The Ottawa Senators are aware the task at hand is not going to be easy.
Trying to go up 2-0 in their playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Mellon Arena, the Senators expect the defending Stanley Cup champions are going to come back hard to try even the series before it moves to Scotiabank Place Sunday.
With a 5-4 victory in Game 1 Wednesday, the Senators wouldn't have a stranglehold on the Penguins if they move ahead 2-0. However, Pittsburgh would be in a tough spot if Ottawa is holding a commanding lead.
"This will be a tough one. We know they're going to be a desperate team," said captain Daniel Alfredsson. "We've got to make sure we come out and just play a really good game. We can't worry about the result.
"We've just got to make it really hard for them all over the ice. Hopefully, we can get the lead. That will put a lot of pressure on them. It will force them to press a little bit when they play without the lead. That's just as important."
The Senators will be forced to make one change against the Penguins. Winger Ryan Shannon is going to be in the lineup with winger Milan Michalek gone for the season with a left knee injury that is going to require surgery.
Shift in momentum
Pittsburgh centre Sidney Crosby saw the Capitals go down 1-0 in their series against the Habs Thursday in Washington.
He is well aware there are going to be shifts in momentum. That is no different than what he expects to happen here.
"It's the playoffs. There's always favourites and things like that, but you know it's one game. A lot can happen in one game," said Crosby.
Rupp making debut
The Penguins are expected to make one change for Game 2 by making winger Ruslan Fedotenko a healthy scratch. Winger Michael Rupp was out of the lineup the last game, but that doesn't appear to be the case this time.
"I think I made pretty evident what I do every night and that's chip pucks in and establish a forecheck," said Rupp. "Nothing cute coming from my end and I'm not about to start now."
Line combinations
Ottawa
Forwards
Regin-Spezza-Alfredsson
Cullen-Fisher-Foligno
Ruutu-Kelly-Neil
Shannon-Smith-Winchester
Defence
Phillips-Volchenkov
Sutton-Karlsson
Carkner-Campoli
Goalies
Elliott
Leclaire
Pittsburgh
Forwards
Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Ponikarovsy-Malkin-Dupuis
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Rupp-Talbot-Adams
Defence
Orpik-Gonchar
Eaton-Letang
Goligoski-Leopold
Goalies
Fleury
Thiessen
Injuries
Ottawa: Alexei Kovalev, RW, knee surgery (out for series); Filip Kuba, D, back surgery (out for series); Milan Michalek, LW, knee surgery (out for series). Pittsburgh: Brent Johnson, G (won't suit up).
