BRING ON THE PENGUINS!!!

[Golfing in Ottawa]

Ottawa to face Pittsburgh in first round of NHL playoffs

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1f3ff009-b719-4620-8586-2c04abc850c0&k=70771

"OTTAWA-Ottawa Senators coach and general manager Bryan Murray wants something to pin up in the dressing room as inspiration for his players, so let's help him out:
The Senators have a better chance of winning the 6/49 lottery than defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2008 National Hockey League playoffs.".............(Ottawa Citizen)

"Fan support: Murray is hoping Ottawa fans get behind the Senators and give them a little bit of energy.
"I think players feed off the emotion of the city," he said.
"Last year in the playoffs, (the fans) were a big, big part of what happened here. I thought the surrounding area, the people talking about the team, following the team, the flags on the cars, the attitude, that really helped us a great deal.
"It's a big thing." (Ottawa Citizen)

GO SENS GO !!!

[SoNgMaN]

wow even ottawa's media rags on the team...

[braithwaite]

Lets go Penguins!!!!

[HackNSLice]

GO PENS GO!

[Golfing in Ottawa]

wow even ottawa's media rags on the team...

More like telling as it is..............The Mangement and Players would be the first to agree.........!!!

Hope the Penguins read this and start looking past the first round...................If Ottawa can win a game in Pittsburgh it will be a huge boost coming back home................

Like many playoff runs over the years, it is quite often the team with the hot goalie.............

[Golfing in Ottawa]

Lets go Penguins!!!!

Toronto fan playoff support does not suprise me at all. Most were cheering for Buffalo vs Ottawa last year..............

Hope you are all wearing your Crosby jerseys..............:D

[braithwaite]

Toronto fan playoff support does not suprise me at all. Most were cheering for Buffalo vs Ottawa last year..............

Hope you are all wearing your Crosby jerseys..............:D

haha
Always have liked the Pens, ;)

[davevandyk]

not gonna lie, i was hoping that the Sens would have stayed in 6th and taken on the Caps. I know they have been hot, but i just liked Ottawa's chances against them. Now i think it comes down to goaltending. Fleury has been playing well for the Pens, but he is streaky at best, so I think it could be a close series.

[Weirfan]

I think that this is a good match up for Ottawa...as good as any really.

Washington has been hot of late so I wouldnt want to be facing them.

The East is so very, very weak ,,I can see no clear winner in any of these series match ups and I suspect that they will all be long and even series.

great mach ups in the west as well but far , far superior teams......any of the top 6 would likely knock off any eastern team........but that is the way it goes.

as much as it chagrins me to say, I gotta give Ottawa the edge versus Pittsburg as long as Gerber plays ok.......I think that playoff experience and the desire to undue some of the damage from the regular season could just lift them enough to get through the first round.

Had they faced Montreal, I would have said they would be gone in 4 or 5.

[davevandyk]

I think that this is a good match up for Ottawa...as good as any really.

Washington has been hot of late so I wouldnt want to be facing them.

The East is so very, very weak ,,I can see no clear winner in any of these series match ups and I suspect that they will all be long and even series.

great mach ups in the west as well but far , far superior teams......any of the top 6 would likely knock off any eastern team........but that is the way it goes.

as much as it chagrins me to say, I gotta give Ottawa the edge versus Pittsburg as long as Gerber plays ok.......I think that playoff experience and the desire to undue some of the damage from the regular season could just lift them enough to get through the first round.

Had they faced Montreal, I would have said they would be gone in 4 or 5.

I agree with the match-up and do see the boys being able to turn it around come the start of the playoffs and really bearing down especially with Alfie out. The regular season only means as much that it determines the seedings for the playoffs, that's it!! If the playoffs meant that much the Red Wings would have way more Cups cause they seem to be the President's Trophy winner or 2nd every year... doesn't equate to a Cup though

[laxgolf]

Aside from the Habs, I think the Pens are the best matchup for Ottawa. This series can go in one of two directions. A 4 or 5 game sh*tkicking by the Pens, or a long series that the Sens manage to squeak out. If Ottawa can manage to steal away a game in Pitts, they have a real chance in the series. Murray brought in alot of playoff experience, which could be the deciding factor. It's going to take a team effort (and some very boring hockey along the way), but the Sens have a shot in this series. With the injuries I suspect Murray will have them revert back to the way they played when Spezza, Fisher and Vermette went down last year. These injuries paved the way for the Sens to come together and play some tight checking hockey all the way to the finals. I'm not saying that's what will happen, but they won't be successful if they try to run and gun with the Pens.

[Bellyhungry]

I think Malkins would be the difference maker....If he does not play well, Sens will take the series with LaPointe being the sparkplug. And if Sens make it past Penguin, they will go far, nothing is as dangerous as a wounded animal and with a chip on the shoulders.

[hogannut]

Geez......and we thought the media was tough here in Toronto. Way to support your team there Ottawa Citizen!!

[golfpal]

This is the record: OTL 5-6, W -4-1, W 4-3, W 5-4. To me best match for Ottawa as they have beat them lots whether at home or not, four games 3 wins for Ottawa so their not out.

[Golden Bear]

Was this the same writer who called the Sens "choking dogs" last year?

[Cybergolfer]

This could be an unset but if all goes to plan Pitt in 6 .