The Senators at Even Strength

[PDO]

http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/stats?service=direct&context=Stats/changeSortColumnAction&fetchKey=20062ALLAAAAll&sort=goals5On5ForAgainstRatio&viewName=summary

They're outscoring their opponents by 3.07 TIMES.

:eyebug:

They really are in a league of their own right now.

[MadDevil]

Just take a look at their GF/GA averages. #1 in the league in both categories:

GF: 4.62
GA: 2.06

This team is starting to look like the 95'-96' Red Wings team that won 62 games...

[Madferret]

Unfortunately though our PP is really struggling.
If we get that going then we're that more offensive & dangerous.
Special teams are really that much more important this year, look at a team like the Leafs who stink 5 on 5 but win their games on the 8 or 9 PP's they get a game.
Need to get our PP going stat...

[Newfie John]

I think Ottawa will set some regular season records. If they get put out in the first round again though wouldn't surprise me at all.

[Madferret]

I think Ottawa will set some regular season records. If they get put out in the first round again though wouldn't surprise me at all.

Hopefully the Leafs make the playoffs this year and knock us out again.

:no:

[Max Power]

Before the last game Sens were 1 goal above Edmonton for Goals for at this time compared to Edmonton's record breaking season. After the Carolina game it's either tied up or in Edmonton?s favor.
If Ottawa can keep it going it will be fun at the end of the season to see if they can break it

[Rusty]

This team is starting to look like the 95'-96' Red Wings team that won 62 games...

That's what I was thinking as well.

And how did that work out for them........

They look real good right now, but there is still a lot of hockey left to play.

[Man.Utd]

I think Ottawa will set some regular season records. If they get put out in the first round again though wouldn't surprise me at all.

With Lalime gone in favor of Hasek, I'd be shocked to see us not make the ECF if we play as good as we can. And I'm pretty sure we can. The last two playoff runs we've played well. Once to fail in a hard fought series, once to get both stoned by (and even more so, let down) goaltending. I'm assuming we'll get some favorable seeding since I don't think there's any debate we can dominate in the regular season. That'd mean we'd be overwhelming favorites the first 2 rounds barring any real surprises down the stretch.

[Newfie John]

Overwhelming favourites against the leafs? I dunno about that one. It'd be a tough series to make a call on.

[Man.Utd]

Overwhelming favourites against the leafs? I dunno about that one. It'd be a tough series to make a call on.

Unless Belfour can become the elite goalie he was last time around, I think we'd be clear favorites. He's shown definative delcine. The Eagle is still a capable starter, but I can't see him stealing a series today. The softies have started going in, particularily through the five-hole, and he isn't making those great saves through trafic anymore.

Toronto would no longer hold an advantage over us, unless Hasek got hurt / started showing his age. There's lots of hockey left to be played yet though. Our defense is significantly better, and I also think the forwards corps is one up on you guys, though the gap isn't as big as on the bluelines.

Intangilbles would seem to be equal now, with the influx of youth in the TO lineup and departure of gritty and experienced vets. And Martin is no longer in the picture, making us a bunch of emotionless zombies. You can just see the difference in the players. We're taking mroe penalties, but it's well worth being able to send messages and stand up for yourself.

Our PK is also better equiped to deal with a PK now, aswell. We're top 10 this year with Hasek there instead of Lalime. The goalie has to be your best man at killing off penalties and finally that proves true. Last year we were 18th and that not only hurt alot, but was horrible for such a defensively capable team. We also have Volchenkov and Fisher healthy, two great penalty killers. Hopefully they can stay healthy as they were both out for almost all of last year. The best change about the PK is how dangerous it is offensively now under Murray. Havlat, Heatley, and Alfredsson all kill penalties. They pressure the point very well and make team's play us honestly, knowing a SHG is at risk. That wasn't strong point last season either - now we're 2nd overall and only trailing by 1 goal.

This sums up how huge (ot how small actually) goaltending was in the last BOO. For all the people who say we shouldn't blame Lalime, look at the stats.


Apr 08, 2004 TOR W 17 2 15 .882
Apr 12, 2004 TOR L 17 2 15 .882
Apr 16, 2004 TOR L 16 2 14 .875
Apr 20, 2004 TOR L 11 3 8 .727

Whenever we lost to you guys, the biggest reason seemd to be soft goals on the netminder's part. Oh, how I remember Newy beating Patty (cleanly) twice in game 7 from a wrister from, at closet, a few feet inside the blueline. Even when we won that first game 4-2 he was playing shakily. It was just hidden by a victory, as thngs often are.

Hockey must be played on the ice so most of the above is moot for an actual series if it were to take place. But I've no doubt who I'd bet on. And with Hasek in place of Lalime, it can finally be done with confidence and no doubts in the back of the mind.

[PDO]

Overwhelming favourites against the leafs? I dunno about that one. It'd be a tough series to make a call on.

Those blinders are really on tight today eh Johnny? ;)

Toronto is a much worse team than last time around, and Ottawa is a much better team. While tehre's a few guys who have been around, saying that the Leafs have any sort of advantage over Ottawa just because they're Toronto at this point is nothing short of silly.

[Darsehole Tucker]

No complaints about the Sens PP tonight.

[Newfie John]

Every year the leafs have gone to battle with the Sens, the sens have been the better team on paper. Every year the leafs beat them. The leafs have the same team as last season pretty much, if not better. Eddie has to wake up but he's been adequate. Lately he's been very good actually so I think he's starting to shake off the cob webs after a few seasons not playing.

[Max Power]

Every year the leafs have gone to battle with the Sens, the sens have been the better team on paper. Every year the leafs beat them. The leafs have the same team as last season pretty much, if not better. Eddie has to wake up but he's been adequate. Lately he's been very good actually so I think he's starting to shake off the cob webs after a few seasons not playing.

I don?t buy that the leafs are worse off then last season either? They lost three key players and two of them have been shadows of their old self so far making Ferguson look like a genius. The only real loss is Roberts but Lindros can be the same person with even more offensive up side. Adding a capable Allison and a few solid rookies and the leafs are probably better off then if they kept the old core.
Saying this it will still come down to if Belfour can be his old self as he was against the Sens last series. Ottawa clearly has a better defensive core and has its best goaltending ever (so far). Sens would be the favorite hands down but one thing the leafs will still have is the mental edge. I for one wouldn?t want to meet them in the first round. Any round after then bring them on

[charlio lemieux]

The only chance any team has of beating the Sens, in the playoffs, is to shut down the top line for four games, and hope that Hasek does not revert to late 90's form. But if Hasek is on his game, it may only take one goal for Ottawa to win. It still all comes down to Hasek's health. If he's healthy, he will have to be out played by the opposition goalie. And that severely reduces the number of teams that even have a shot of knocking off the Sens.
A hot Belfour might do it, my money is on Montreal stopping them. But Ottawa may get surprised by a team like NYR or CAR, both teams are easy to overlook as serious competion, but hot goaltending is a big part of how they got where they are and hot goaltending can trump even the most potent offense.