I am going to be talking to some key sources en route to the BWI airport...have some more potential news for you in a bit...I am driving to Baltimore to fly to Buffalo..go figure...
I have done some tweaks this morning to the
RUMOUR CHART .
I have been over it for three straight days now...Every which way...I can't pick a winner in the ECF...Am I a wimp? Probably...but here's what we know...
The Senators have been the better team when the two teams have played each other this year, winning 5 of the 8 meetings, including games early in the season when the Sens were pretty much struggling out of the gate.
I have been in both locker rooms and the Sens are the more relaxed team. That is a bit of a role reversal from last year's series here. Last year the Sabres were the loose team.
Both teams to date in the playoffs have had to battle only teams from that division I called the worst on hockey when the season started...The Atlantic.
Everyone is saying the Sabres aren't playing their best hockey yet. However I would argue that taking out the Rangers in six is by far the most impressive series victory for either team. The Rangers were by far the best Atlantic Division team in the playoffs. The Islanders were also a very hot team going into the playoffs. At the end of the day the Sabres "not playing their best" are 8-3. I think the Sabres may not be playing their normal game, but they are playing VERY well...And have a gear that they can call on that the Sens do NOT have.
Everyone is saying the Sens are playing their best hockey ever in the playoffs. Captain Dan is absolutely putting the ghosts of playoffs past to bed, and guys have stepped up to make the Sens virtually unbeatable at home. The Sens can play the same style the Rangers did against the Sabres, only they are much better in their own end...The Sens did play two teams so far with glaring problems...The Penguins youth is still learning (however in game three of that series I believe the Pens had a window to put the Sens in a ton of trouble. This Sens team did not cave. They got clutch play and huge goaltending. Then the Sens played a Devils team that was in turmoil.
I don't know what to make of Emery. He has played VERY well, but he still has lapses that Miller doesn't seam to have. However, his team has tended to bail him out this year. In both Game 1's of the first two rounds Emery looked scared to me; by the end of the series he has looked dominant. He will have to be extremely mentally tough to forget what happened the last time these two teams played in the playoffs.
The Sabres learned the right lessons against the Rangers last series. They are playing a team very similar to the Rangers in this round. On the other hand the Sens are playing the polar opposite of the Devils.
The Sens have the best #1 line in the NHL right now. In the regular season the Sens scored power play goals at a thirty percent clip against the Sabres. Watch for that.
The Sabres are an even strength monster, leading all teams in even strength goals for and against by a huge margin.
So, I am not a wimp, but I honestly think that I may break from tradition and just do game by game "Ek Factors" for this series...I think anyone who picks either team here is just guessing...
We are in for a treat...
Ek Factors later when I land in Buffalo...
A Source this morning has told me the following, "There is a strong rumor making the rounds in my circle today that another team is gearing up to make a serious run at Mats Sundin. The word I heard is that the team is going to make a connection through a third party with Sundin's camp in the next day or so. They will have to be carefull how they do it, but it will be an interesting scenario to follow for sure." The source would not give me the team, but added, "It is not who I would have expected it to be."
More on this as it develops...
Tom Poti rumors...The Penguins, La Kings, and Edmonton Oilers are interested. This will be a fun one to follow as well. Poti is one of the defensemen who has benefitted by the new NHL and reportedly turned down a major deal last year to sign long-term in Pittsburgh believeing his stock would go up if he signed a one year deal...He looks to have guessed right...
more from the airport...
Go to the
RUMOUR CHART for real-time updates..
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