Monday, May 21, 2007

Senators vs Sabres: Round 3, Game 3

Senators 1, Sabres 0

PRESIDENT’S 2 CENTS: Tonight was not only a night when Canada’s Team pulled within one win of the Stanley Cup finals, but also one that saw Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a Toronto native and Maple Leafs fan, take in the game sporting a Sens jersey. It seems the Senators are changing hearts every day, starting at the top … Revenge is a dirty word, but the Sens are on the cusp of dusting off one of their most haunting playoff nemeses, one that has sent the Sens packing three separate times. And how about having the chance to see the Prince of Wales trophy presented on home ice again, except this time to the home team instead of 2003’s Game 7 heartbreak? Granted, the Capital wants a date with Stanley, but becoming the Eastern Conference champs would be no small potatoes … Speaking of small potatoes, the Sabres were only able to fire 15 rubber ones at Ray Emery tonight, who turned them all aside and didn’t have much work with the exception of the Afinogenov chance and in the final minute flurry. No doubt that having a goaltender interference call had something to do with it, as Brian Campbell did his best Colby Armstrong impression of the playoffs when he slid into Razor in the second period. It’s about time the zebras heeded Razor’s constant crease briefings on the subject and gave Ottawa a PP … On the subject, the extra man might be something the Sabres might not want to use anymore, as their man-(dis)advantage count is now 0-18 in the series. The Sens handed the Sabres multiple opportunities to strike back, but often it was the home team that provided the highlights. How about Dean McAmmond’s first-period PK rush towards the net one-on-one, as he gained the blueline then pulled some slick side skating moves, as if he was about to turn a triple-axel? Well, out of respect for the opponents who hail from a bovine-named city, maybe a triple sow-cow … Speaking of bovines, anytime Alfie wants a steak dinner in this town, you can bet he (or any Senator) won’t be footing the bill for quite some time … The bill is something the rest of the Sabres should pick up for Ryan Miller, who had his best game of the series despite the loss and one bad goal. Too many notables to list (well, maybe his save on Peter Schaefer if only to spotlight the snakebitten Sen), but this thing could have easily been 3-0 by the time the horn sounded. In a nutshell, the Sens simply skated circles around the Sabres and didn’t allow the visitors even half-circles …

… Unlike the opening minutes of Game 2, it was Ottawa that dictated the play as Game 3 unfolded. Anton Volchenkov and Mike Fisher especially held the Daniel Briere line in check quite well. A-Train’s blue line partner in crime all postseason, Chris Phillips, was no slouch himself as he was on the ice for the only goal of the game and followed that shift up with a huge block on Briere, which itself led to an Ottawa chance. Buffalo then followed that up with a potential 3-on-2, but Chris Drury went offside … Speaking of Drury, the Sabres’ co-captain is capable of better. Not to single him out, but someone has to step up and lift this team out of its black hole … Right after the aforementioned Campbell interference penalty, CBC cameras caught Sabres GM Darcy Regier scribbling something vigorously. Kinda curious as to what that might be. Tee times? Perhaps. A ‘calm-down’ letter to owner Tom Golisano? Might be a good idea. Doing the salary cap math for what it will take to squeeze in Briere for next season? Who knows. Filling out a rush-order for several shots of the stiffest stuff on hand? Yup, that’s gotta be it … On a related note, by the time Joe Corvo took that phantom tripping penalty in the second period, most Sens fans were deep into the adult beverages but even that couldn’t help absorb the string of penalties … It’s been beaten like a dead horse, but Jason Spezza does need to shoot more at times, none more obvious than that late first-period rush where Dany Heatley provided the perfect decoy, not the perfect pass recipient … Andre Meszaros had a couple of great chances tonight but couldn’t buy a break, in particular when he rung that 2-on-nothing PK chance off the iron … Speaking of Meszaros, his partner, Wade Redden, had an awesome night too …

… Mike Comrie’s neon yellow stick probably came in handy for him, as the bright lumber’s hue provided perfect contrast between itself and the dark puck, so he wouldn’t touch the biscuit while pressuring Dimitri Kalinin to get a delay-of-game penalty by tossing it over the glass … Looking for a spark, Lindy Ruff put Tim Connolly, Maxim Afinogenov, and Thomas Vanek together in the third. But Connolly in for Derek Roy? Don’t mess with quickness. It’s the only way around these Sens … Anyone else gulp when Alfie coughed up the puck in his own end to Jason Pominville? …

…Should the Sens and Ducks make the final, who is hip-hop king Snoop Dogg going to cheer for? During a second-round Ducks game, Snoop was interviewed on NBC’s telecast sporting a Ducks jersey and proclaiming his ducky support. However, when he performed in Ottawa in January, Mr. Gin-and-Juice himself was wearing Sens colours and even hung out backstage with Razor afterwards. Two things for sure—it’s gonna be off the hizzle, and maybe the first time the rap world has seen an East Coast-West Coast beef with only one participant, as Snoop figures who to go for in what might be a “high” scoring series … Don Cherry Suit Rating: 6.5 out of 10. The plaid theme was nice and colourful and had potential, but at the same time screamed 1950s Hudson’s Bay catalogue or 1970s tablecloth roadkill. Maybe it’s time for Razor to lend Grapes his sharp blue ensemble … No Bob(vious) Cole noteworthy gem tonight, but Harry Neale’s insistence that Alfie was trying to draw blood on that high-sticking penalty was amusing … Last but not least: our humble fan group’s Team Chemistry Coordinator is leaving for Africa for a backpacking adventure. We wish her well and hope that all our African friends appreciate the current eighth wonder of the world – that being our Ottawa Senators.

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