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GO SENS GO PLAY WITH HEART YOUR THE BETTER TEAM ... BRING CANADA WHAT WE NEED TO SEE . THIS LEAF FAN IS BEHIND YOU DUCKS ARE WEAK WE PROVED IT IN GAME 3 AND WE MAY HAVE LOST IN GAME 4 BUT WE PROVED FIRST ROUND WERE BETTER GET YOUR CONFIDENCE YOUR HEART LOAD UR GUN AND WIN . GO SENS GO

Would it not be sweet justice if we could take the officials that call them referee's and decorate the boards with black an d white stripes? If Ottawa were to play Anaheims game, it would be certain that the Sens Sin Bin would be over populated, and the Ducks would spend the whole sixty minutes on the PP.
Thanks to NBC for the officiating. Thanks to Bettmen for the officiating.
I would love to see Volchenkov use the body of Pronger though, and knock that smug look off his crippled face. He is what the NHL wanted to clean up, and yet he is cheered.
That is only two games, So Go Ottawa. We support you guys 150 percent.

I predicted the Ducks would win the Cup after watching them in a game against the Wild. They do not have superior talent, they have something better - the League.

I see the same pattern this year as last year. The officials turned a blind eye to the hacking and chopping Carolina did to get by Montreal. This year the officials have turned a blind eye to the charging, high sticking, late hits, and elbowing perpetrated by the Ducks. All this is euphamisticly called "rugged" or some other crap. When the mid 70s Flyers won with less of the cheap shots done than by the Ducks, they were called goons, even though they were the highest scoring team in the league. Not a surprise with Randy Carlyle at the helm. He learned his clutch and grab in Toronto and brought it to Winnipeg, where the General Manager was John Fergusson, a goon when he played.

Face it folks, the league can't have a Canadian team win, otherwise it will disappear in the southern US. This year it had to be a California team. The suckers in Canada will always watch hockey.

I have to say as an Ottawa Senators season ticket holder I have never been so proud of the players and the team. Did they bring their "A" game against the Ducks on Monday? NO! The reason is moot.

This team has so much character, their play tonight will be speculator.

Sens in 5. GO SENS GO!

Are you people kidding me. We have one rough games and you jump all over them. Monday quaterbacking is pretty easy. When we win tonight, you'll all be back here saying what a great team the SENS are. Back off they can't win every game. They will be bringing Lord Stanley home in 6.

GO SENS GO!!!!!

Niki said my sentiments exactly. Redden has issues and he should come back when he's ready. We've been eliminated in past cup runs too many times and usually each elimination ends with Redden on his knees praying to the ice because he blew a play.

Yeah he scored a goal, but he gave away the first Anaheim goal as well. Add the second giveaway for Anaheim's winning goal and voila. Thanks Redden. Leave him in the locker room and get McGratton out there for some quality checking and maybe a scrap or two.

Philips and Volshotblocker should div'y up Redden's contract premium, cause Redden like Gerber isn't worth the money.

Go Sens Go!!! Let Redden stay in the hotel until game 5.

GO SENS GO! I live in T.O...but due to the major sucking of the blue and white over the years,and the stupid move of signing Raycroft. I had to jump on the Ottawa bandwagon! Love Emrey & Spezza. These boyz WILL pull it together! Rust or no rust, NO EXCUSES! Bring it home to our Nations Capital.
Pronger does not deserve the cup.....Dirty....just Dirtyyyy. That's all I have to say. SEE YOU ALL AT THE PARADE!

good post-game talk from ther Sens - but can they actually correct it? they have got to take advantage of the lack of depth in anaheim's defence. make it difficult for carlyle to put his 5/6 d out, and wear them down. neil has to wake up and hit too.

The rust didn't show? What the hell game where YOU watching Scott? Anyway, rust or no, that should in no way be used as an excuse for the Sens. Still, the Sens only lost by one. If we get the Sens who played in the last three series, then I think they'll take this series in 6. Bring the cup home boys! Go Sens go! ...as a Leaf fan that still feels weird to say...

Okay Travis, we get it, you don't like that Bertuzzi was allowed to play, can we move on now? Rehashing it here is not going to get you anywhere.
The Sens play swung from really good to really bad on Monday, and I am hoping it was rust, (fingers crossed). I love the team and will continue to support them win or lose. I am incredibly proud that they made it as far as they have and believe that all canadians should be as well. Consider that of the 30 teams in the NHL only 6 are canadian, these are not great odds yet we have had a team in the finals for 3 years in a row.
Here's hoping that the 3rd times the charm! Go Sens Go!

Some excellent points from Scott and some posters. Sens fans have good reason to be proud of the team's acomplishments so far, and as Scott notes, one game does not make a series.

However, there are three troubling issues for Sens fans and players, one very obvious, another fairly obvious, and the other completely unreported.

The obvious is Emery. Yes, the last two Dux goals could be considered soft, but the larger issue is that Stanley Cup winning teams do not give up goals in the third period, and in particular goals in the last three minutes of reg time. But let's not forget there were five other players on the ice when Moen scored.

The scond matter of concern is that both Sens goals were PP markers. Cup winners get the lead even strength and bury you on special teams.

But the most ominous problem for the Sens is in team scoring. A glance at the stats reveals that while Alfedsson, Heatly and Spezza lead the post season points parade, the only other active players in the top 25 are all Dux, and there's seven of them.

Clearly, the Sens have to get championship goalkeeping and step up their physical play, but that's not the key to success, it's the minimum requirement. Unless they get some secondary offense, which includes more than 20 shots and more face-offs at centre ice, pundits predicting a seven game series are in for a rude awakening.

Once again the highest paid defenceman on the Team-Redden chokes and is mostly responsible for our loss. He's got to be better than that, or it will be a short series. Rayzor was not controlling the rebounds either, and the refs were slow on blowing the play dead on many occasions, allowing the Dux to poke and fall on him. We need to get dirty and cheap, just like the Dux are!

I am so tired of hearing about the layoff. Its not an excuse. It can help or hinder teams but it should not be an excuse. This is the biggest moment of their lives, they need to show up to win. I would much rather have seen Buffalo in the finals. DUCKS in 5. IF the ducks don't win its because the nhl and refs want the cup in Canada. The ref's have been horrible all year to the DUCKS. As far as Giguere is concerned I am so sick and tired of how people give him no credit. His OT record is amazing and that started way before we had Scotty or Pronger. Give the man some credit he deserves it. Emery is too stck up he belongs in Basketball, not hockey. GO DUCKS

Rust didn't do a thing to the Senators. The Ducks did it all.

When Alfreddson said it was going to be the most physical series the Sens have played thus far, he was bang on. They were able to push the Eastern teams around, but 'rust' or no 'rust', we are going to see more of the same physical play we saw in game 1.

Duck in 5. 6 if the Sens get lucky.

I keep hearing the long lay off is hurting the senators? I think the dux ended the wings season last tuesday? that gave the dux a 6 day lay off. I haven't heard about the dux layoff hurting them but then again they won.

Must have been slow day if y-one's weak comment on Steve's hockey based anaylsis is what made your day. Bet it was an especially super day in Ottawa today. Full depression will be setting in about 28 hours from now. If you're actually in Ottawa, we know last nights game was your third viewed of the season.

Sens getting a good scare ..... The Ducks
were picked by many to be the team from the
West from the beginning of the season . I
would believe they are the favorite in this
final. Consider it a lesson and not a scare.
Emery will have to be nothing short of
excellent and all Ottawa lines will have
to bring it for them to have a chance. Just
one game , but East viewers can see what
the Ducks team have in talent and size.

I find myself agreeing with pretty much the whole story.
Ottawa was caught with their pants down, but Anaheim had best be prepared for the Senator Attack that has propelled them to this point.
Their were Senator players that reverted back to September play, but those months between then and now are surely going to be torn from the proverbial calendar, and the smell of roasted duck will permeate from California to Ontario.

I know the Ducks did not score but I am still trying to see Redden's tripping penalty in the second. CBC needs much better analyse. Give the mike to Kelly and let him speak without fear of league reprisal. When the refs miss a call, point it out, don't ignore it.

Why is no one addressing the fact that Bertuzzi is allowed to participate in this year's playoffs is a total sham? People are only talking about game 1, when the real issue should be Bertuzzi's inclusion in the playoffs when the livlihood of another has been stripped.

Granted the series is long from over, but i was certainly suprised at the hitting power of the Ducks.if they can keep the Spezza line from creating to much damage and the Ducks can continue to show their prowess in the hitting dept. I would think the odds of an Anaheim series victory are starting to look a little rosier.

Ottawa did play a rusty looking game but you can't get to the finals in 15 games - not to mention knocking off the presidents trophy winners -without a great team. The senators are a better team and they have a great opportunity but all it takes is a few mistakes and the ducks will take advantage which they did in game 1. The ducks outplayed Ottawa last night but i believe we'll see a different team tomorrow

and Steve, why is it that at this time of year you Torontonians are 'crying', oh right, you havent seen the playoffs since before the lockout... ouch.

Please...do not use "rust" as a factor... The Ducks had an extended layoff period as well. If it wasn't for the goal post, that score should have been 5-2

Finally, some objective commentary.

It is nice to see someone admit that the Ducks are getting balanced scoring form 3 lines. Yes, they did not have a 4th line of any mention but who needs one when you get production from 3 lines. Randy C seems to have assembled a 4th line that was not too shaby.

After reading the posts on this site you would have thought the only thing the Sens had to worry about was an aging Finn.

I have followed the Ducks closely for a few seasons after jumping off the Kings bandwagon and they are a fun club to watch. They seem to thrive when down by 1 goal. Steve in Toronto is correct when he says the physical play is exciting and the Duck will bring that and then some. The commentary crew on VS. get as giddy as school girls when the Ducks are doing their thing.

I have been reading the posts on this site during the layoff and was amused by the Sens faithful taking the Ducks lightly.

In the spirit of a friendly rivalry, I will tell the Sens faithful what to look for. There is always a period or 1/2 period in every game when the Ducks look sloppy & listless. If the Sens do not take advantage of those moments they are in trouble. The Sens need to run up the score in those moments and then try to weather the storm.

Last thing, against the Ducks, Flair & Finesse is going to get you run into the endboards. The Sens need heart and grit to win this.

As a Sens fan, I can admit that Ottawa in no way deserved to win that game. They were rusty, undisciplined and forgot what had gotten them this far. The silver lining is that some experts have said that was the Ducks best effort of the playoffs, and Ottawa still only lost by a goal. If they refocus for Wednesday, the result should be different.We can only hope Bob Cole may actually be there to see it, as clearly he wasn't anywhere near the same building as Game 1 took place in. Not a minute in, the Ducks take the early penalty, and Bob calls it an offside, even though the puck was nowhere near crossing the blue line. How much longer are they going to let him embarrass himself? It's gone past the point of being funny, now it's just really sad.

My comment is just an answer to Steve (Toronto) question.

I think because he misses the softness of the Leafs ;-)

Thanks Steve, you made my day.

ottawa played a good, but sloppy game. the rust was evident. they didn't have the jump they had against buffalo.
anahiem did not look all that good either. dump and chase. dump and chase. with the exception of getzlaff's goal, that's all there is to anahiem's game. and don't foget, anahiem was lucky to scrape by detroit.

if ottawa does lose, big if, then the 10 day layoff imposed for usa tv coverage will be the sole reason. it's uncalled for to have a team sit idle for 10 days in what is supposed to be the defining moments of the nhl season.

My comment is just an answer to Steve (Toronto) question.

I think because he misses the softness of the Leafs ;-)

Thanks Steve, you made my day.

It is clear what the NHL and the on-ice Canadian "Officials" want...The Cup in Canada. NO ONE can say the game was called fairly! 4 times Ottawa had too many men on the ice...NO CALLS. The high-sticking call on Scotty in the 1st was a bad call because no contact with his stick. And what is with all the talk about the slashing on Emery...if the puck is not covered because you are too nervous to be on the ice, then yeah we are gonna go after the puck!
Go Ducks!!!!

Forget about "better play" - there's an easy way for the Sens to win, and it's called bodychecking. The Ducks overpowered them on the boards in order to generate offense. If we hit 'em back, those chances will fall right back into our laps again, along with all those fantastic power plays.

As for goaltending, Emery might be considered average, but Giguere is no great player either; to borrow Mr. Richer's words, "he's been made to look good" thanks to his Norris candidate teammates, Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer. All I know is that one of these two netminders owns a Ferrari and a quality fashion sense, and the other plays for Anaheim. And I'd go with the Ferrari if it came to a fight (which it might, if the lightning in Neil and May's glares infects the rest of their respective teams. Here's hoping.)

Spoken from a true Leafs fan...
"If there was rust on either team, not sure it really showed."
I'm not sure you have a clue here Scott, it was clear the Senators had rusted over. The intensity and poise they have shown through the first three rounds had dissapeared. They second geussed every move and that little hesitation caused multiple turnovers. This game was a terrible preview of what is to come from this Senators team. Hopefully, the rust was banged off by the "physically dominating" Ducks, who lead the hit count 21 to 32. The real test for the Ducks will come in later games when questions raised will be; Can the Ducks top three continue to log 30 minutes a game? This will be the Senators first real series this post season. The Ducks are for real and their young talent runs deep. Look for the "Sens" to bounce back big next game to come home with a tied 1-1 series.

The fact that the Stanley Cup is currently underway should not detract attention from what has been the worst case of on ice violence in years. The fact that Bertuzzi was allowed to play in these playoffs is a travesty of justice. The league should be ashamed. A man's livlihood has been stolen. Bertuzzi should be banned for life. The fact that he was playing is disgusting.

Ottawa did have rust last night. Yeah, they came out hard, but then fizzled shortly thereafter. Then, second period started, and they played better, and fizzled again. Third period was just disastrous. This was not the team playing the previous 3 rounds (10 day wait should NEVER EVER happen).

I hope to see them come out with the flair, finesse, and desire we have seen the previous 3 rounds. To me, Ottawa did not play a good game at all, and they only lost by one. Bring out the game we saw previously, and the result will be much different.

The difference in the series is going to be with the physical play... The Ducks have a very physical and tough team were the Senators just think there tough. That's were the difference is.. If the ducks keep manhandling the Sens sooner or later it will slow them down. You just have to love that style they play that Tough Physical game running over other teams. Oh One question why is it that everytime the camera shows Chris Neal it looks like he's about to Cry ???

Good observations, Scott.

Ottawa has to step up and not rely on the Spezza/Heatley/Alfredsson line for all of its production. Redden is prone to terrible lapses, especially if the opposing team is hitting and forechecking like Anaheim. Let's hope he can regain his composure and play more soundly.

It's time for the Sens to show some true grit and start getting production from the second, third and fourth lines. As others have pointed out, if Ottawa can follow the script that got them to the finals and add that key grit element, the team will make it through. If not, well, California has some nice golf courses and good weather!...

I'm in agreement with Scott. I am acctually almost happy at the loss last night I think Ottawa needed a good scare in this series. I was afraid they would win this game easily and then get beaten. Now the top line has the rust off, and a little bit of humiliation to atone for. The bright-side is that the Sens did play quite well for brief periods throughout the game, and were able to give as god as they got in the physical department. great series Ottawa in 6. Go Sens Go!!!!!!

Correction to my earlier comment.

I have one comment, Wade Redden scares me, he has a good shot but he is not aggressive enough. "Steal that puck from the Duck".

Go Sens Go

All excellent points Scott. It seemed like the Senators were yes, just ordinary. As Greg Millen pointed out the Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley line were doing too much. They forgot the script. Let's hope this one game is the anomaly in the series. Go SENS Go!

I've mentioned this all season long that if Ottawa has a weakness, it's in goal. Ray Emery is a very ordinary goaltender. He's been made to look good because of his solid wall of defencemen especially Phillips & Volchenkov stopping many shots and making his job that much easier. The 2nd & 3rd goals of last nights game were more than stoppable and Emery played very nervously and does not show a confidence that a goaltender usually shows at this stage of the playoffs. The defence usually also gets a boost from the forwards, Heatley & Spezza doing their part which didn't materialize last night.

I only have one comment, Wade Redden scares me.
He has a ggod shot but he is not agreesive enough as a defenceman. "Steel that puck from the Duck"

Thanks
Sens fan Niki Demers.