Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Game 2: Ducks 1, Sens 0

Don't let that score fool you.

This series is over.

Now before everyone accuses me of jumping off the bandwagon, let me tell you why I feel this way. Ottawa had somewhat of an excuse for game 1. They were 9 days removed from playing a game, they were in a different time zone, they were playing a team they hadn't played all year and were against a playing style they haven't encountered before. The rust is supposed to be gone, they know what to expect, so they should have been a better team. And that didn't happen.

They were outshot 31-16. Almost 2 to 1! It seemed the entire game, with the exception of the 5-on-3 in the 1st period, the entire play was in Ottawa's end. Emery was unbelievable, giving his team a shot to steal a game and go back to Ottawa with a 1-1 split. But his teammates were terrible. Anaheim has completely dominated Ottawa the same way the Senators have dominated the three previous teams they faced this spring.

The pizza line was awful. Daniel Alfredsson led both teams with 6 giveaways during the game, and it was very frustrating trying these miracle passing plays on the Ducks' blue line when they should be dumping the puck hard and going after it. How many turnovers will it take before they figure it out? They should have learned after game 1, but they continued their horrible passing plays into game 2.

I think the only upside for Ottawa, aside from Emery, was they actually hit and were physical for the most part. But they can't figure out the Ducks' defense and system. They don't look like the team that won the Eastern Conference, and all the pressure in the world is on them, because if they lose the next game and fall 3-0 they aren't winning any Stanley Cup this year. Here's a stat for you: Teams in the Stanley Cup final down 2-0 have lost 39 out of 42 series.

It hurts to say it, but you gotta call a spade a spade. Anaheim is doing everything right and Ottawa isn't. I don't like the Senators chances at all anymore.

Comments:
You make some good points, I was very curious as to why they were taking all their powerplay shots from down low? Nobody was passing back to the point and stretching the D to create some room. The Ducks, on the other hand, seemed like they could make all the passes they wanted to, and it's a real credit to Emery that that game wasn't 4-0.

They're not sunk yet. I hate historical stats. You knew they had to be able to win one away game from the start, now all they have to do is win all their home games as well.

If they lose on Saturday, THEN it's time to push the panic button. :)
 
"Never tell me the odds!"

-Han Solo
(a long time ago...)
 
Ben, please see Alex's last line. All Anaheim did was hold service. Now you've got two games at home, with what better be a loud crowd, to turn things around. And this is why I can't stand the Sens. They lose two games and everyone switches from planning a parade to planning a funeral march.
 
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