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

The Senators have been quite the enigma for the 2009-10 regular season. They've had their down times, but they've had their ups. They've had two terrific winning streaks this season, winning 11 and 7 in a row. They've also figured out ways to lay big eggs, including an ugly five game losing streak against some of the worst teams in the league, and a lousy 3 points in 10 games just after the Olympic Break.

I've never seen a Senators team be so unpredictable since their existence.

But luckily they've had more up times and earned their playoff spot and will face the defending champion Penguins to kick start the playoffs.

Ignore anyone who says this will be a quick series and the Penguins will be breaking out the brooms as they try to win back-to-back Cups. Like every team heading to the playoffs, they have their own concerns that may prevent them from going all the way. Malkin has been hurt and has been somewhat of a disappointment this year. Fleury has posted very mediocre numbers to close out this regular season. And I also think their defense isn't as strong as it's been in the recent past.

You have to wonder if all the games Pittsburgh has played being in two consecutive finals will take its toll.

Meanwhile, Ottawa's inexperience in nets (Elliott has never played a playoff game) and in their defense (Karlsson, Campoli, Carkner and Sutton have a combined 9 games of playoff experience) are items that may be concerning. Will they rise to the occasion or falter like many have?

Finding the back of the net hasn't come easy for them, either. Spezza has played a lot better lately, but guys like Michalek have been MIA for a couple of months. Matt Cullen has played strong since being acquired at the trade deadline, but he misses more chances than he buries.

I like Ottawa's depth up front, and I don't care what some may say, losing Kovalev for the rest of the year hurts them. He's a game breaker that gives opponents someone to worry about, and has been a pretty consistent performer in the playoffs.

The series between the two teams were split 2-2. That's pretty much how I think this series will go: back and forth, likely to a game 7. It's hard to fathom the Cup champs bowing out in the first round to a rookie netminder while having home ice advantage. My heart's with Ottawa, but the money is on the Penguins in seven games. I hope I'm wrong wrong wrong and Alfie shows me the error of my ways. If I've learned anything in the last decade of seeing the Senators make one Cup final:

1) Being a favourite doesn't guarantee anything
2) Having home ice advantage doesn't guarantee anything
3) Goaltending is everything
4) The Eastern Conference is wide open
5) Anything can happen