PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Game 5: Ottawa Senators (1) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (3) - 7:00pm ET - Thu. Apr. 22nd, 2010

The Ottawa Senators (1-3) hit the road to face the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-1) for Game 5 of their first round playoff series on Thursday night at Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Sens are coming off a horrible 7-4 loss at home on Tuesday night that saw an 8-goal 2nd period with Elliott being chased from the net. Leclaire did not fare much better as the Pens had their way with the Sens. Pittsburgh took both games in Ottawa to take a commanding, and suffocating 3-1 series lead heading back to Mellon Arena. They are just one win away of advancing to the 2nd round. Pittsburgh has been a new team since losing the opening game of the series and have taken it to the next level, with every player getting involved and of course, with Sidney Crosby leading the way. The turning point seems to be Sutton's massive hit on Leopold. Instead of deflating the Penguins, it woke them up and they have rallied around it. The Sens seem to have forgotten what got them success in Game 1 of this series and are making mistakes here and there. The Pens also seem to be getting all the bounces now... as they say, you gotta be good to be lucky, and lucky to be good. No doubt Fleury will start in net for the Pens, but who will get the call for the Sens... does Clouston go back with Elliott or does he give Leclaire a chance? Does Clouston try any other roster moves? Will Donovan draw in?

So, the last GDT I did, the Sens won... perhaps the "luck of the shabbs" will rise up once again and power the Sens to victory, and push this series to six games. If you believe, it can happen.

Game Coverage:
- TV: VERSUS (HD), CBC (HD), RDS (HD), FSN-P (HD)
- Radio: Team 1200
- Web: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/

Latest updates:
- Alfie did not practice this morning, nor did he skate before Game 4, must be resting his injury
- Leclaire to get the start in net for Game 5
- Donovan in for Cheechoo

Team Lineups:
Ottawa Senators: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/ottawa-senators-team-lineup
Pittsburgh Penguins: http://www.dailyfaceoff.com/team-lineups/pittsburgh-penguins-team-lineup

TSN's Ice Chips:

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11009

Ottawa Senators:

Projected Lines for Game 5 vs. Penguins

Forwards:
Regin - Spezza - Foligno
Cullen - Fisher - Alfredsson
Ruutu - Kelly - Neil
Winchester - Z. Smith - Donovan

Defencemen:
Phillips - Volchenkov
Sutton - Karlsson
Campoli - Carkner

Goaltenders:
Leclaire
Elliott

Healthy scratches:
- Shannon
- Cheechoo

Injuries:
- Filip Kuba (back surgery, out indefinitely)
- Milan Michalek (torn ACL, done for playoffs)
- Alex Kovalev (torn ACL, done for season and playoffs)

Pittsburgh Penguins:

Projected Lines for Game 5 vs. Senators:

Forwards:
Kunitz - Crosby - Guerin
Ponikarovsky - Malkin - Dupuis
Cooke - Staal - Fedotenko
Rupp - Talbot - Adams

Defencemen:
Orpik - Gonchar
Goligoski - Eaton
McKee - Letang

Goaltenders:
Fleury
Thiessen

Injuries:
- Jordan Leopold (head, missed Tuesday's game)
- Brent Johnson (flu-like symptoms, was available for Tuesday's game)

Game Day Previews:

OttawaSenators.com Game Day Preview:

Source: will post when available...

NHL.com Game Day Preview:

Source: will post when available...

Sportsnet.ca Game Day Preview:

Source: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/scores/20100422/Ott@Pit/story

ESPN Game Day Preview:

Source: http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=300422016

ESPN Stats Comparison:



Media Links:
- Sens' Regin a "great Dane" in the playoffs: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=526171
- Cheechoo answers the call: http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=526325
- SensTV On-line: http://senators.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp
- Official Twitter of the Ottawa Senators: http://twitter.com/NHL_Sens

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It's all your fault shabbs. Why did you make prages and I put out losing GDTs?

Finally I have a place to vent my anger over the last three games.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:It's all your fault shabbs. Why did you make prages and I put out losing GDTs?

Finally I have a place to vent my anger over the last three games.

HA HA! I can take the heat... bring it.

Oh ya, there is another game.

N4L wrote:Oh ya, there is another game.

It ain't over yet... the fat lady is warming up though... quick, someone kick her in the throat.

shabbs wrote:

N4L wrote:Oh ya, there is another game.

It ain't over yet... the fat lady is warming up though... quick, someone kick her in the throat.

While you're at it, kick Crosby and Malkin in the throat too.

PKC wrote:

shabbs wrote:

N4L wrote:Oh ya, there is another game.

It ain't over yet... the fat lady is warming up though... quick, someone kick her in the throat.

While you're at it, kick Crosby and Malkin in the throat too.

I'm on it...

Must we play another game?

SpezDispenser wrote:Must we play another game?

Agreed. Just forfeit because THAT would be far less embarrassing than the effort that was put forth in the last two home games.

Yeah, I don't think they should even bother playing this game. Not that they've played since game 1 anyway.

SensGirl11 wrote:Yeah, I don't think they should even bother playing this game. Not that they've played since game 1 anyway.

Seriously just shake hands and let the Pens move on.

I think the other face should be Cullen not Fisher in that picture in the GDT.

I'm tempted to also they should forfeit the game and take their golf clubs and then fly back to Ottawa to catch their tee off at Kanata Lakes.

The way the entire team has played is a joke, the fact that Elliott had to be yanked for this team to wake up and start playing playoff hockey is embarrassing.