Game 3 is a huge opportunity for the Senators to snatch momentum back in a huge way.
If they do win, they've snatched back the fabled "home ice advantage" while also putting Tampa in the pressure-packed situation of having to use their 2nd appearance at home to avoid putting themselves in elimination position in Game 5.
Ottawa has to play the perfect road game here and respond like we know they can.
Apparantly it is his "conditioning"......he is drastically out of shape. He could hide the fact with Chicago but now that he is playing on an ultra-fast team like the sens, it really shows.
I don't buy that. It's not like he just got here two weeks ago. Having worked with Randy Lee, I know that he would have assessed Arnason as soon as he got here and had him on a personalized training program by the following day. He's had plenty of time to get in "Sens" shape. He just hasn't worked hard enough while on teh ice. He shies away from contact far more than Spezza without the elite offensive abilities that make it acceptable for our young number one C. I think Murray wants energy. Arnason wasn't showing enough. Period.
At the game last night, Ottawa looked so sloppy in their own end, and I kept seeing plays where I could imagine Redden getting to the puck first and making that two stride, pass the puck, switch to offense. Instead it was fumble around with the puck, TB applies all kinds of pressure, the Sens losing too many battles in their own end.
Maybe Redden wouldn't have been enough last night, but I'll sure be a lot happier with him back there.
Heatley - Spezza - Alfredsson ==> Bring back the bug line
Schaefer - Vermette - Havlat ==> This line was very effective early in the season
Smolinski - Fisher - Eaves ==> Slightly mismatched 3rd line but Eaves and Fish will always bring it
Varada - Arnason - Neil ==> Hopefully Arnason has been working on his conditioning or he won't see much ice time
I've heard that the funeral's Friday. He's flying from Tampa Bay to Lloydminster for Friday, then back to Ottawa for game 5 on Saturday.
I really admire him for this, and hope he's ready.
I also heard about that , he doesn't wanna miss anymore games since he knows what an important time of year this is and how committed he is to the team , and that says alot about his character.
So to sumerize , he's flying out to Tampa tonight after being with his family for 2 days and metting with the team tommorow and playing in Game 3 and 4. Then Thursday night right after the game he is flying back to Saskatchewan for the funeral on Friday (the final hard thing he has to go through) then flying back to Ottawa Saturday morning for Game 5. WOW That really is comittment and Redden really is a strong guy to try move on and help the team since we know how much we need him , he will be a massive boost as we saw our Defensive breakdowns last game without him. And he will for sure be playing for his mom!
Looks like Arnie's a go. I think it's a mistake. We need someone physical and fast, I mean the Guy (Schubert) has a wicked shot and he's sure not to slow down our offence!
Bryan, Please put Shubie in there for us!!!
I'm a fan of bringing in Arnason in. He obviously has some talent. He's put up decent numbers in the past. I can't imagine that he's been too thrilled about sitting in the pressbox.
He's 27 years old, and, is unable to crack a playoff line-up right now. This is probably weighing in on his mind. He has absolutely everything to play for right now. If he can't make an impression tonight, he knows that he goes right back on the bench. This could be the start of the end for him, with his career taking a downward turn very early.
If he has any competitive spirit in him, he'll have to play his heart out tonight. If he doesn't, well, most of us have written him off anyways, so, it's no big deal.
Wow! On a day when just getting out of bed has to be considered a courageous act, this guy flies across a continent and completely dominates the game in his typically understated way. He is such a stabilizing influence and was exactly what this team needed.
They're always all over the other team!
That really is comittment and Redden really is a strong guy to try move on and help the team since we know how much we need him , he will be a massive boost as we saw our Defensive breakdowns last game without him. And he will for sure be playing for his mom!
