Lalime & Cechmanek are the starters in nets tonight. Hossa, Redden, Havlat, Fisher & McEachern all return from the injury list tonight.
Believe it or not this is a must win for the Sens and we are not in Game 3 yet. 3 consecutive first round exits have the Sens feeling like if they can get off on the right foot it will go a long way to improvng their confidence. It will be much more difficult winning Game 2 on the road than it will be Game 1 for a fragile state of mind. With a healthy line-up for the first time in 2 months the Sens will play a conservative road game but will try to match the intensity that a bigger Flyers team brings to the table. Sens need to use their speed and work the forecheck. Their D need to clear the front of the net to allow Lalime to get in a groove. The Flyers D is slow and this is one area the Sens can take advantage of.
On the other hand the Flyers have been knocked out in the first round 3 of the last 4 years and lost an 8-0 to the Sabres last year in their last game of the playoffs. Quietly the players have asked management to start Boucher because they feel he gives them a better chance but Cechmanek will start. As TSN's Pierre Maguire stated this is the only series which you may see all 4 goalies play at some point. Both teams have been inconsistent in nets all year. Only 3 points separated these 2 teams in the standings. This will be a 6 game series with the winner emerging as a bruised and battered bunch for the second round. My heart says Sens in 6 but my head says Flyers in 6.
But for tonight Game 1 will go a long way in determining if the Sens will compete hard, something they did nothing of last year against the Leafs.
Playing:
Ott. - PK. (+180)
NJ - PK. (-150)
GL tonight!
HORNS
Believe it or not this is a must win for the Sens and we are not in Game 3 yet. 3 consecutive first round exits have the Sens feeling like if they can get off on the right foot it will go a long way to improvng their confidence. It will be much more difficult winning Game 2 on the road than it will be Game 1 for a fragile state of mind. With a healthy line-up for the first time in 2 months the Sens will play a conservative road game but will try to match the intensity that a bigger Flyers team brings to the table. Sens need to use their speed and work the forecheck. Their D need to clear the front of the net to allow Lalime to get in a groove. The Flyers D is slow and this is one area the Sens can take advantage of.
On the other hand the Flyers have been knocked out in the first round 3 of the last 4 years and lost an 8-0 to the Sabres last year in their last game of the playoffs. Quietly the players have asked management to start Boucher because they feel he gives them a better chance but Cechmanek will start. As TSN's Pierre Maguire stated this is the only series which you may see all 4 goalies play at some point. Both teams have been inconsistent in nets all year. Only 3 points separated these 2 teams in the standings. This will be a 6 game series with the winner emerging as a bruised and battered bunch for the second round. My heart says Sens in 6 but my head says Flyers in 6.
But for tonight Game 1 will go a long way in determining if the Sens will compete hard, something they did nothing of last year against the Leafs.
Playing:
Ott. - PK. (+180)
NJ - PK. (-150)
GL tonight!
HORNS
