There were some very good e-mails today as to why the Senators would win the series...of course, there's only so much we can do in a two-hour show, so I was only able to read a couple..
Here's 5 good ones from this morning in no particular order:
1) From Phil
Hey Gents,
I am probably a little late but here is my prediction:
This series will be a homer series until game 7 with Ottawa stealing one on the road finally and here is why:
1) The Clouston factor: We’ve seen coach clou’s incredible ability to adjust “in game” many times this year. I think his keen sense will pay huge dividends for the Sens when he has days to prepare for the same team in a 7 games series.
2) The Hunger factor: The Sens have much more to prove from Elliott to, Alfie, Spezz and co. While the Pens’ have been there done that already with two straight trips to the finals and may have less to prove.
3) The Malkin Factor: The injury to Malkin will be big as he will be forced to deal with Sutton this year who will be very physical with him. Malkin has been a Sens killer historically as Crosby has always had to face the shut down pair and that will be tough for him again.
2) From Ben
Hey Lee and Phil,
There are four main reasons that I believe that the Senators will knock the Penguins out this year.
1. Fatigue: 1993 repeat in the works. The Pens have played two very long seasons in row, with the Olympics adding even more fatigue. Just like when they lost to the Islanders in 1993 after the back to back years in 1991 and 1992, the Pens will not have enough in the tank.
2. Team Sacrifice: I think the Sens are more committed to each other than are the Pens. The core group of the Senators want it more and will fight it out together like they did in 2007. The Alfie celebrations pulled them together even more. The Pens had a divided Russia-Canada dressing room and if the Sens win game 1 or 2, I can see a figures getting pointed in the Pens locker room.
3. Defence wins. The Sens defence can shutdown the Penguins. Phillips, Volchy, Sutton, and Carkner are going to be hard to play against and Karlson will add a little offence to really hurt the Penguins.
4. Clusten's disciplined team will stick with the game plan, while I think the Penguins will start to scramble when they get down early
3) From Katie
Three years ago, Alanis Morissette was a natural choice to sing the anthems in the Stanley Cup finals at Scotiabank Place. An Ottawa native, she proudly stepped onto the ice wearing a Senators jersey and smoothly handled both anthems, including the French section of O Canada, without a hitch.
But, since that moment before the puck dropped on June 4, 2007, for Game 4 of the series, the Senators have not won a single game in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The team lost that game, and the one following it in Anaheim.
The following year, the Senators were swept in four games by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last year, they didn’t even get onto the ice for the playoffs.
Have no fear, the "Curse of Alanis" is broken, I have just burned an Alanis doll! GO SENS GO!!!!! Sens will win in 5!!
4) From Connie
Hey guys,
I think if the sens can get the split, they will win it in 6. This talk about our players having no playoff experience is bogus in my opinion. They have played 82 games all season and if they take one game at a time, it shouldn't matter if it's the playoffs or not. I also think Clouston will have them ready--he has been a great coach all year, and this time last year Dan Bylsma had the same playoff experience as Clouston has now.
It also has to go like this:
Spezza will score
and the A-Train will hit
Alfie will dangle
and we'll get the split.
Crosby will whine,
Malkin will be a ghost
and Elliott will come up with the saves that mean the most!
GO SENS GO
And final one from Corey in Farrhaven
Hi Fellas
I believe the Sens will win in 6 and here’s why…The Sens should be the hungrier team not just because of being out of the playoffs last year and embarrassed by this opponent the year before but also because most “experts” never expected them to get here. I think personally players like Spezza will be out to prove themselves against the games best talent. Especially after the cold shoulder from Team Canada while his former wing man got a top spot on that team.
I believe the Pens will try and exploit Karlsson and Campoli’s size and playoff inexperience by trying to funnel the puck down their side and may play into a Sens strength as the larger d-partners of those two will likely get away with some interference now that it’s playoff time. I think Clouston has shown that his in game strength is adaptation and recognition of who is playing well. The exact opposite of Jacques Martin, the coach under whom the Sens playoff performance reputation was forged. In short gentlemen I think the Sens are underestimated. If Ruutu can get guys off their game, Elliot plays well and our forwards forecheck the Pens D with relentless brutality the Sens will win in Six!
Praise Alfie!
Enjoy the game tonight! :-)