The fat lady's warming up...

Well, there's 9:30 left in the third period and it's looking like the Senators' season is done like a nice roasted duck breast.

Early reports today had players swearing that they would bring their all to tonight's game. It hasn't looked like it so far. The first period looked rather uninspired... and how about that Chris Phillips goal in the second? Brilliant. That one goofy moment pretty much summarized the whole series for the Sens.

The dominant effort put forth by the Sens in the first three series just hasn't been there. Some might blame the nine game layoff, but Anaheim had to sit through six of those days... big deal.

Who knows - maybe the western conference really does play a different kind of game. There have been so many Stanley Cup Final series that have been one-sided. With the exception of a huge performance by the Sens in game three, Anaheim has all but obliterated Otawa, and at times has forced Sens players to change their game and make stupid mistakes time after time.

It's been a hell of a run... from the lows in the early part of the season to the progressively higher highs as the Penguins, Devils and Sabres were obliterated on Ottawa's run to the finals.

We'll some day look back at this year as a turning point in the Ottawa franchise history. For now, all we can do is sadly watch the last half-dozen minutes left in this year's final... and hope that we get another chance - and sooner rather than later.

I get the awesome memory of having attended game 3 and seeing the Sens soundly beat the Ducks. Hopefully it won't be my last positive Stanley Cup memory...

Thanks, Sens! Here's to next time.