Mark Stone (60), who could be inserted into the lineup Wednesday, made his NHL debut with the Senators in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 21, 2012. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
OTTAWA -- Three storylines for Game 4 of the second-round series between the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins on Hockey Night in Canada (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET). The Penguins lead the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1.
1. Can Andy be dandy again?
Over the past two days, Senators head coach Paul MacLean has uttered many times that if his team can win Game 4, "we can make it a series." Another top-notch performance from Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson would give the Senators their best shot at tying up the series at 2-2. Anderson made 49 saves in Sunday's double-overtime win, including a couple of brilliant stops on a Sidney Crosby breakaway and a dazzling rush from Evgeni Malkin. The only lineup change the Senators are expected to make for Game 4 is 21-year-old forward Mark Stone will replace Cory Conacher on a line with Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. Stone has only five games of NHL experience, including a playoff game last year. "We have long thought he would be a good linemate for Jason. Circumstances haven't allowed that until now," MacLean said. The Penguins are expected to use centre Jussi Jokinen on the fourth line for the first time this series.
2. Can Ottawa continue to flourish on penalty kill?
The Senators, the top penalty-killing team in the regular season, yielded three power-play goals in the Penguins' first seven man-advantage situations in this series. But since then Ottawa penalty killers have gone a perfect 9-for-9, including a 6-for-6 run in Game 3. Plus, captain Daniel Alfredsson's game-tying goal was shorthanded. MacLean believes his penalty-killing unit has improved as the series has gone on because the work ethic has improved. Anderson has been playing better and there is a familiarity now with the Penguins power play. Nevertheless, when a power play has talent like Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang and others, the Senators need another perfect game from their penalty killers. Another short-handed goal would be nice, too.
3. Can Ottawa keep it a low-scoring affair?
When Ottawa held the Penguins to only a goal on Sunday, it was the first occasion that Pittsburgh had been held under three goals in nine playoff games. The talented Penguins can score. They led the league in goals scored in the regular season and they're on top again in the playoffs with an average of 3.78 goals per game. The Senators need another low-scoring affair if they intend to knot up the series.
Projected lineup for Ottawa
Forward:
Daniel Alfredsson --Kyle Turris -- Jakob Silfverberg
Mark Stone -- Jason Spezza -- Milan Michalek
Colin Greening -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Erik Condra
Zac Smith -- Mika Zibanejad -- Chris Neil
Defence:
Marc Methot -- Erik Karlsson
Jared Cowen -- Sergei Gonchar
Chris Phillips -- Andre Benoit
Goaltender:
Craig Anderson
Projected lineup for Pittsburgh
Forward:
Chris Kunitz -- Sidney Crosby -- Pascal Dupuis
James Neal -- Evgeni Malkin -- Jarome lginla
Brenden Morrow -- Brandon Sutter -- Matt Cooke
Craig Adams -- Jussi Jokinen -- Tyler Kennedy
Defence:
Brooks Orpik -- Paul Martin
Kris Letang -- Matt Niskanen
Mark Eaton -- Douglas Murray
Goaltender:
Tomas Vokoun
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Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
