Toronto Maple Leafs +135
[Unit and a half play]
Here’s my take on this game. To me, Ottawa just doesn’t match up with the physical size, power, or intensity of the Maple Leafs. I know this is not news. I know this has been the Achilles heel and demise of the Senators in the last three meetings between these two in the post season. And this year looks to be no different.
The Corel Centre will again have half the crowd dressed in blue and white as this will be more of a neutral site than “home ice advantage” for the Senators. These fans will once again be raining thunderous support and ovations of “Eddie….Eddie”.
As well as Patrick Lalime has played in the first two games Eddie Belfour has played better, (at least in the second). The difference between the first and second games for him was he saw all the shots in the later. And none got past him. The Leafs were successful in moving the Sens from in front of the net and got back to basics.
``We tried to be a lot more physical than we were in Game 1. We were a little stiff, a little emotionless,'' said Gary Roberts, who scored both of the Leaf goals. ``We were much better in the first. We had some big key hits early in the game.''
They also found a answer to Senator Zdeno Chara’s shadow on Leaf Mats Sundin that held him without a shot in the first game. Twice Chara was called for penalties and the second led to a five on three power play goal by Roberts that made the game 2-0. Mats Sundin assisted on both goals.
Darcy Tucker was back in the lineup and it proved to be an emotional lift for the team.
The Leafs have won 5 of their last 6 playoff games at the Corel Centre and all three from this regular season. For them this is just another home game and crowd. Can you hear me now?
Eddie….Eddie!
Philadelphia Flyers +145
Similar scene in New Jersey tonight minus the Eddie chants of the throng dressed in blue and white.
The Devils are not the same without their leader Scott Stevens. They haven’t been the same all year. He is what Keith Primeau is for the Philadelphia Flyers. They are the glue, the leaders, the inspiration. With him the Flyers have been dominant all year. Without him they have struggled.
Both of these team leaders have suffered from concussions. There is still no word on when and if Stevens will return from his “post concussion syndrome”. Primeau came back from his with three games left in the regular season and the timing couldn’t have been any better.
“He’s getting better and better every game,” said Head Coach Ken Hitchcock on Primeau. “He’s getting close to the player he was before the injury when he was having a Selke-type season. He has become a huge factor for our team. He’s played a very strong two-way game, which has really helped.”
Philadelphia uses their size and out muscles the Devils and in the same way the Maple Leafs take the Senators out of their game plan.
The Flyers now travel the short trip to the Meadowlands with a 2-0 series lead and expect many of their fans to be there waiting.
“It’s still their home building. They’ll still have their people there,” said Mark Recchi. “It would be great to have our people there, and we know there will be a number of them there. But they’ll have their home crowd with them, and we’ve got to go and try to quiet it.”
Philly has done a good job of that lately with only one loss in their last four trips to Jersey, (2-1-1) and with Robert Esche outplaying Martin Brodeur in both the first two games of this series don’t be surprised if chants of “ Bobby…..Bobby” rises from the swamps of Jersey.
NHL single unit plays………99-72-8.…..+ 27.14
Unit and a half plays………..14-6-1.…… + 10.62
NHL total to Date…………...113-78-9.……+ 37.76
[Unit and a half play]
Here’s my take on this game. To me, Ottawa just doesn’t match up with the physical size, power, or intensity of the Maple Leafs. I know this is not news. I know this has been the Achilles heel and demise of the Senators in the last three meetings between these two in the post season. And this year looks to be no different.
The Corel Centre will again have half the crowd dressed in blue and white as this will be more of a neutral site than “home ice advantage” for the Senators. These fans will once again be raining thunderous support and ovations of “Eddie….Eddie”.
As well as Patrick Lalime has played in the first two games Eddie Belfour has played better, (at least in the second). The difference between the first and second games for him was he saw all the shots in the later. And none got past him. The Leafs were successful in moving the Sens from in front of the net and got back to basics.
``We tried to be a lot more physical than we were in Game 1. We were a little stiff, a little emotionless,'' said Gary Roberts, who scored both of the Leaf goals. ``We were much better in the first. We had some big key hits early in the game.''
They also found a answer to Senator Zdeno Chara’s shadow on Leaf Mats Sundin that held him without a shot in the first game. Twice Chara was called for penalties and the second led to a five on three power play goal by Roberts that made the game 2-0. Mats Sundin assisted on both goals.
Darcy Tucker was back in the lineup and it proved to be an emotional lift for the team.
The Leafs have won 5 of their last 6 playoff games at the Corel Centre and all three from this regular season. For them this is just another home game and crowd. Can you hear me now?
Eddie….Eddie!
Philadelphia Flyers +145
Similar scene in New Jersey tonight minus the Eddie chants of the throng dressed in blue and white.
The Devils are not the same without their leader Scott Stevens. They haven’t been the same all year. He is what Keith Primeau is for the Philadelphia Flyers. They are the glue, the leaders, the inspiration. With him the Flyers have been dominant all year. Without him they have struggled.
Both of these team leaders have suffered from concussions. There is still no word on when and if Stevens will return from his “post concussion syndrome”. Primeau came back from his with three games left in the regular season and the timing couldn’t have been any better.
“He’s getting better and better every game,” said Head Coach Ken Hitchcock on Primeau. “He’s getting close to the player he was before the injury when he was having a Selke-type season. He has become a huge factor for our team. He’s played a very strong two-way game, which has really helped.”
Philadelphia uses their size and out muscles the Devils and in the same way the Maple Leafs take the Senators out of their game plan.
The Flyers now travel the short trip to the Meadowlands with a 2-0 series lead and expect many of their fans to be there waiting.
“It’s still their home building. They’ll still have their people there,” said Mark Recchi. “It would be great to have our people there, and we know there will be a number of them there. But they’ll have their home crowd with them, and we’ve got to go and try to quiet it.”
Philly has done a good job of that lately with only one loss in their last four trips to Jersey, (2-1-1) and with Robert Esche outplaying Martin Brodeur in both the first two games of this series don’t be surprised if chants of “ Bobby…..Bobby” rises from the swamps of Jersey.
NHL single unit plays………99-72-8.…..+ 27.14
Unit and a half plays………..14-6-1.…… + 10.62
NHL total to Date…………...113-78-9.……+ 37.76
