Round 4, Game 2: The Ducks Are Who We Thought They Were

[Citizen pic]

The question is are we going to the let them get away with a cup?

Will another Muppet be revealed or will a taunting anthropomorphic numeral instead grace the top post?

The outcome will of course depend on tonight's keys to victory:


1. I thought blaming the ice was weak form, considering it didn't appear to me to play a huge factor in the outcome of the game. It certainly wasn't anywhere near as bad as the last afternoon game in Buffalo. Most of those giveaways and missed hits would have occurred regardless of whether they were playing on a polished Rexall sheet or slush covered asphalt. If the pucks are going to be wobbling, Mr. Corvo sure knows how to use that to his advantage and I think JSG may be particularly susceptible to a double OT knuckler from the point (yes, I'm aware of his playoff overtime record).

2. Get all your ducks in a row. If Project Norris and the Pahlssons want to take time away from Teemu and the kids (is Kunitz on his way back?) more power to them. It's only a matter of time before the top line either punches through or Fisher/Schaefer/Comrie steps in and lights the lamp (they were the only line going in G1, in my opinion).

3. The Sens were a step or ten behind in getting to pucks, busting into the ducks zone and lining up checks. If three days additional layoff, coupled with the wonderment of the first ever Stanley Cup final against a team they haven't seen in ages counts as an excuse, consider it a one-time only validation.

4. Get a win tonight and I can almost guarantee a follow up performance in front of an absolutely ballistic Saturday night crowd. They have to be hungry to bring a split back to YOW.

5. It's probably just off-day bluster (actually Murray's been claiming a raw deal throughout most of the season), but I'm not sure of the wisdom of calling out the refs and drawing attention to missed obstruction calls. If you're serious about gearing up to be considerably more aggressive in both ends tonight, I think a laissez-faire approach is more what you want. Whining about officiating is so Toronto's gimmick.

6. I wish I had a surefire way of keeping Redzaros off the ice for as long as possible, however, maybe having them pinch in while one of the grind lines goes to work wouldn't be a bad option. Better to trade off the liability of having them in deep against their offensive upside than keeping them immobile and vulnerable in their own end.

4-1 Sens - KASH (x2), The Fish, Saprykin (he's back!). Sens in 6.

Open thread to discuss bathroom fixtures, alternative counterpledge wording, the administration of public floggings for convicted turncoats and tired Denny Green resets.