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

GAME DAY!!! Huge game for the Sens... a win ties it up and makes for a whole new series. A loss and we're in a deep hole. The boys know what needs to be done... hopefully Alfie can play, if not, the boys will have to rally around him and do it for Alfie!

GO SENS GO!!!

Let's do it tonight.

We really need Spezza, EK, Michalek & Neil to have BIG games tonight, otherwise I think we're in deep Dung.

GO SENS GO!!!!!

I would put my money on Alfie not playing, so let's rally and get a win for our captain!! We deserved a better fate last game, the bounce has to go our way tonight!

The Alfie may have played the last game of his career, which is heartbreaking if true. No time to mourn this loss, there will be plenty of time later to celebrate The Alfie.

Regardless, there will be time to worry about that later, and this group has to focus and prepare with the assumption he won't be in the lineup. I don't think the gameplan should change from last game. The puck WILL go in sooner or later, just keep plugging away. You could tell Konopka got in Lundqvist's kitchen a little bit last game, and all we can do is more of the same and hope not to take too many goalie interference penalties.

Anderson will have to be damn near perfect, like he was last game, and we'll have to get a bounce or two to go our way.

That's it, that's all. We're outplaying those Cussing Diddlers, and if the Hockey Gods are watching, we'll get a W tonight.

tim1_2 wrote:The Alfie may have played the last game of his career, which is heartbreaking if true. No time to mourn this loss, there will be plenty of time later to celebrate The Alfie.

Who says? The Sun? I wouldn't put any money on him not playing again, I'd even go as far as to say he'll probably play Game 5. Or not...but really, who knows?

Via Dan Seguin: Bobby Butler on the ice in red. Likely means no Alfredsson #Sens #cbcott

SpezDispenser wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:The Alfie may have played the last game of his career, which is heartbreaking if true. No time to mourn this loss, there will be plenty of time later to celebrate The Alfie.

Who says? The Sun? I wouldn't put any money on him not playing again, I'd even go as far as to say he'll probably play Game 5. Or not...but really, who knows?

This is no doubt in the back of everyone's mind... worst case scenario for sure... let's not get too ahead of ourselves...

Sounds like Hoffman has a chance to draw in tonight according to...


Sylvain St-Laurent ‏ @Syl_St_Laurent Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Mike Hoffman participe à la séance de patinage d'avant-match. Hoffman taking part in morning skate with the big boys. #Sens

This is gamesmanship. Alfie is out for the season IMO.

I don't see why we'd change our lineup from last game, especially since Bobby B had a decent showing, but I defer to MacLean. Bottom line is we didn't win and couldn't score, so if Mac thinks he can make a change to help get the puck in the net, I'm fine with that.

I agree with the Cap'n. I think The Alfie is done for at least this series, and the Sens are keeping it under wraps.

Live streaming of the morning skate:

http://video.senators.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=616&id=173026

Sylvain St-Laurent ‏ @Syl_St_Laurent Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Kuba-Karlsson, Cowen-Gonchar, Phillips-Carkner en défensive. On dirait bien que Matt Gilroy sera laissé de côté. #Sens

Yes, Carkner!

hey let me just tweet 10 times that Hoffman is on the ice

Big Ev wrote:hey let me just tweet 10 times that Hoffman is on the ice

Not even really on the ice, alternating with Bobby Butler on the 2nd line if you must know.

Hopefully they use hoffman on the powerplay. But if the sens are to advance or have a shot at winning, they need to get their Dung in order on home-ice. 7 straight playoff losses is god-awful.

If they lose tonight, I'm inclined to believe the series is probably over....even if they can manage to win game 5, game 6 is back on home ice. That's the main reason they lost against the pens in 2010 (can't shake those game 6 memories)

Sens practicing their power play this morning, we need to cash in on our chances.

Hobiesens wrote:Sens practicing their power play this morning, we need to cash in on our chances.

Desperately, yes.

Bring on some garbage goals! I'll take anything.