Oops my bad, yes you're right - top seed in the Conference plays the 2nd Wild Card.

Winner of Ott/Bos would face the winner of Mon/NYR. Rangers will be tough for anyone of course, but the main thing is no-one has to deal with the Pens or Caps until the Conference final.


- sgoodwin

Ottawa could make final with this format

Ottawa is 2-0 vs Habs and 2-1 vs CBJ......not sure how you figure we have a hard time against them

Ottawa is .500 or better against every playoff team in the eastop except the caps. Only teams in the east I'd be worried to play are Pitt and wash
- sensarmy_11

I say that because watching those games that we won against the habs and Blue Jackets, they have been grinder games that we have had a hard time with.

On a positive note, this team is extremely good at dealing with adversity, so that should help come playoffs

Anything is possible

Either way, I think we're all in for a pretty exciting playoffs.

Anything is possible

Either way, I think we're all in for a pretty exciting playoffs.
- sgoodwin

It's going to be very interesting for sure.

Yes. Total nightmare for Boston and could very well be a 1st round matchup. All this Caps talk is ridiculous to me. I will not take the Caps serious until they get past the 2nd round. They're the San Jose of the east or the UNH of the Pros.

Lets hope they can fill the rink, beginning of the year when they weren't playing great it was quite disappointing to see all the empty seats.

Lets hope they can fill the rink, beginning of the year when they weren't playing great it was quite disappointing to see all the empty seats.
- Garnie

it's been stated before..... a huge issue with the attendance is the issues the feds are having paying their employees with the new pay system (phoenix). somewhere along the line of 50-60 thousand people haven't been paid properly for more than a year now, a large majority of those people live in ottawa. when you're getting paid a fraction of what you're supposed to, or in many cases, nothing at all, then it's hard to justify buying hockey tickets. in a city that relies so much on gate sales due to the lack of corporate season tickets, something like that kills the ticket sales.

I personally like what the Sens have as a team. I find them built very similar to Montreal in the sense of 1 line, and then trickles of depth from line two to four.

Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Radulov vs Hoffman-Turris-Stone; really not much separating the two.

Both have a very good #1 D, Karlsson obviously worldly and elite, Weber perhaps more geared for a playoff push but on the decline right now. Both have similar guys around them.

Even coaching has arguably two of the best coaches in the game.

Ottawa used to have the edge when physicality came into play but Montreal adding Weber, Benn, Martisen, King, Ott, McCarron is leveling that playing field as well.

The difference to me is between the pipes. You have Anderson who has been a great goalie for quite a few years and then Price who is the best goalie in the league.

It's a no brainer to give Price the nod but when the only difference is goaltending then it is scary because run into a hot goaltender and it is anyone's game.

Yes. Total nightmare for Boston and could very well be a 1st round matchup. All this Caps talk is ridiculous to me. I will not take the Caps serious until they get past the 2nd round. They're the San Jose of the east or the UNH of the Pros.
- glove_was_stuck

I hope it's Boston-Habs......Julien back in Boston.
Although the way the bruins are built today scares me more than when they were just goons.

I hope it's Boston-Habs......Julien back in Boston.
Although the way the bruins are built today scares me more than when they were just goons.
- willey101

I think would be a great series. The paradigm shift is bizarre. Montreal loaded up on bruisers and the Bruins are trying for speed and skill averaging 3.5 goals a game under Cassidy.

I think would be a great series. The paradigm shift is bizarre. Montreal loaded up on bruisers and the Bruins are trying for speed and skill averaging 3.5 goals a game under Cassidy.
- glove_was_stuck

Lucky the goons are just 4th line guys. So really have little impact since they are playing only 5 mins a game.

Sens are a good team on a hot run. Are they contenders? Not really. However, they could very well get to the Conference Final thanks to the worlds dumbest playoff format. Of course anything can happen, but in reality, the Sens won't beat either Pittsburgh or Washington in 7 games.

Some people may say the Sens are a team you want to play in any given round, but given the parity of mediocre teams right now, that label can be used on 7-8 teams.

I think the team is adequately rated by fans and outsiders. Hopefully we can dress a healthy roster in a months time.

Sens are a good team on a hot run. Are they contenders? Not really. However, they could very well get to the Conference Final thanks to the worlds dumbest playoff format. Of course anything can happen, but in reality, the Sens won't beat either Pittsburgh or Washington in 7 games.

Some people may say the Sens are a team you want to play in any given round, but given the parity of mediocre teams right now, that label can be used on 7-8 teams.

I think the team is adequately rated by fans and outsiders. Hopefully we can dress a healthy roster in a months time.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Bobby Ryan and Turris are back. Stone is out a few weeks. Compared to other teams Sens are okay for this time of year. The additions of Burrows, Stalberg, Wingles and Dideco.....looks very strong at this time.

no
- BINGO!

not sure what you want really. they're a good team but they're in that second tier with teams like Montreal, NYR, Columbus, Nashville.... they can compete with but aren't on the level of teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Chicago, SJ...

Sens are a good team on a hot run. Are they contenders? Not really. However, they could very well get to the Conference Final thanks to the worlds dumbest playoff format. Of course anything can happen, but in reality, the Sens won't beat either Pittsburgh or Washington in 7 games.

Some people may say the Sens are a team you want to play in any given round, but given the parity of mediocre teams right now, that label can be used on 7-8 teams.

I think the team is adequately rated by fans and outsiders. Hopefully we can dress a healthy roster in a months time.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

i think the Atlantic division looks different than it did month or two ago. it looked like it was going to be a case of who just happened to suck the least but now you've got 3-4 teams playing very well, particularly Ottawa. and if Tampa sneaks in and get Stamkos back... they could be the favourites to come out of the Atlantic unless they cross over.

not sure what you want really. they're a good team but they're in that second tier with teams like Montreal, NYR, Columbus, Nashville.... they can compete with but aren't on the level of teams like Washington, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Chicago, SJ...
- DoubleDown

they want to be taken seriously

no
- BINGO!

That's fair