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Southside
May 10th, 2007, 1:57:12 AM
Ya know, I've been waiting to see if anyone brought it up--but no one has that I have seen.

One of the biggest remarks that was uttered in a number of places after "the game" with Ottawa, was --and we talked about it quite a bit on this board-- That Ottawa didnt come to the aid of their goaltender in fight #2 (with Peters).

FOr all of this nonsense I keep reading about "Ottawa is a different team now" and that illiterate fool that continues to attempt write Sabres "news" over at Hockey Buzz (he must be buzzed) nobody has brought this up.

Here is why I think that it speaks volumes about the Senators.
When push came to shove, sure they all squared off and most picked a partner (except for Campbell who gave a hug instead) but even Don "too many men on the ice" Cherry railed at the fact that the Sens didnt take it to the next level, nhl be damned and go after Peters for squaring off with Emery.

Not that Emery needed help--it was just the principal of the matter. What Cherry tried to intimate in his own primitive way, was that Ottawa didnt have "what it took" when the game entered a new dimension.

And I agree..

I usually dont get up for the long heated, endless "importance of fighting in the game" debates, its a meathead argument. But when Drury got leveled (still an illegal hit in my mind--but that is not the point) Stafford--in way over his head --jumped up to answer the bell. Nobody in a Sens uniform did that for Emery, and they damn sure would've gotten away with it the same as Peters did (just a gamer, no fine or suspension I mean).

That, my dear friends, speaks volumes to me about why Ottawa will lose this series. They will not go to the end of the earth and hell for one another.
Intangible? Perhaps. But it was tangible that night.

In any event--ESPN's humans are once again picking Buffalo's opponent. Who cares (including that tool Roenick) and the monkey hasnt spun the wheel yet, although the monkey is leading all in predicting wins.

We faced two tougher goalies already and we only have to sweat one line--because the Sens have all of their eggs in one basket--that Spezza line while we roll four.

We will win because you cant coach heart and you cant coach caring. Ottawa already proved they dont have "it".

And Buffalo does.

IMHO
Southside

Iggy72
May 10th, 2007, 2:04:54 AM
Interesting take. That was one of the rallying points for the boys, and I remember them taking it to the hilt on the HNIC game the next night, only to fall short. On Off the Record, they were saying that unless there's a blowout, the two teams won't get overly physical, although one of the guests said that he'd hope that would happen once. I don't know if it will come to that in physical terms, but along your lines of thinking, I would say this: Ottawa has played better as a whole in the first two rounds, but they haven't faced as much adversity as the Sabres. That might also be a difference there.

Pax.
Iggy72

foster
May 10th, 2007, 2:38:54 AM
It would be nice to see the Sabres put an end to that night with a series win.

Carl J. Ironsides
May 10th, 2007, 2:45:10 AM
Southside, my man, you just said it all. Well done.

HURLS
May 10th, 2007, 2:48:02 AM
Good point Southside. Just hope the Sens "on a mission" type 1st 2 rounds and a lucky Goaltender don't get the victory.

Southside
May 10th, 2007, 8:29:29 AM
Thanks gang:
Second Overlooked Point: None of the media talking heads seem to remember that we had the better part of 8 (9?) call-ups playing during those couple games.

I entertained the thought for about 1 second that perhaps we should dress that same group at the pre-game skate and scare the hell out of them!

BTW: if the SAbres prevail ( and, of course they will) we will have the distinction of having put out the last Canadian Team from the playoffs... heh heh)

Southside

anEinherjer
May 10th, 2007, 12:10:34 PM
You are on a roll, south.

jlpubarch
May 10th, 2007, 12:51:08 PM
I think their confidence/team mentality is always teetering on the brink of the cliff.

If they lose a close game, Emery has a bad game, or they lose one at home I think their morale (and fanbase) will immediately come back down to earth and remember that this is a team led by one of the least capable captains (with the exception of Yashin, interestingly, of course, the former Ottawa captain) in the league.

If Buffalo takes the first 2 games, this one is over before the Sens even step foot back on Canadian soil.

Ralonzo
May 10th, 2007, 2:08:13 PM
You are on a roll, south.

His sig is on a roll too. Wish I'd thought of that first... cuz it's true.

I think their confidence/team mentality is always teetering on the brink of the cliff.

If they lose a close game, Emery has a bad game, or they lose one at home I think their morale (and fanbase) will immediately come back down to earth and remember that this is a team led by one of the least capable captains (with the exception of Yashin, interestingly, of course, the former Ottawa captain) in the league.

If Buffalo takes the first 2 games, this one is over before the Sens even step foot back on Canadian soil.

Emery, I think, is right at the edge of that cliff. He's really looked shaky early in the games when the score is still close. A quick goal or two in game one, and that gnawing thought that I know is in the back of his tiny little mind will be front & center, and that's his record against Buffalo in last year's playoffs, especially the OT's: 5 shots, 2 saves, 3 losses.

And we haven't even run the replays of Connolly's goals in Game 1 on the scoreboard yet.

The plan is the same: Shift him to his left, and move the puck cross-ice for the one-timer from his blocker side. He still can't stop that shot.

slowpokemcgee
May 10th, 2007, 2:12:25 PM
It would be nice to see the Sabres put an end to that night with a series win.

Even better, if Drury put an end to the series with an OT goal.