Ek's Note: have received so many great entries, and here's another. Part of this was submitted before yesterday's game and then you'll see the part submitted today. ENJOY!
Fearless prediction - The Montreal Canadiens will beat the Ottawa Senators in 5 games. There I said it. I might even believe it. Many experts have picked this series to go the distance, seemingly flipping a coin to choose the winner. Parity has never been greater in the National Hockey League. However the regular season is now complete and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are a whole new game. Yes the Senators took the season series 3-1 over the Canadiens. Backup Dustin Tokarski was in net for 2 of those 3 losses. I am not saying it will be easy, but the Canadiens have the potential to quickly dismantle those pesky Senators.
Sure you can say that the Ottawa Senators are the hottest team coming into the Playoffs. They are to be congratulated for facing numerous adversities and overcoming all odds. Erik Karlsson has stepped up as captain and leader, proving his worth on and off the ice. Andrew Hammond has a newfound confidence and playing hockey at a level he has never come close to achieving before. Mark Stone is turning heads making many forget about Johnny “Hockey… Gaudreau. The Senators have found inspiration through their esteemed General Manager Bryan Murray’s battle with Cancer and will have to further find another gear with the recent passing of their late assistant coach Mark Reeds. All this is to say that at some point this series the walls will tumble and the Ottawa Senators will simply lose steam. Their inexperience will catch up with them. They will put up a valiant effort, and give Senators fans great hope for the future. But let us get one thing straight. Andrew Hammond is not Carey Price, and he cannot carry the Senators to the second round.
Carey Price on the other hand… Well what hasn’t been said about him? He is a proven winner on many of the world’s greatest stages. At his young age of 27, Price has acquired an eternity of experience. Many still wonder what could have been had he not been injured in the Conference Finals of 2014. P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov make up one of the best top pairings in the NHL. Say what you might about Michel Therrien, he has Subban playing the best hockey of his career with the numbers to back it up. With the addition of Petry the Canadiens finally have a true # 3 and he is finding some nice chemistry with Alexei Emelin, now enforcing his physical style of play after a shaky season. This season has been a breakthrough for young stars Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk. Their previous playoff experience will make them young veterans. Let us not forget Max Pacioretty aka Wolverine, who will further elevate the Canadiens once he returns to the lineup.
What it simply comes down to is that the Canadiens are a better team than the Senators. Price is greater than Hammond. P.K. Subban is greater than Erik Karlsson (sorry Sens fans but you know his all-around game is stronger) and a soon to be healthy Max Pacioretty is greater than Mark Stone. When you look at each teams top assets the winner is quite clear. The experience the young Canadiens gained in last year’s playoffs is immeasurable. There is an expression that you must first lose before you can learn how to win. The Montreal Canadiens will prove this to be true in 2015.
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In one evening the Canadiens somehow managed to prove me right and wrong at the same time. Yes they won like I thought they would. However, most impressively the Canadiens found a way to win even with Carey Price allowing 2 goals and without Max Pacioretty AND P.K. Subban, 2/3’s of the reason as to why I believe the Canadiens will win the series. Truly, this is what makes the 2015 edition of the Habs so great, their innate ability to come together and find a way to win. This team thrives on adversity. Give them a reason to win and an unsung hero (insert Bryan Flynn) will rise to the occasion.
Andrew Hammond predictably came back to Earth in game 1. While at times he made excellent saves to keep the Senators in the game, his inexperience began to show when the Canadiens would take the puck to net. Shorthanded, Eller would score a highlight reel goal on Hammond. Take a look though at Hammond’s positioning, he backs all the way into his net as Eller comes charging down allowing Eller the room to make 2 dekes before he roofs it in. That is simply not the play of a confident goalie. No doubt the Senators come back with Hammond in game 2 although one has to wonder how long the leash will be…
What more is there to add to P.K. Subban’s slash on Mark Stone? It was a terrible decision of Subban’s, the slash completely unwarranted as the puck was nowhere near Stone. While Canadiens fans are in an uproar that Stone faked his pain and came back to the game (numerous times at that), I ask you to imagine how it would feel if Subban slashed you with all his might? I do not doubt that the slash stung Stone and personally I was okay with the 5 minute major at the time as the slash was unnecessary and Stone looked to possibly be injured. The game misconduct though was excessive and I dare ask if it was Jeff Petry or P.A. Parenteau would the same punishment on the play been given? If the roles were reversed and Mark Stone slashed Subban in the same manner would Stone have been throne out of the game. Somehow I think not.
Dave Cameron unfortunately showed true inexperience with his postgame comments. He should have known better to elaborate on his thoughts on the slash and if further suspension was warranted. To tell reporters “I think it’s an easy solution: You either suspend him or one of their best players gets slashed and just give us five. Not that complicated.… is getting into Marc Crawford territory, or perhaps Michel Therrien version 1.0. This version of Michel Therrien has learnt to keep his cool, with much help and training from the Canadiens PR personnel. We know now that Subban will not face further disciplinary action. With Cameron’s comments the Senators will now have to be on their best behavior game 2 as the referees will be playing close attention. Subban as well will have to learn to keep his composure.
The rivalry that began in 2013 between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators continues to grow in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game 1 won’t be the last time that emotions run high. I look to Carey Price to shut the door in Game 2 and the Canadiens to pull off another victory in front of their faithful fans.