So, after I shut down the
live-blog from Game 2, Eric and I spent a few minutes going over the game and the series so far. Here it is, and for the record, I don't think Ottawa is as bad off as Eric thinks. Matt's l
atest post over on Sabre Rattling brings up an interesting point about Spezza/Heatley/Alfie and how they got their time and space against the other teams in the East by pounding their opposition with the rest of their lineup so that they a clear path to the offensive zone.
Anaheim is showing the entire Senators team no respect at all and stepping up all over the ice, doing to the Sens what the Sens did to the Sabres. If Ottawa wants to get back in this series they are going to have to use the physical game of their lower lines more to create space. So, in addition to my comments below, I think Murray needs to spread his ice-time out amongst the forwards and really reward the guys who are playing well. If it's McAmmond/Schubert/Saprykin logging 18 minutes, then so be it. That is the only real path I see for Ottawa to get out of this situation. Like Lindy Ruff did in Game 4 (and should have done in Game 3), Bryan Murray has to do this now... coach Game 3 to win, at all costs, because doing what brung you here isn't working.
Even though they didn't score in this game, I liked what I saw from the Selanne line tonight. They were dangerous on most shifts, more so by far than their counterparts. This was a smothering performance by Anaheim. 16 shots on goal by Ottawa is not nearly enough and as this game progressed it was obvious who was in control of it. And, when the Ducks did give up a chance, the Sens were gripping their stick so tightly that they couldn't finish them. Comrie, Schaefer, Fisher, all had open nets to shoot at and missed. That's the secondary scoring I
talked about in my series preview. It had to come from them and they didn't get it done.
So, after the break is the post-game conversation between me and Eric.
