There is no easy run to the cup finals. Saying that I really don't want to face Boston in the first round. I watched every game of Boston's run last year and came to the conclusion that even though Thomas is beatable in a 7 game series...the man can literally turn into a monster and steal tight games when he wants to...more so than any other goalie since Brodeur and Roy. He's stellar when he wants to be and I think if Ottawa faces that guy(and they will)...Ottawa will have a very hard time beating the Bruins...
Saying that I had a dream we won the cup 2 days ago So I say Sens in 7! GO SENS GO!
Doesn't matter how far we go, just to have made the playoffs in year 1 of the 3 year plan is amazing. They have exceeded all our expectations we had at the start of the season. For our young guys to experience playoff hockey will be such a positive experience in their development, they're learning how to be winners and to have that winning mentality is huge.
I think we'll beat Boston, don't ask me why but I just like the way our team is playing and I think Anderson is going to play well enough to get it done for us in 7 games.
After that I'll check in again, we can beat the NYR & Philly, Pitt is a different animal but we can take them too.
But for now, we'll take Boston in 7 games and I'll see who the round 2 opponent is.
This team has continued to defy expectations all year, and everyone writing them off seems to motivate them even further. They were told that they'd be a lottery team to start the year, and now they're being told they'll be an easy first round exit.
Really I'm not even going to try to predict what this team will do. The whole idea this year was that if everything went right Ottawa could make the playoffs, and that is exactly what happened.
If Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Kyle Turris, Erik Karlsson, and Craig Anderson catch fire in the post season I think Ottawa can take on any team in the league.
Ottawa has shown they can beat good teams, but they've also shown they can be really bad when they want to be. Lets hope the good team shows up for the playoffs!
A conference final/stanley cup final appearance and a Norris trophy for Karlsson would be a ridiculously awesome outcome for this team in year one. That is getting far a head of things though so I'm just going to sit back and enjoy where ever the team finishes.
Imho you either lose in round 1, or you lose in round 3 or later. I suspect if you're capable of getting past the Bruins, it's not the team in round 2 that's going to stop you. The run you could go on after defeating the champs could be special.
But you have to beat the champs, and you have to beat them at their almost healthiest/deepest/most well rested.
Predict a run similar to Montreal two years ago. Far, but not all the way.
this x100000
If we beat Boston....it's because we finally figured out Tim Thomas, and Andy stands on his head. I'm actually all for playing the Bruins as well, as other posters have stated...''to be the best, you have to beat the best''.
I could see us riding that momentum straight to the Conference finals...or at least a long second round series.
I will be honest here, I dont think this team gets past boston. Honestly anything but a sweep would be sweet. That said I think the bruins win it in 5, they have better depth + experience.
I don't see us getting past Boston, but the Sens have proven me wrong before. I wouldn't bet on us winning against Boston but I also wouldn't be completely shocked if we beat them either.
I expect an exit around game 6 in the first round. But deep down I want to just go deep in he playoffs to prove all the haters wrong.
The last several years different Sens rosters, different coaches have all failed to solve Thomas, even this year. I find it hard to believe we'll suddenly do it in the playoffs.
No shame in losing to the defending champs but if it was anyone else I'd say we lose in 6-7 or win in 7. Boston is the worst possible matchup.
Of course if we do somehow win, the sky's the limit.
I'll take Andersen over Thomas, he's not the man he used to be...he's going a bit over the deep end with the Tea-Party anti-government paranoia...beatable if we get into his head, bring on the white house at Scotiabank Place!!!
So I say Sens in 7! GO SENS GO!
