FINAL: 5 Ottawa @ 1 Pittsburgh , 7:00PM, Tuesday, January 10, 2011

Big Ev wrote:i bet he had diarrhea

That would be lower body injury, though.

MacLean's post-game:
https://vr.shapeservices.com/play.php?hash=79316b6dc5d19c0927fbe8af5d47c8e15032cb6bcb3212891

He mentioned how the 2nd wasn't a very good period, as they had 2 shots until the PP, late. So I was right -- they played almost the full period with 2 shots on goal and 2 goals.

Nice work from our D without Karlsson. Looked like they still transitioned it quite well. Really liked some individual games - including Turris, who's making me a believer.

Apparently this was the call by Dean Brown on the Sens 3rd goal...

"Jason Spezza pulls Johnson out and slides it in the open hole, 3-nothing Ottawa."

Riprock wrote:Apparently this was the call by Dean Brown on the Sens 3rd goal...

"Jason Spezza pulls Johnson out and slides it in the open hole, 3-nothing Ottawa."

Did he really? Priceless!

That's what my buddy from CBC said... I didn't catch it.

What a great game...way to stomp on an opponent that should be stomped on. There would've been no excuse for not winning that game, and it's nice to see us carry the lead throughout for once. Great job by everybody...and it's great to put up 5 goals without EK (and great to hear that it's nothing serious).

Pittsburgh is just sad to watch right now (not that I have any sympathy). In the 2nd period, their checkers were all over us and really creating momentum, but they just had nobody who could finish.

We're now 7 points clear of 9th place, and most of the other competing teams are now caught up, or just 1 game behind in games played.

How's this for a scenario: the Sens and Leafs keep playing well and meet each other in the playoffs, 4th place vs. 5th place.

Riprock wrote:That's what my buddy from CBC said... I didn't catch it.

I e-mailed TGOR about it. If they can find that clip they should add it to their show-ending montage (just before "Surely, this must be it!")

tim1_2 wrote:What a great game...way to stomp on an opponent that should be stomped on. There would've been no excuse for not winning that game, and it's nice to see us carry the lead throughout for once. Great job by everybody...and it's great to put up 5 goals without EK (and great to hear that it's nothing serious).

Pittsburgh is just sad to watch right now (not that I have any sympathy). In the 2nd period, their checkers were all over us and really creating momentum, but they just had nobody who could finish.

We're now 7 points clear of 9th place, and most of the other competing teams are now caught up, or just 1 game behind in games played.

How's this for a scenario: the Sens and Leafs keep playing well and meet each other in the playoffs, 4th place vs. 5th place.

Spezza said between periods that he was a bit worried about the third, because they've never had a lead going into the third

One thing that I think is getting overlooked is Anderson performance in the 1st. He was a rock when Pitts came out flying. The way he is playing now Ottawa may actually end up with home ice advantage in round 1 of the playoffs. It's not a matter of Ottawa winning enough games it's a matter of teams finding a way to beat the Sens and with a hot Anderson it's going to be tough for anyone, even the Bruins have their work cut out for them on a nightly basis if and when they play the Sens because the Sens actually push back and just as hard as the Bruins might.

Anyways, this team is going to the playoffs baring anything unforseen and they may actually win a round while they are at it.

It's very nice to see Anderson looking like the guy that pushed an unlikely Avs team to the playoffs. The nice thing here is the Sens look like a more solid team that could push most first round opponents and have a solid chance of winning a 7 game series. Playoffs alone are gravy so winning a round would be an extremely successful season.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:It's very nice to see Anderson looking like the guy that pushed an unlikely Avs team to the playoffs. The nice thing here is the Sens look like a more solid team that could push most first round opponents and have a solid chance of winning a 7 game series. Playoffs alone are gravy so winning a round would be an extremely successful season.

Edit: I will say that you never really know how guys like Greening, Condra, Butler, Daugavins, Cowen will react when the playoffs hit. It's nothing like AHL playoffs and they could end up a little awe struck.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:It's very nice to see Anderson looking like the guy that pushed an unlikely Avs team to the playoffs. The nice thing here is the Sens look like a more solid team that could push most first round opponents and have a solid chance of winning a 7 game series. Playoffs alone are gravy so winning a round would be an extremely successful season.

With Florida being where they are right now the place to finish would be 6th... if they can't wrap up 4th and get home ice. The biggest thing will be avoiding the Bruins in the first round but I don't see the Sens finishing below 6th at this point which is downright crazy to say now.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:It's very nice to see Anderson looking like the guy that pushed an unlikely Avs team to the playoffs. The nice thing here is the Sens look like a more solid team that could push most first round opponents and have a solid chance of winning a 7 game series. Playoffs alone are gravy so winning a round would be an extremely successful season.

Edit: I will say that you never really know how guys like Greening, Condra, Butler, Daugavins, Cowen will react when the playoffs hit. It's nothing like AHL playoffs and they could end up a little awe struck.

NHL playoffs are a lot like the AHL playoffs. Same kind of grind and same kind of game plans. That said, the guys you mentioned are all character guys that will probably be even better in the playoffs than the regular season. The Sens have a ton of players that know how to play mistake free hockey.

I was saying this to my wife last night that the Sens would probably be a successful playoff team due to their 3rd period clutch ability this season. This is what playoffs are about - winning with insurmountable odds against you.

Anderson is tied for second in wins, tops in the league in TOI and shots faced, and second in saves (just 3 behind Rinne). His SV% is .903, and given where it was in early December (hovering around .889?) it must be phenomenal over the last 10-15 games.

Anderson is playing well right now, really well. Sometimes it takes time for a goaltenders game to come around but he's proven he can carry a load for a team. He needs a break at some point though and like I said in the other thread, unless Auld can play in a game and not let up 4 plus goals the backup situation will need be be addressed.

NEELY wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:It's very nice to see Anderson looking like the guy that pushed an unlikely Avs team to the playoffs. The nice thing here is the Sens look like a more solid team that could push most first round opponents and have a solid chance of winning a 7 game series. Playoffs alone are gravy so winning a round would be an extremely successful season.

Edit: I will say that you never really know how guys like Greening, Condra, Butler, Daugavins, Cowen will react when the playoffs hit. It's nothing like AHL playoffs and they could end up a little awe struck.

NHL playoffs are a lot like the AHL playoffs. Same kind of grind and same kind of game plans. That said, the guys you mentioned are all character guys that will probably be even better in the playoffs than the regular season. The Sens have a ton of players that know how to play mistake free hockey.

In terms of the grind and such sure but the crowds are bigger, the distractions are more prominent, there's a ton more coverage with reporters, TV cameras, interviews, family bugging you for tickets. Sure they're character guys and they should be fine I'm just saying it's an unknown until they actually get there is all.