Round Two, Game One
Ottawa Senators vs. Philadelphia Flyers
by: Rink Rat
For one or the other between the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers, play-off misery will return in the second round of the NHL play-offs. The best the vanquished can aspire to is a valiant effort and an honorable loss. A meek capitulation, such as the Flyers produced last spring when they ran up the white flag and scored two goals while losing coincidentally to Ottawa, could have devastating consequences. The winner will be presented an opportunity to boast for evermore that they have: lost all the baggage from previous play-off failures, learned to believe, absolute trust in their system, learned a valuable lesson, yak, yak, yak. Whatever. When this series is done and dusted, the Rat thinks the Ottawa Senators will be the ones crying about what might have been.
The Senators have many good aspects to their game. They can point to a decent coach, defensemen, Chara and Redden, fast and skillful forwards, and a stingy/conservative game plan. However, in game one of their first round series against the Islanders they had a bad case of the yips. They were awful in a 3-0 loss and were loudly boo'd off the ice. The Rat believes they are still susceptible to squeezing their sticks. If success doesn't come early in game one then they could once again become anxious.
The likelihood of success is diminished by their eight-day lay-off, which is about twice as long as coaches like. Not having their skating legs and having to re-stoke the fires sometimes takes a game. In an important way Ottawa wasn't put to the sword in round one. They have yet to prove they can withstand a constant pounding from their opponent. We should have an answer on that point within a couple of games. The Flyers will try to hit every Senator on the ice.
For Philadelphia, they may be sore and a little tired but they have the satisfaction of having produced a whopper in game seven of the first round. The absence of defenseman Desjardins hurts and might be a factor deeper in the series but the team can take heart in clinching the Toronto series without him. Winger Leclair didn't do much in round one but his line-mate Recchi was on fire. Centre Handzus could be better against an opponent who doesn't hit as hard as the Leafs. Centre Roenick displayed plenty of grit while taking a beating in round one. His goals were vital and proclaimed he wouldn't be intimidated. In more of a skating series he may be able to spark line-mate Amonte back to life.
The Flyers previous round victory may have turned on the play of center Primeau. Not much in the scoring department and slow as the arrival of spring in Tuktoyuktuk, he was massive in his own end. His will and determination galvanized his mates.
Game one is in Ottawa where the Senators, along with six other teams, opened round one with a loss. The long lay-off combined with being at home and playing an aroused, heavy-hitting team will conspire against the Senators. Philadelphia takes game one.
Play on the FLYERS Money Line………
The Rat can be harassed at : rinkrat@bookiekiller.com
Ottawa Senators vs. Philadelphia Flyers
by: Rink Rat
For one or the other between the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers, play-off misery will return in the second round of the NHL play-offs. The best the vanquished can aspire to is a valiant effort and an honorable loss. A meek capitulation, such as the Flyers produced last spring when they ran up the white flag and scored two goals while losing coincidentally to Ottawa, could have devastating consequences. The winner will be presented an opportunity to boast for evermore that they have: lost all the baggage from previous play-off failures, learned to believe, absolute trust in their system, learned a valuable lesson, yak, yak, yak. Whatever. When this series is done and dusted, the Rat thinks the Ottawa Senators will be the ones crying about what might have been.
The Senators have many good aspects to their game. They can point to a decent coach, defensemen, Chara and Redden, fast and skillful forwards, and a stingy/conservative game plan. However, in game one of their first round series against the Islanders they had a bad case of the yips. They were awful in a 3-0 loss and were loudly boo'd off the ice. The Rat believes they are still susceptible to squeezing their sticks. If success doesn't come early in game one then they could once again become anxious.
The likelihood of success is diminished by their eight-day lay-off, which is about twice as long as coaches like. Not having their skating legs and having to re-stoke the fires sometimes takes a game. In an important way Ottawa wasn't put to the sword in round one. They have yet to prove they can withstand a constant pounding from their opponent. We should have an answer on that point within a couple of games. The Flyers will try to hit every Senator on the ice.
For Philadelphia, they may be sore and a little tired but they have the satisfaction of having produced a whopper in game seven of the first round. The absence of defenseman Desjardins hurts and might be a factor deeper in the series but the team can take heart in clinching the Toronto series without him. Winger Leclair didn't do much in round one but his line-mate Recchi was on fire. Centre Handzus could be better against an opponent who doesn't hit as hard as the Leafs. Centre Roenick displayed plenty of grit while taking a beating in round one. His goals were vital and proclaimed he wouldn't be intimidated. In more of a skating series he may be able to spark line-mate Amonte back to life.
The Flyers previous round victory may have turned on the play of center Primeau. Not much in the scoring department and slow as the arrival of spring in Tuktoyuktuk, he was massive in his own end. His will and determination galvanized his mates.
Game one is in Ottawa where the Senators, along with six other teams, opened round one with a loss. The long lay-off combined with being at home and playing an aroused, heavy-hitting team will conspire against the Senators. Philadelphia takes game one.
Play on the FLYERS Money Line………
The Rat can be harassed at : rinkrat@bookiekiller.com
