(1) New York Rangers vs (8) Ottawa Senators - Playoffs Round 1

We have 5 days or so to prepare for battle in what has to be considered a more favourable matchup for Ottawa than Boston.

The Sens have scored 23 more goals, the Rangers have let in 53 less goals. Lundqvist vs Anderson with Anderson having stellar numbers in his career vs the Rangers.

Very interesting series coming! We're as physical as they are, our D has Erik Karlsson but doesn't have the Staal/Girardi pairing. Spezza, Alfredsson, Michalek vs Richards, Gaborik, Dubinsky. Have to keep an eye on Callahan as well obviously.

GO SENS GO!!! Back in the playoffs... and it feels so good... BELIEVE!!!

Looks like Thu/Sat for Games 1 and 2 of the series. NHL will confirm the schedules this afternoon.

already see people giving us 5 games at max...lol

This is a series that we have a legitimate chance of winning. We match up very well against NYR. I don't know if we'll win, but we're not going to be an easy roll-over, either, that's for sure.

rooneypoo wrote:This is a series that we have a legitimate chance of winning. We match up very well against NYR. I don't know if we'll win, but we're not going to be an easy roll-over, either, that's for sure.

This exactly. We match up well, we can do this. Will we? Not sure, but NY is gonna get a series here.

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:This is a series that we have a legitimate chance of winning. We match up very well against NYR. I don't know if we'll win, but we're not going to be an easy roll-over, either, that's for sure.

This exactly. We match up well, we can do this. Will we? Not sure, but NY is gonna get a series here.

I hope they can stretch it to 7 at least. We haven't seen a 7 games series since 2004. We need to break that stupid goose-egg

Yes the Sens match up better against the Rangers... but the playoffs are a completely different season.

Throw out the regular season stats with the Rangers...

Let's hope the team gets back it's intensity & focus. They need the win in the first game...

sandysensfan wrote:Yes the Sens match up better against the Rangers... but the playoffs are a completely different season.

Throw out the regular season stats with the Rangers...

Let's hope the team gets back it's intensity & focus. They need the win in the first game...

I don't even know the regular season stats on the match ups between these two teams, LOL. All I know is, we can play with the Rangers. With BOS, far too often, it looks like boys against men.

No matter how this turns out, this was the best match up for this team (other than Florida).

Exactly - the regular season meetings were meaningless games. This is playoffs where the games are meaningful.

Regular season results between the two teams:

Regular Season Series: Ottawa wins 3 - 1
Oct 29: Ottawa 5, at New York 4
Nov 9: New York 3, at Ottawa 2
Jan 12: Ottawa 3, at New York 0
Mar 8: at Ottawa 4, New York 1

Riprock wrote:Regular season results between the two teams:

Regular Season Series: Ottawa wins 3 - 1
Oct 29: Ottawa 5, at New York 4
Nov 9: New York 3, at Ottawa 2
Jan 12: Ottawa 3, at New York 0
Mar 8: at Ottawa 4, New York 1

Looks like we're in for a low-scoring, gritty, physical affair, with lots of frustrated shooters on both sides, if you ask me.

I get that regular season records are not necessarily indicative of how the playoff series might unfold, but, all things considered, OTT matches up well against NYR. NYR may very well win, but they're not going to plow through us like BOS probably would have -- no chance.

Worrisome stats:

Ottawa:

Record in the last ten: 4-6
Current Streak: lost 3
Last 13: 5-8
Since the allstar break: 14-16 (.466)
Dead last in GAA of playoff bound teams

Rangers much better than Boston though.

Keys for Ottawa - Neil and Smith, as well as the other checkers. Need these guys to wreak havoc, as well as score when chances arise.

The Bingo crew that won the Calder Cup have playoff experience and underdog mentality.

Spezza, Alfredsson, Michalek and Karlsson need to provide the offence.