Sens vs Ducks - Stanley Cup Finals

Tonight marks the beginning of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Ottawa Senators and the Anaheim Ducks. This series should be fast and physical.

I've been reading a lot of the match-up previews and predictions on TSN, SportsNet, The Hockey News, Sun Media, nhl.com, etc...And I'm happy to say that about 95% of the sports media in North America have picked the Senators to win in 6 games.

I for one think the Sens can win in 4 games. Here's why:

- Depth: The Senators have more of it, whether it be with their forwards or their defence. The Sens are 4 lines deep. And although the bottom 3 lines have contributed about 40% of the scoring, they're all very fast and create quality scoring chances almost every shift on the ice. If their forwards can continue to cycle the puck in the offensive zone as well as they have all Playoffs so far, then the Niedermayer/Pronger threat will be null and void. They'll be so frustrated and tired that mistakes will occur and penalties will be the result against the Ducks.

The Sens defence is 6 players deep. Although the Ducks do have some offensive prowess, so did the Pens, the Devils and the Sabres. Keeping the scoring at bay won't be an issue for the Sens as long as Emery holds up his part of the bargain.

- Power Play/Penalty Killing: The Sens have a better PP and better PK then the Ducks throughout the Playoffs so far. If the Sens can continue to generate the chances they had against the Sabres on the PK, then the Ducks will have a hard time keeping up. As well, the Wings made obvious of the fact that the Ducks' PK players aren't very active with their sticks, this leaving wide open lanes across the slot, which will allow players like Alfredsson, Spezza and Heatley the opportunity for their much beloved back-door passes.

- Goaltending: On paper, the Ducks have a better goaltender in JS Giguere, which is simply based on current stats (JS has played 2 fewer games then Emery). However, the whole goaltender matchup thing is over-rated and doesn't speak to the fact that hockey is a team game. And although I agree that your goaltender has to be your best player at any given time, that same goaltender isn't facing off against the other goaltender. He's facing the other team's forwards and defence.

That aside, Emery hasn't been a series stealing goalie for the Sens simply because he hasn't had to be. However, he's been consistent. Emery and Giguere's stats are almost identical (1.95 GAA & 1.87 GAA, respectively, .919 SV% & .932 SV%, respectively). All that to say that it's a pretty even matchup, even though Giguere wears the max legally allowed pad sizes, whereas Emery does not, which allows him to have more mobility. They both also give up fat rebounds from time to time and have problems with pucks along the boards behind the net.

GO SENS GO

I'm going out to Scotiabank Place tonight the watch the game, since it's free parking and admission, however concession stands will be open. Should be fun!

The Buffalo Butter Knives

The Ottawa Senators are on the verge of sweeping the Buffalo Sabres tonight at 7 pm, and are 60 minutes away from making their first appearance, in modern team history, in the Stanley Cup Finals.

As a Sens fan I'm very excited about this possibility since the team itself is playing with the type of drive, determination and confidence not seen in playoff year's past.

I had the privelege of attending Game 3 vs the Sabres on Monday night. I sat 12 rows behind the players' bench, and next to Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien no less. The atmosphere was amazing and the game was very good. When a team is forechecking agressively, hitting hard, backchecking, blocking shots and creating lots of scoring chances, it's simply a treat to watch.

I must admit that I would have never predicted that the Sabres would be down 3-0 going into tonight's game. My expectation, and everyone elses as well, was that this series would be hard fought back and fourth hockey we'd come to expect from these two teams this season. The only glimmer of hope in every game for the Sabres has been Ryan Miller.

And kudos to Ray Emery. He's now shutout every team once in every series. What a difference last year's playoffs and this season have made in regards to his game play, his confidence and his temper. He's also 11-2 in these playoffs.

And finally, the #1 line for the Sens is actually it's #1 line! Spezza, Heatley and Alfreddsson are 3 of the top 4 players in the Playoffs right now in regards to point production. The remaining 3 lines are also producing points, although not as many, however they're still contributing in a big way by creating chances and hitting every Sabre that's on the ice. In Game 3, every Ottawa Senator except one (Mike Comrie), had a shot on Ryan Miller.

Game 4 should be very exciting tonight and the energy level will be through the roof. There's a campaign going on to change Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa to the 'Sens Mile'. After the Sens win tonight, there's a party going on that starts at approximately 10 pm that lasts until 1 am. Don't know if I'll make it (some of us have to work), but I'll certainly try.

GO SENS GO