Here we go Ottawa Senators fans, it is finally time. The day has come for the Sens to take their playoff journey by the scruff of the neck.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t sit still. Playoff hockey is the most incredible time of year, the previous 82 games will now feel like the preseason by the end of tonight’s game. The Sens will want to go out there and begin with a win of course, but if they can’t seal the win it isn’t the end of the world. Obviously this depends on how they play.
Marc Methot is seemingly a doubt for tonight but everyone else should be in the lineup. Torey Krug is still a massive doubt for the Boston Bruins and this could prove pivotal in the series.
Intensity
Such a key word as we rapidly approach puck drop for tonight. We’ve seen some beyond lacklustre efforts from the Ottawa Senators this season, but expect nothing of the sort this evening. The Sens will come out of the blocks hard in front of a boisterous Canadian Tire Centre crowd.
The speed and physicality of the play is taken up several notches now. Have the Sens got the desire to push beyond their boundaries. Just take a look at the guy with the ‘C’ on his sweater and you’ll find your answer.
Fitness
The Ottawa Senators have pretty much a full roster (April Fools was twelve days ago folks relax). News which would be music to the ears of fans, with a full roster Ottawa have looked irresistible at times. Implementing The System to perfection to the annoyance of teams up and down North America.
Erik Karlsson’s fitness is the key to Ottawa’s progression this post-season, expect Boston to come out and try to hit the Captain hard. The Sens players won’t think twice about protecting their leader and this makes Ottawa a more frightening prospect to play against.
Home Ice
Confidence has to be taken from this, it should help the Sens squeeze out that extra 20 percent when the chips are down. The fans have an integral role to play in the series, the Sens leak an early goal, the fans need to help lift heads. Of course, if the Ottawa Senators are playing woefully then the fans have every right to inspire anger.
The first two games of this series are at home. Therefore, it is a massive opportunity to go 2-0 heading to TD Garden, that has to be the goal. Right now, fans would take 1-1 after two i’m sure.
We’ll be continuing to post our thoughts in the buildup to tonight’s game.
Next: Bruins Invade Canada's Capital
Go Sens Go.