I was unable to watch the first period of this game do to unfortunate DVR malfunctions, but I heard it was a really good period, lots of hits and chances. I can talk about the rest of the game though because I watched that live.
You know what, it looked a lot like game one did. Physical from both sides, good chances in front of the net and turnovers from the Senators. Another thing I noticed is how I didn’t notice the Ottawa gunners when the shut down line was on the ice. The contrasting styles between Buffalo and Anaheim are pretty obvious. Team defense can stop a run and gun team, but doesn’t do as good when a team tries to go through you instead of around you.
This season is no different from the 2003 run in the sense of media coverage. I remember the praise that Steve Rucchin was getting for playing the same role Pahlsson is in this year. Even with a Selke nomination, people still couldn’t point out Sammy Pahlsson. I guess all it really takes is a finals appearance to garner some attention. Articles about Joe DiPenta and Kent Huskins were also floating around, Joe D. isn’t even playing. When you see Snoop Dogg in the crowd, you know we know hockey, give us oblivious-to-anything-outside-Orange-County citizens some credit.
This post really has nothing to add, it was a game one clone. My previous post about physicality also relates to this game. Ottawa does not want to get in to that and prove how tough they are, they took bad penalties for that stuff. Not that the Ducks can score on the powerplay though, so if you want to give a guy a two minute rest, tell him to take a penalty. The “faster ice” in Ottawa should help you guys skate more right? Well, then you can really open it up on the Ducks then and use some of that speed and short passing we have been hearing about. Don’t waste your energy proving you can take the bumps, you need that to finish periods or games.
How about this scenario. Ottawa is up by a goal or two with about ten minutes left in the third, but they have been banging with the Ducks all game long. Too tired to mount any kind of physical presence down low, the PPG line cycles the puck for a good minute or so, walks out in front of the net and pounds away until they chip one over a sprawling Emery. Your hearts sink and your will to continue playing are all but lost. Stick to skating and standing up for yourselves, don’t initiate anything. Did being really physical get you guys to this point or was it skating and scoring?
