Another game, another loss... another opportunity for people to jump off the bandwagon. The team's toast - that's it. Watch the Sens blow the Ducks away 4-0 tomorrow and see those people fall all over each other to jump back on.
Was it an easy game to watch last night? Nope. It reminded me of one of those 1-0 playoff games the Ottawa Senators played against the Toronto Maple Leafs all those years ago. People wonder why I'm so tense and silent when watching playoff games. I sometimes can't seem to handle the emotional pressure that comes with the ups and downs!
Apparently only three teams have come back from 2-0 deficits in the Stanley Cup finals. The last team to do it, according to the Team 1200 yesterday, is the 1971 Montreal Canadiens. I haven't checked to see if they lost those first two games on the road or not. The good news for the Senators is that the two games they lost were on the road. Isn't the goal to try and split when you open a series on the road anyway? Doesn't that mean that losing the first two games is a distinct possibility?
Maybe this is a series where home ice is going to be the big advantage. Not because of the fans, building or ice surface - but because of the "last change". The coaches can make last second tweaks to get their desired match-ups on the ice.
The point most often discussed on Tuesday and Wednesday was that the Sens obviously didn't "bring it" in game one. I suppose we can now all agree that they didn't yesterday either. The bright light in all of this is Ray Emery's play. If he doesn't get Conn Smythe consideration like Giguere did a few years ago, I don't know what else he could possibly do. It is solely because of Emery that the Ottawa Senators were even in games one and two.
I'm hoping that Coach Murray will pound the players over the head with video of the first two games of this round. I hope that he follows it up with video from the first three series of this postseason. These professional hockey players should be able to see the subtle nuances of what was a few weeks ago and what seems to be today. They then should be able to adjust accordingly... it seems to work for pro golfers and baseball players when their swing goes south.
Am I worried? Of course. Am I ready to throw in the towel? Nope - tons of teams have come back from 2-0 deficits... maybe not in the finals, but it is crystal clear that the Ottawa Senators have not played to their potential in this series. If they can come out banging tomorrow night and score an early goal to get Anaheim players back on heels, the Senators speed and skill can overcome whatever the Ducks try to throw around.
Being down 2-1 with a game two days later, again on home ice, is not a bad place to be. Going back to Anaheim 2-2 is exactly what we want now, and if that happens, it's not inconceivable that the magic we saw in the Sens' season only a few days ago will reappear and people will start to believe again.
But first... Saturday. It's up in the air as far as whether the "real" Senators will show up... but it's clear that I will be there. I finally snagged a pair of tickets last night and I'm looking forward to doing my part to ensure the Sens get back on track. Riiight. Well, who knows - every little bit counts, right?
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