Playoff Preview: #2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #7 Ottawa Senators

Forwards:

Injuries aside, both these units are among the deepest in the Eastern Conference. However, with injuries to Daniel “Douche” Alfreddson, Mike “Douche” Fisher, and Chris “Douche” Kelly, the Senators are at a distinct disadvantage. The Penguins are armed with the best 1/2 punch at center with Crosby and Malkin and 2 potential #1 scoring lines. The depth players are even more solid with Jordan Staal, Jaarko Ruutu and playoff warrior Gary Roberts. If Heatley/Spezza can’t get anything going on than they will be toast especially without Alfreddson. I look for the Sens to try to goon it up through their douchebag brigade of Brian McGratton, Chris Neil and Christoph Schubert and try to intimidate the Pens. Unfortunately for them, this isn’t the old soft Penguins and they will dish it out especially with the way these two teams feel about each other.

Edge: Penguins

Defensemen:

Ottawa has a clear advantage in talent here despite the Penguins taking necessary steps to improve their sagging blue line corps. Chris Phillips and Antoine Volchenkov stuffed the Malkin/Crosby line last year and will attempt to likely neutralize the Crosby/Hossa line this year. The Sens last year killed the Penguins in transition but have also taken a nose dive in puck possession overall. Tom Preissing and Joe Corvo killed the Penguins with sharp passing but now they have been replaced with Mike “Jew Fro” Commodore and Luke “old” Richardson who are stronger in their own end but way worse with the breakout passing. The Redden/ Meszaros pairing is prone to turnovers when pressured but are skilled in the transition department so the Pens need to pound them. Redden is also playing for a new contract. The Pens overall are much better than in previous seasons but are still prone to weak play headlined by Ryan “Where’s my purse?” Whitney and Rob “I went to BC so I obviously suck ass” Scuderi. Sergei Gonchar has had a tremendous regular season but when smacked Sergei gives it up like its prom night. Penguins have some physical presence in Hall Gill and Brooks Orpik but not enough to match the Sens.

Edge: Senators

Goalies:

Ray “Boom Boom” Emery was one of the “stars” to emerge from last season’s playoff run for the Sens but the man has decided to mail it in with his big contract and thus is now relegated to backup situations. Martin Gerber takes the reins but in reality is nothing more than a good #2 goalie. The Penguins have a clear advantage as they have seen Marc Andre Fluery take his game to a new level in the last month. Fleury has cut down on his rebounds and also has shown nifty stick handling ability. When Fleury is on he is one of the more electrifying goalies in the league and has come up big for the Pens. He has it in him to continue his ascension up the goaltending ladder provided his defense doesn’t hang him out to dry.

Edge: Penguins

Intangibles:

The Senators have the experience to advance past the Penguins. They’ve been there before. They’ve shown that they can turn that On Switch on at a moment’s notice and be the elite team they were in the first half of the season. Sure they may have played like ass the last couple of weeks but they still can put up 8 goals when they want to as evident by last Thursday thrashing of the Maple Leafs. This team is dangerous and may have found their game not a moment’s too soon. Not to mention, for much this season, Pittsburgh has still yet to develop a KILLER instinct. One in which they can bury an opponent for the rest of the game. The two teams met in February where the Pens had a 3-0 and watched Ottawa storm back and take the game in OT. The Pens must develop this instinct and most do so quickly.

Edge: Senators

Coaching:

Michel Therrien is a Jack Adams candidate for Pittsburgh as he has gotten a tremendous amount out of his club. Problem is he is still not the type of coach you need for these situations. Therrien is one of those coaches that’s able to throw a bunch of shit at the wall and hopes that something sticks. Problem is he can get severely out coached as was the case last year and the trend will continue. Therrien also refuses to adequately match lines nearly enough and tends to not how to utilize his own players. Therrien, despite being a motivator, for whatever reason has his team come out flat on a consistent basis to begin games. This can not happen as the Penguins can not give the Senators a once of room to regain their confidence. Otherwise all the hype and hullabaloo for the Pens will go the way of the Mid-April Golfing session. Murray learned a bit last year and will keep the Senators close and is already motivating his club to show them that Pittsburgh tanked to play them. Good, old yet cheap motivating techniques should cause Ottawa to rise up like a sleeping polar bear.

Edge: Senators

Prediction:

The Senators are seemingly behind the 8 ball but there is no measure for experience and the Sens have that. The Sens need to just steal one in Pittsburgh and they have this series by the balls. Alfreddson and Fisher should both return in case this series goes over 4 games so the Penguins need to jump out to a lead quickly in the series. Ottawa can not get a win in the first 2 games. They need to be reminded that they were one of the worst teams in the league in the New Year and the Penguins can’t give them any hope that they can hang around. The Penguins need to dictate the play and not be afraid to take hits as they were last season. Penguins also need perennial playoff chokers, Sergei Gonchar, Marian Hossa to rise above and play to their all-star levels. Can it happen sure but I don’t see it happening. I see Ottawa stealing a game in Pittsburgh and than tread water until Alfreddson comes back. When he comes back, the Sens are a different animal.

Senators in 6