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!