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

I figured the first game would be tough for this group. Anderson was okay, maybe even better than okay, but okay is not enough when going against the Rangers. Lundqvist let in two but those didn't matter to the Rangers at that point.

The two keys in this series are Anderson playing about as well as Lundqvist and the Sens PP producing. If neither of those things happen, it will be a very short series.

shabbs wrote:Well, hopefully the Sens got their "sillys" out and will have a better showing in Game 2 from start to finish. They hung with the Rags at the start and then let it slip away.

No matter what, the kids are getting a ton of experience. We can't really lose because, according to The Gene, "we've already won."

Like Gilroy's game to be honest. Thought he played really well.

NEELY wrote:Like Gilroy's game to be honest. Thought he played really well.

The Giller likes your game too, old friend.

I think last night was a case of OTT beating themselves more than anything else. Other that a series of horrawful breakdowns for 10 minutes or in the late 2nd and early 3rd, the Sens skated with NYR throughout. In fact, for much of the 2nd and the third, they thoroughly outplayed NYR.

I expect OTT will be much better in game 2. Clearly lots of nerves all around. OTT is a team that has defined itself against other teams and other people's expectations all year long. Now that they know what they're up against, I expect them to respond and adapt.

shabbs wrote:Anderson certainly wasn't in #beastmode, that's for sure. But you can't hang this on him. The first goal was a combo of Kuba not getting his man and Andy being off the post a bit. Hard to call it a soft one, lucky shot. The 2nd goal was a total crapping of the bed by Cowen and Gonchar. 3rd goal was a rocket that Andy would love to have back for sure. 4th goal was on Foligno for getting stripped behind the net and the rest of the Sens on the ice who let Richards sail in untouched. They need to recognize who's on the ice at all times. Gotta be better.

Not hanging the loss on Anderson but that first goal was all on him. *ALL* There was *no shot* given to Callahan except an empty-net one. Anderson had absolutely no reason to leave his crease, but he confounded the problem by skating away from the line as well, and then was too far off the post. That was not a shot top-corner, it was a nothing shot and you cannot blame Kuba for letting him take that. No-way that should have gone in.

Was it deflating to the team? No, not as much as it would have been last year. They continued playing well, for the most part, until that time out. Maybe MacLean should've called one of his own when it was 2-0.

That second goal was not Anderson's fault, of course, the Stick that Gonchar knocked out of the hands of the Rangers player on his clearing attempt didn't help Cowen, but it really wasn't enough to completely side-track him. He blew his assignment on that, the stick didn't help but he has to overcome stuff like that. And, still, when it came to the one-on-one between Gaborik and Anderson, Gaborik won -- Anderson's effort was weak on that play, even if there wasn't much he could have done with it. He anticipated a shot, I guess, but maybe he could have, at the same time, tried for the poke check? I don't know, I'm not a goalie, but it did not look like his strongest effort.

And while refereeing certainly wasn't to blame for anything last night, why was there no high-stick call just before the first goal? Condra had a nice welt on his throat -- those *should* count, it was a gimme for the refs, an automatic. And when Boyle decided to give Karlsson seven nuggies it was really weak to give them both roughing minors. I understand he didn't want to give out a powerplay for that (let's face it, those were not exactly hard blows to the head -- he mostly messed up Karlsson's hair) but he could have easily given Boyle a warning to stop being an a$$hole and just play hockey.

I wonder if Carkner is ready?

stempniaksen wrote:I can't remember seeing the Sens be sloppier in both ends of the ice since our terrible stretch to start the season. Part of that was the Rangers (who do an amzing job of clogging up lanes and getting sticks/bodies on everything), and part of that was the Sens just being bad (nerves or whatever). I fully anticipate McStache righting the ship when it comes to the bad defensive plays and sloppiness up front.

Two guys that stick out as needing to be way better are Spezza and Smith. Hopefully both of those guys can turn it around next game as our group of centers has to be stronger (although for the most part Turris was good last night).

Turris was good last night? He couldn't win a face off until Healey mentioned that he was 2 for 11. Alfie was -3 until he scored his goal. So was Turris until his assists. Foligno was only -2 (again, until his assist) but he was directly responsible for one of the goals. Horrible effort there with the puck to lose it that badly behind your own goal.

Guys, let's not sugar coat this. They stunk last night. Anderson was bad. Alfie was bad. Michalek was OK but no finish. Smith was invisible, as was Neil, mostly (Healy kept trying to show "highlights" of Neil's "questionable" hits and I was laughing because it reminded me of those mostly accidental contacts in House League). Hits were listed as primarily even but I thought neither team brought a strong game. We were all afraid that Karlsson would be targetted and he was barely touched. The Rangers *will* bring a much different game tomorrow night.

I don't know what more you want out of Spezza. Sure, he needs to bring more as in everyone needs to bring more when you lose, essentially, 4-0 with a couple of almost-nothing goals at the end (not sure if those two were good for the Sens or if it will simply make New York more careful to not take them too lightly).

12 bliocked shots. *12 FRIGGIN' BLOCKED SHOTS* Are you kidding me? This is the Stanley Cup Playoffs! No-one on the Sens had more than 2. That is just ridiculous if you want to win.

stempniaksen wrote:I think Karlsson has set the bar so high based on his play this season that it's dissapointing when he has nights like last night. He wasn't bad by any stretch, especially with the amount of pressure they put on him, but he'll need to make better decisions if we have any chance in this series.

It was a tough game to judge last night, as no one really played up to snuff (except Turris, Alfredsson and Neil) which could be because the Rangers are just THAT much better (doubt it) or because of nerves, ect (more likely).

He was pretty good on that PP when he was sitting in the box. According to Cole, that is. Maybe he's not senile, maybe he's just nearsighted and couldn't tell the difference between 55 and 65.

NEELY wrote:

stempniaksen wrote:I think Karlsson has set the bar so high based on his play this season that it's dissapointing when he has nights like last night. He wasn't bad by any stretch, especially with the amount of pressure they put on him, but he'll need to make better decisions if we have any chance in this series.

It was a tough game to judge last night, as no one really played up to snuff (except Turris, Alfredsson and Neil) which could be because the Rangers are just THAT much better (doubt it) or because of nerves, ect (more likely).

The thing with Karlsson is he is supposed to move the puck out of the zone, up to the forwards, get pucks through, and jump into the rush on occasion... he did that. The guys around him have to be way better for him to have any kind of success in terms of point production. He's doing all the right things out there and if the forwards show up next game the Sens will be fine.

I think last night was a very clear indication of how they are lacking 2, top 6 forwards. Maybe Silfverberg and Zibanejad come in next year and fills those spots but right now it's lacking. A guy like Foligno should be playing his best hockey of his career right now and he looks like nothing other than a 3rd line grinder. It's an issue.

There were a few shots Karlsson rang right off the shinguads. He's got to stop doing that. And there were a few times where he was quite weak on the back-check -- yeah, as a defenseman you really don't expect him to "back-check" but that's what he does a lot. I don't expect him to be overly physical, and he will stick-check and push the forward to the outside, but when he is a couple of feet behind and still trying to stick-check, he's going to get called for hooking pretty soon. There were a few times when I thought he was coasting instead of continuing the pursuit.

Anyhow, I'm getting way too negative after just one game. I'm just very concerned that the Rangers really didn't play as well as they could and will be much stronger on Saturday.

game is was just the ice breaker for most of these guys. Game 2 will be a different beast.

oh and Torts needs to calm down

wprager wrote:

stempniaksen wrote:I can't remember seeing the Sens be sloppier in both ends of the ice since our terrible stretch to start the season. Part of that was the Rangers (who do an amzing job of clogging up lanes and getting sticks/bodies on everything), and part of that was the Sens just being bad (nerves or whatever). I fully anticipate McStache righting the ship when it comes to the bad defensive plays and sloppiness up front.

Two guys that stick out as needing to be way better are Spezza and Smith. Hopefully both of those guys can turn it around next game as our group of centers has to be stronger (although for the most part Turris was good last night).

Turris was good last night? He couldn't win a face off until Healey mentioned that he was 2 for 11. Alfie was -3 until he scored his goal. So was Turris until his assists. Foligno was only -2 (again, until his assist) but he was directly responsible for one of the goals. Horrible effort there with the puck to lose it that badly behind your own goal.

Guys, let's not sugar coat this. They stunk last night. Anderson was bad. Alfie was bad. Michalek was OK but no finish. Smith was invisible, as was Neil, mostly (Healy kept trying to show "highlights" of Neil's "questionable" hits and I was laughing because it reminded me of those mostly accidental contacts in House League). Hits were listed as primarily even but I thought neither team brought a strong game. We were all afraid that Karlsson would be targetted and he was barely touched. The Rangers *will* bring a much different game tomorrow night.

I don't know what more you want out of Spezza. Sure, he needs to bring more as in everyone needs to bring more when you lose, essentially, 4-0 with a couple of almost-nothing goals at the end (not sure if those two were good for the Sens or if it will simply make New York more careful to not take them too lightly).

12 bliocked shots. *12 FRIGGIN' BLOCKED SHOTS* Are you kidding me? This is the Stanley Cup Playoffs! No-one on the Sens had more than 2. That is just ridiculous if you want to win.

Blocked shots is an overrated stat, period. The goals that were scored had nothing to do with them not blocking shots.

Big Ev wrote:game is was just the ice breaker for most of these guys. Game 2 will be a different beast.

oh and Torts needs to calm down

Maybe the butterflies are gone, now. Need Cowen to be the guy they talked about last year as in "I don't know how they won without him". Granted, it was the AHL, but still. He didn't play as well as he could. Same for Smith -- he needs to play the simple game and he can excel at it. Winchester is going to be sitting on the bench soon. If the Rangers are not going to play rough and hard, maybe it's Bobby Butler time.

Sens were actually not bad in this game except for a 6 minute stretch at the end of the 2nd and start of the 3rd where they allowed 3 goals.

What are the chances though that we see the Michalek-Spezza-Alfie line more next game?

And you gotta give John Tortorella alot of credit. THe man had his team ready and hitting everything in sight (which was what I was hoping the sens would do). That timeout saved their hides when the tide was clearly in the sens' favor

wprager wrote:

Big Ev wrote:game is was just the ice breaker for most of these guys. Game 2 will be a different beast.

oh and Torts needs to calm down

Maybe the butterflies are gone, now. Need Cowen to be the guy they talked about last year as in "I don't know how they won without him". Granted, it was the AHL, but still. He didn't play as well as he could. Same for Smith -- he needs to play the simple game and he can excel at it. Winchester is going to be sitting on the bench soon. If the Rangers are not going to play rough and hard, maybe it's Bobby Butler time.

Butler is absolutely useless and not an NHLer in any way shape or form. I'd rather have Konopka in to be honest, and that's saying a lot.

Michallica wrote:Sens were actually not bad in this game except for a 6 minute stretch at the end of the 2nd and start of the 3rd where they allowed 3 goals.

What are the chances though that we see the Michalek-Spezza-Alfie line more next game?

And you gotta give John Tortorella alot of credit. THe man had his team ready and hitting everything in sight (which was what I was hoping the sens would do). That timeout saved their hides when the tide was clearly in the sens' favor

I hope we see the big 3 together next game, I think it's definitely time. The game plan clearly needs to change or we'll be swept away. Unless of course we chalk it up it just being a weird 1st game. Weird things always happen in the first playoff games of every season. We did get to where we are with those 3 being separated...who knows...

http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1163661

A quick guide to Bob Colisms
Now, because CBC hates Senators fans, they have once again put Bob Cole as the play-by-play man for the Ottawa series. People who are unfamiliar with him sometimes get confused with his ... unique way of calling a game. So here's a quick cheat sheet to help you translate:

Gonchar = Erik Karlsson
Kubina = Flip Kuba
"This side" = That side over there. No, the other one.
Karlsson = Sergei Gonchar
"The Ottawa Player" = Somebody who joined the Senators after their last playoff series against the Leafs
Offside = Hand Pass
New York penalty = a penalty against Ottawa
Hand Pass = puck played by a high stick
The Ottawa Sens = trollolol

NEELY wrote:Zack Smith is a guy I thought would be an absolute beast in the playoffs and there is still 3-6 games to go before you can make a real judgement but he was AWFUL last night. No jam, no drive, and really didn't show up.

Spezza is another guy that needs to be better although the Rangers focus in on him and give him very little time and space.

The other guy is Michalek, he was in never-never land last. Forgot he was on the team at times.

Anderson was not good. He plays like that and the Sens will not be winning a game in this series. He doesn't need to be Lundqvist but he needs to make a save.

I thought Karlsson was VERY solid all game considering the Rangers entire forcheck was based on rattling Karlsson. He moved the puck, got shots through, and was solid in his own end.

Yep, a lot of guys need to get their heads out of their arses.

We will see Alfie-Spezza-Michalek in game 3 when MacLean can get his matchup.