massively out hitting the Pens in period one without it costing us a goal or a penalty. Set the tone early, draw some penalties and be relentless on Crosby and Malkin and everything else you said above.

Um, yes it does.

RobbyJ wrote:My hope is that CC stops trying to match Spezza and Alfie with Crosby's line. It seems to me that they are thinking too much about D rather than just controlling the play, and it ain't working. Make Crosby's minutes harder, hit Malkin again and again, punish Gonchar and Letang on the forecheck and make the Pens worry about us rather than worrying about them.

Absolutely. CC: IT's NOT working!!! Seriously put Spezza up against the sleeping giant in Malkin and put Fisher in Crosby's face all night. Fisher, Cullen and Foligno with ATrain and Phillips should be able to shut down Crosby and even generate offense. Let Spezza, Alfie and Regin line up against Malkin and I'm sure you'll see much better results tonight.

Dash wrote:Seriously, tell me about it.

Any line-up changes? Cheechoo? Donovan?

Edit: TSN said CC "may elect" to dress Cheechoo, Donovan or both tonight. Who * else* would sit if both play?

I hope we see Shannon out and Donovan in. If CC wants to bring Cheechoo in as well, then he'll have to sit Winch I think, but is that really warranted? Who else? We could have a 4th line of:

Donovan - Z. Smith - Cheechoo

Hmmmm...