Expect a long series, says an NHL coach who breaks down matchup
-- Don't count out the Senators.
While many are predicting a Penguins cakewalk, an NHL coach told the Sun he believes Ottawa will put up a strong fight.
The coach predicts a long series because the teams are evenly matched talent-wise.
Here's the coach's breakdown of the series:
FORWARDS
Can the Senators overcome the key losses of injured captain Daniel Alfredsson and centre Mike Fisher? "That's the biggest question going into this series. They won't have Alfredsson offensively and they won't have Fisher to make the big hit or the big defensive play," said the coach. "That's two pretty big hits for a team to take at this time of year and it's going to be tough without them. You really need some other people to step up."
The Senators will need Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza to counter the offensive punch of Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa.
The Senators must "play well defensively and try to work hard to get their chances offensively," said the coach. "You want to play in the offensive zone as much as you can, but the Ottawa forwards have to be willing to go to the net to make sure they get those second and third chances."
The Senators will also need guys like Antoine Vermette, Cory Stillman and Chris Neil to step up with two of their top players out.
EDGE: Penguins.
DEFENCE
The Senators had one of the NHL's best defensive corps going into the last year's playoffs. That's not the case this time around.
Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov and Andrej Meszaros aren't the force they were a year ago.
Then there's Wade Redden. "He hasn't had the urgency in his game that he needs to have to take this team to another level," said the coach. "You can't get too high or too low during an 82-game season, but the problem with Redden is his game has remained the same and it hasn't been at a very good level. He gets a lot of minutes and you need him going."
The Senators' defence, however, does look good in comparison to the Penguins.
After Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh blueliners Kris Letang, Hal Gill, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi and Sergei Gonchar don't strike fear into anybody.
"The Penguins' strength is their puck-moving ability. If the Senators allow them to get power plays, there aren't many better in the league than Gonchar and Malone," said the coach.
"But, really you look at the names on paper and it shouldn't be much of a contest on defence. The Senators really have to try to take advantage here, but my concern is Brian Lee has played six NHL games and he'll be in the playoffs."
EDGE: Senators.
GOALTENDING
It's hard to choose between Martin Gerber and Marc-Andre Fleury.
"Who has the upper hand? The young guy who has no experience and a lot of expectations (Fleury) or the old guy who has a lot of experience and a lot of expectations?" asked the coach. "What's the better situation to be in? I don't honestly know. I can't decide who is in a better spot."
Fleury's playoff experience is limited to last year's first-round loss to the Senators.
As for Gerber, he has never really played in a pressure situation and has folded with the minimal chances he's been given. Gerber lost his job to Cam Ward during the Hurricanes' 2006 Stanley Cup run over a mysterious illness.
"Goaltending really is an issue for both sides," said the coach.
EDGE: Even.
COACHING
The talk is despite what Pittsburgh players think of coach Michel Therrien and his hard-driving style, they've played well for him. But Therrien doesn't have the playoff experience of Bryan Murray.
"The great thing about Bryan Murray, he always knows what card to play because he's been there before," said the coach. "He's been through the ups and downs of a playoff series. He has a unique ability to be able to perform under pressure."
The key for Therrien is how he uses his talent. "I've always heard that the Pittsburgh players can't stand him, but I'm pretty sure that's the situation in a lot of dressing rooms," said the coach.
EDGE: Senators.
Coach's pick
Pittsburgh in seven. "The Senators will give the Penguins a run, but the forwards will be the difference."
HOW THEY'LL LINE UP TONIGHT
OTTAWA
Heatley-Spezza-Robitaille
Donovan-Vermette-Stillman
Foligno-McAmmond-Neil
Schubert-Bass-Lapointe
- Defence pairings
Redden-Volchenkov
Phillips-Commodore
Meszaros-Lee
PITTSBURGH
Dupuis-Crosby-Hossa
Malone-Malkin-Sykora
Ruutu-Staal-Kennedy
Roberts-Talbot-Laraque
- Defence pairings
Orpik-Gonchar
Whitney-Scuderi
Letang-Gill
-- Don't count out the Senators.
While many are predicting a Penguins cakewalk, an NHL coach told the Sun he believes Ottawa will put up a strong fight.
The coach predicts a long series because the teams are evenly matched talent-wise.
Here's the coach's breakdown of the series:
FORWARDS
Can the Senators overcome the key losses of injured captain Daniel Alfredsson and centre Mike Fisher? "That's the biggest question going into this series. They won't have Alfredsson offensively and they won't have Fisher to make the big hit or the big defensive play," said the coach. "That's two pretty big hits for a team to take at this time of year and it's going to be tough without them. You really need some other people to step up."
The Senators will need Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza to counter the offensive punch of Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa.
The Senators must "play well defensively and try to work hard to get their chances offensively," said the coach. "You want to play in the offensive zone as much as you can, but the Ottawa forwards have to be willing to go to the net to make sure they get those second and third chances."
The Senators will also need guys like Antoine Vermette, Cory Stillman and Chris Neil to step up with two of their top players out.
EDGE: Penguins.
DEFENCE
The Senators had one of the NHL's best defensive corps going into the last year's playoffs. That's not the case this time around.
Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov and Andrej Meszaros aren't the force they were a year ago.
Then there's Wade Redden. "He hasn't had the urgency in his game that he needs to have to take this team to another level," said the coach. "You can't get too high or too low during an 82-game season, but the problem with Redden is his game has remained the same and it hasn't been at a very good level. He gets a lot of minutes and you need him going."
The Senators' defence, however, does look good in comparison to the Penguins.
After Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh blueliners Kris Letang, Hal Gill, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi and Sergei Gonchar don't strike fear into anybody.
"The Penguins' strength is their puck-moving ability. If the Senators allow them to get power plays, there aren't many better in the league than Gonchar and Malone," said the coach.
"But, really you look at the names on paper and it shouldn't be much of a contest on defence. The Senators really have to try to take advantage here, but my concern is Brian Lee has played six NHL games and he'll be in the playoffs."
EDGE: Senators.
GOALTENDING
It's hard to choose between Martin Gerber and Marc-Andre Fleury.
"Who has the upper hand? The young guy who has no experience and a lot of expectations (Fleury) or the old guy who has a lot of experience and a lot of expectations?" asked the coach. "What's the better situation to be in? I don't honestly know. I can't decide who is in a better spot."
Fleury's playoff experience is limited to last year's first-round loss to the Senators.
As for Gerber, he has never really played in a pressure situation and has folded with the minimal chances he's been given. Gerber lost his job to Cam Ward during the Hurricanes' 2006 Stanley Cup run over a mysterious illness.
"Goaltending really is an issue for both sides," said the coach.
EDGE: Even.
COACHING
The talk is despite what Pittsburgh players think of coach Michel Therrien and his hard-driving style, they've played well for him. But Therrien doesn't have the playoff experience of Bryan Murray.
"The great thing about Bryan Murray, he always knows what card to play because he's been there before," said the coach. "He's been through the ups and downs of a playoff series. He has a unique ability to be able to perform under pressure."
The key for Therrien is how he uses his talent. "I've always heard that the Pittsburgh players can't stand him, but I'm pretty sure that's the situation in a lot of dressing rooms," said the coach.
EDGE: Senators.
Coach's pick
Pittsburgh in seven. "The Senators will give the Penguins a run, but the forwards will be the difference."
HOW THEY'LL LINE UP TONIGHT
OTTAWA
Heatley-Spezza-Robitaille
Donovan-Vermette-Stillman
Foligno-McAmmond-Neil
Schubert-Bass-Lapointe
- Defence pairings
Redden-Volchenkov
Phillips-Commodore
Meszaros-Lee
PITTSBURGH
Dupuis-Crosby-Hossa
Malone-Malkin-Sykora
Ruutu-Staal-Kennedy
Roberts-Talbot-Laraque
- Defence pairings
Orpik-Gonchar
Whitney-Scuderi
Letang-Gill
