PIT vs OTT
Posted on April 9, 2008 02:11 PM | Permalink
Bryan Murray didn't back down today.
The Senators coach continued to throw darts at the Pittsburgh Penguins by accusing them of throwing their final game against the Philadelphia Flyers Sunday so they could meet Ottawa in the first round of the playoffs beginning tonight.
"I guess I just had a bad TV that day," said Murray, who has been surprised by the media defending the Penguins.
While the puck hasn’t even dropped, there has already been words exchanged between the two sides.
Murray not only has accused the Penguins of tanking their final game against the Flyers Sunday to face Ottawa, he took it to another level by saying the heat is all on Pittsburgh.
"We’re the favourites and the standings show that,” said Crosby. “They started off the season 15-2 and they have a lot of firepower. They went to the final last year and their team hasn’t changed all that much from the team that went to the final last year.
"It’s true, that we’re the favourites. By no means, is anybody looking at this one that’s going to be easy for us.”
The Senators know they’re in tough without injured captain Daniel Alfredsson, centre Mike Fisher and centre Chris Kelly, but Murray is confident his club will compete.
“I just want our players to do what they can do,” said Murray. “Our players are all aware of the injuries. They all know the unlikelihood of any of the players coming back. We just have to compete, keep the goals-against down and make it a challenge for Pittsburgh to beat us.”
After dropping their first round series against the Ottawa Senators last spring in five games, the Penguins begin the road to redemption tonight in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final.
“They kicked out butts and we remember that,” said Penguins winger Gary Roberts.
OTTAWA LINES (L-to-R)
Heatley-Spezza-Robitaille
Stillman-Vermette-Donovan
Foligno-McAmmond-Neil
Schubert-Bass-Lapointe.
Defence
Phillips-Commodore
Redden-Volchenkov
Lee-Meszaros.
Goalies: Gerber and Emery
Injured: RW Daniel Alfredsson (knee/neck), C Mike Fisher (knee) and C Chris Kelly (foot).
PITTSBURGH LINES
Dupuis-Crosby-Hossa
Malone-Malkin-Sykora
Ruutu-Staal-Kennedy
Roberts-Talbot-Laraque
Defence
Orpik-Gonchar
Whitney-Scuderi
Letang-Gill.
Goalies: Fleury and Conklin.
Injuries: D Mark Eaton (torn ACL) won’t play.
SITTING OUT: Pittsburgh D Darryl Sydor will be a healthy scratch against the Senators. RW Brian McGrattan and D Luke Richardson will sit for Ottawa.
QUOTABLE: “It’s going to be physical and we’ve got the personnel to be ready for that physical challenge.”
- Penguins coach Michel Therrien.
Comments
This is why Bryan Murray is a good coach. He can get his guys fired up by saying stuff like this to the media. He wants to get under the Pens skin before the series even starts.
This should be a dandy!
Posted by: Jean-Marc C. Ottawa | April 9, 2008 03:46 PM
Mr. Murray can "talk the talk", but it isn't going to do the team any good. He fired Paddock for no valid reason, other then Emery's shenanigans and the team hasn't played any better under his tutelage.The team is history in the first round of the playoffs, as Pittsburgh's young players have now had some playoff experience and will "come out flying."
Posted by: Lorne | April 9, 2008 05:53 PM