The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

The continuing rivalry between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs is going to take a very interesting turn as they face each other in back to back contests over the next three days.

Leafs fans seem to be clinging to the past history of the playoffs between these two teams when reminded of their 4 losses to Ottawa this season, the last two by scores of 8-0 and 8-2. "Wait to the playoffs" they say. Fair enough, but these next two games could very well end up being the turning point on whether or not Toronto even MAKES the playoffs this year.

The Leafs have seen better days. They've lost their last four games including a blown 3-0 lead against the lowly Phoenix Coyotes, and injuries are hitting them in abundance. Their best player, Bryan McCabe, won't suit up for Toronto in the next little while. Eric Lindros is out, and so is team-leading goal scorer (who'd of thunk it?) Darcy Tucker.

Ottawa is now in a position where they can try to reclaim their dominant reputation they earned at the start of the season. For the last month, they've played slightly over .500 hockey and not much else. They've incurred key injuries such as Jason Spezza missing about 13 games, Wade Redden missing 10 games, Daniel Alfredsson missing a week and of course Martin Havlat who we won't see until April. Now, the Sens are pretty much healthy. Spezza had a chance to get the rink rust out against Anaheim Thursday, and now with a hated rival to play tonight he should play better. The whole team, in fact, should now be ready to roll and reclaim the #1 seed that was relinquished to Carolina.

If motivation has been the problem for The Leafs, these head-to-head matchups should provide the cure. Regardless of the fans' opinions that in the end losing these regular season games doesn't mean anything, I'd imagine Toronto players have a little more pride than that. First, you don't want to give Ottawa boosted confidence heading into the post-season allowing a**-kicking after a**-kicking. And more importantly, losing these games could very well mean NO playoffs for Toronto. Right now, they sit in 8th place tied with Tampa Bay with 51 points. Montreal is just beneath them with 48 points and have 2 games in hand. Back-to-back losses against Ottawa would no doubt see them looking from the bottom up in terms of playoff position, and it could be a position they can't get themselves out of.

What more satisfaction can Ottawa get by being the team responsible for not having the Toronto Maple Leafs appear in the playoffs? If Dany Heatley's prediction that if the Senators play the hockey they know they're capable of playing each time, they'll have an 8-0 record against Toronto and those are much needed points Toronto needs get to climb up the standings. A possible 16 points out the window...more than enough to cost a playoff spot

On the other hand, if Toronto pulls off back-to-back wins in Ottawa, their confidence is restored and they will sit more comfortably in playoff position. The Senators' psyche will be crushed. And more Sens fans will call them up as fakes and phonies and have no chance to get Lord Stanley this season. The panic button in the nation's capital will be pressed! Make no mistake, these next two games ARE important.

I expect some hard-nosed hockey tonight and Monday. The Battle of Ontario is about to take another interesting and entertaining turn.