Well lets start!
First off, I have never seen a Sens team so focussed, after G6 with Philly Hossa was asked how excited they were about moving on to the 3rd round for the first time. His reply "we have 14 games left in our season, we have not accomplished anything yet"
The entire just went onto the ice after G6 and congratulated each other and it was a quiet plane ride back to Ott.
This team has grown up and is ready for the next step, no two ways about it.
Injuries -
Ott. - Ray, Hull and Hnidy are all healthy scratches
NJ - Stevenson - gametime decision
Sens lines are as follows:
Arvedson-White- Alfredsson
Varada-Bonk-Hossa
Fisher-Smolinski-Havlat
Schaefer-Van Allen-Neil
Defensive pairings:
Redden-Rachunek
Chara-Phillips
Volchenkov-Leschychyn
Goaltending - Edge to NJ. Lalime has been been solid, posting the best GAA in the playoffs at 1.49 but Brodeur is not far behind at 1.51. Brodeur gets the edge with exp. and two Cup rings.
Coaching - Even. No edge here. Burns and Martin have both gotten the most ouf of their players and believing in their respective systems. If anything, Martin having the extra home game if it goes 7 will use it to his advantage as he is one of the best at match-ups and will use the last line change to his benefit.
Forwards - Edge to Ott. Ott. has 3 lines that can score, whereas NJ has 2 lines that can contribute consistently. Even Schaefer on the 4th line chipped in with 2 goals last series against Philly.
Defense - Edge to Ott.. When you have 2 healthy scratches on D that would be starters for the opposition then you get the edge. NJ lacks a bit of speed and size on D. Sure they have Niedermayer and Rafalski who are quick, Stevens and White are big but Ott have the ultimate combination with all their D as they possess puck handling skills, size and speed. Redden was voted my all coaches this year to have the best first outlet pass out of his zone which is huge. Not one Ott. defender is under 6'1" 215lbs.
Outlook - Sens are one of the most efficient passing teams in the league and this will play a huge role in the series. NJ uses 4 D too much and this will affect them as the sereis goes longer. Just ask Philly and NYI. You need to have 4 lines going and 6 D, something that NJ does not have. In the 3OT game against TB, NJ had 4 defenseman play over 40 min., if you try that with Ott. they will bite you where it hurts most. NJ has to try and neutralize Ott. right side at forward, Alfredsson, Havlat and Hossa. Problem is Stevens plays the opposite side. Sens need to shoot the puck in to Brodeurs right as he likes to the play puck but has a more difficult time moving the other way and is not nearly as comfortable. All of these factors will come into play. Depth, speed and the line match-ups will decide this series. It also helps to have strong goaltending. NJ only had to shut down one scoring line against Boston and TB, now they can't focus on one line. Should be interesting.
No lean on the first game. I will wait and see how the first game plays out. Leaning to the under in the first game. Should be a long series. The President's Trophy winners should come away with the series.
Sens win the series in 6 games.(5 Units)
GLTA!
HORNS
:canada1
First off, I have never seen a Sens team so focussed, after G6 with Philly Hossa was asked how excited they were about moving on to the 3rd round for the first time. His reply "we have 14 games left in our season, we have not accomplished anything yet"
The entire just went onto the ice after G6 and congratulated each other and it was a quiet plane ride back to Ott.
This team has grown up and is ready for the next step, no two ways about it.
Injuries -
Ott. - Ray, Hull and Hnidy are all healthy scratches
NJ - Stevenson - gametime decision
Sens lines are as follows:
Arvedson-White- Alfredsson
Varada-Bonk-Hossa
Fisher-Smolinski-Havlat
Schaefer-Van Allen-Neil
Defensive pairings:
Redden-Rachunek
Chara-Phillips
Volchenkov-Leschychyn
Goaltending - Edge to NJ. Lalime has been been solid, posting the best GAA in the playoffs at 1.49 but Brodeur is not far behind at 1.51. Brodeur gets the edge with exp. and two Cup rings.
Coaching - Even. No edge here. Burns and Martin have both gotten the most ouf of their players and believing in their respective systems. If anything, Martin having the extra home game if it goes 7 will use it to his advantage as he is one of the best at match-ups and will use the last line change to his benefit.
Forwards - Edge to Ott. Ott. has 3 lines that can score, whereas NJ has 2 lines that can contribute consistently. Even Schaefer on the 4th line chipped in with 2 goals last series against Philly.
Defense - Edge to Ott.. When you have 2 healthy scratches on D that would be starters for the opposition then you get the edge. NJ lacks a bit of speed and size on D. Sure they have Niedermayer and Rafalski who are quick, Stevens and White are big but Ott have the ultimate combination with all their D as they possess puck handling skills, size and speed. Redden was voted my all coaches this year to have the best first outlet pass out of his zone which is huge. Not one Ott. defender is under 6'1" 215lbs.
Outlook - Sens are one of the most efficient passing teams in the league and this will play a huge role in the series. NJ uses 4 D too much and this will affect them as the sereis goes longer. Just ask Philly and NYI. You need to have 4 lines going and 6 D, something that NJ does not have. In the 3OT game against TB, NJ had 4 defenseman play over 40 min., if you try that with Ott. they will bite you where it hurts most. NJ has to try and neutralize Ott. right side at forward, Alfredsson, Havlat and Hossa. Problem is Stevens plays the opposite side. Sens need to shoot the puck in to Brodeurs right as he likes to the play puck but has a more difficult time moving the other way and is not nearly as comfortable. All of these factors will come into play. Depth, speed and the line match-ups will decide this series. It also helps to have strong goaltending. NJ only had to shut down one scoring line against Boston and TB, now they can't focus on one line. Should be interesting.
No lean on the first game. I will wait and see how the first game plays out. Leaning to the under in the first game. Should be a long series. The President's Trophy winners should come away with the series.
Sens win the series in 6 games.(5 Units)
GLTA!
HORNS
:canada1
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