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

Big Ev wrote:Comparing PP's, the Sens are at 18% and Rangers at 15.7%, but it's only a difference of about 5 goals.

The Rags' PP has been climbing, the Sens' not so much.

Big Ev wrote:Zibanejad skating with Spezza and Michalek in practice

OK, you win.

How much did you have to bribe McLean?

NEELY wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Zibanejad skating with Spezza and Michalek in practice

Hmmm... interesting. Not sure if that means anything at all to be honest.

According to Mendes:

The original plan is for Zibanejad to play in Binghamton on Fri/Sat. Having him skate on top line could be a way to get him ready for that.

According to SteffeG:

Ziba on the top line can't be anything but a "welcome, buddy" gift, no? #Sens

According to Brennan:

Zibanejad is skating on the top line, with Spezza and Michalek, just to give everybody something to think about. #nhl #sens

Big Ev wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Apparently our goaltending is a mess.

http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2012/04/10/playoff-previews-1-new-york-rangers-vs-8-ottawa-senators/

The Sens struggled down the stretch, going 4-6 in their last ten, including three straight losses to end the season. Their goaltending situation has become enough of a mess that during yesterday’s podcast Rob Pizzo felt the need to guarantee we’d see Ben Bishop between the pipes at some point. While Bishop has the potential to be a quality NHL goaltender, he’s still a little green to be turning to in a tough playoff series.

LOL. This is what happens when you don't watch games -- you say really stupid Dung like that^.

ok so he edited it after I asked how their goaltending is a mess. Now it just says he doesn't think Anderson is great. He didn't realize he was back from injury.

Does he realize that Anderson's post-season stats are much better than Lundqvist's? Granted, very small sample size, but the point is not really to say that Anderson is better than Lundqvist, but that Lundqvist has, historically, played worse in the post-season than the regular season. It could be because he was playing too many games, so I guess we'll see this year.

wprager wrote:Does he realize that Anderson's post-season stats are much better than Lundqvist's? Granted, very small sample size, but the point is not really to say that Anderson is better than Lundqvist, but that Lundqvist has, historically, played worse in the post-season than the regular season. It could be because he was playing too many games, so I guess we'll see this year.

Urgh. Don't even start a Lundqvist/Anderson comparison like that. If we had to pick one, we'd all take Lundqvist.

Joy's tweet:

MT @allenpanzeri2: #Sens Bryan Murray says plan is for Zibanejad to play w/ #BSens but could also start series vs. #Rangers. Decision time.

Now, isn't that interesting ...

wprager wrote:Joy's tweet:

MT @allenpanzeri2: #Sens Bryan Murray says plan is for Zibanejad to play w/ #BSens but could also start series vs. #Rangers. Decision time.

Now, isn't that interesting ...

Not a chance....he's probably saying that to Diddle with ppl

Maybe if we go down 0-2 or something we call upon the Mighty Z-Bad.

We're going to need a balanced scoring attack- I think Zbad brings a lot more to the game than anybody other than Spezza, Mich, Alf, Turris, and Foligno. Greening is a toss up, but if you throw him on a 3rd/4th line, all of a sudden you are much more of an offensive threat. Let's say our lines shake out like this:

Michalek- Spezza- Zbad
Foligno-Turris-Alfie
Condra-Smith-Neil
O'Brien-Winchester-Greening

Pressbox:
Daugavins-Klinkhammer-Konopka-Butler

I would suggest that those are 4 very effective lines.

I wouldn't mind seeing Zibanejad play, as long as that's what the Sens feel is right. Also hope it doesn't hurt chemistry too much. Would have been better if he played the final 3 games of the season too.

Who is a better centerman? Winnie or JOB? Not sure if those lines are your own or the ones they actually used, but I would switch Greening and Condra.

It's confirmed that Z-Bad will go play in Bingo and likely not be available until game 3 at the earliest.

Z-Bad has one NHL point and a grand total of 9 games of NHL experience. I'd rather start with Greening, and then call-up Z-Bad if we struggle in the first two games...and apparently that's the plan!

Fair enough, then I trust that's the right thing to do. Afterall, he wasn't really bringing it for his SEL team.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/46516-NHL-Stanley-Cup-Playoff-Preview-Round-1.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=thn_daily_20120409

I love this....this is great. ALL the pressure is on the Rangers, they better be amazing in this series.

Riprock wrote:Fair enough, then I trust that's the right thing to do. Afterall, he wasn't really bringing it for his SEL team.

I would start him with Spezza and Michalek - who cares, if he doesn't perform, you move Greening back up and filter Z-Bad down a bit. Big deal...no loss at all playing him. We lose a year of his RFA eligibility, whoppty doo.

In fact, in 20 of its 27 losses, Ottawa scored two goals or fewer.

Teams lose when they don't score goals?

MIND=BLOWN

tim1_2 wrote:It's confirmed that Z-Bad will go play in Bingo and likely not be available until game 3 at the earliest.

Z-Bad has one NHL point and a grand total of 9 games of NHL experience. I'd rather start with Greening, and then call-up Z-Bad if we struggle in the first two games...and apparently that's the plan!

And at the rate it's going, the SEL final will be over before we're done with round one. Silfverberg is on fire with a goal and an assist plus an empty-netter in a 6-2 Finals opener.

SpezDispenser wrote:http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/46516-NHL-Stanley-Cup-Playoff-Preview-Round-1.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=thn_daily_20120409

I love this....this is great. ALL the pressure is on the Rangers, they better be amazing in this series.

Haven't they learned? I'm a big fan of the complete and utter lack of respect for the Sens yet again.

Oh and I love how they failed to mention the Rangers riding a 2 game losing streak coming in to the playoffs as well. Convenient.