SENS CARRY CANADA’S HOPES
Game 1 goes Saturday in Pittsburgh
C stands for Conn: While the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and the Senators’ Erik Karlsson both wear the stitched C on their jerseys as captains of their respective teams, keep in mind Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP a year ago while Karlsson is considered by many to be the front-runner through the first two rounds this postseason. They’re two of the top five players on the planet. Sinister Sid? Sid the Kid certainly will occupy the role as villain among Senators fans after his slash on Marc Methot left the finger of the Ottawa defenceman dangling and bloodied in a March 23 game at the Canadian Tire Centre. Both Crosby and Karlsson said there was no intent to injure on the play, but rabid Sens backers aren’t so sure. Methot has returned to play 11 games in this post-season. Repeat offenders? The Penguins are eight victories away from becoming the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the Detroit Red Wings won in 1997 and 1998.
Do you be-Leaf? When Brendan Shanahan took over as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, two of the most prominent victims of his housecleaning were Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, who were traded. Now the Pens’ Kessel and the Sens’ Phaneuf face each other in the Eastern Conference final. What a difference a couple of years make.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Senators
Defeated Boston Bruins 4-2 Defeated New York Rangers 4-2 Penguins
Defeated Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1
Defeated Washington Capitals 4-3 2006-07: Senators defeat Penguins 4-1 in Eastern Conference quarter-final
2007-08: Penguins defeat Senators 4-0 in Eastern Conference quarter-final
2009-10: Penguins defeat Senators 4-2 in Eastern Conference quarter-final
2012-13: Penguins defeat Senators 4-1 in Eastern Conference quarter-final
2016-17 REGULAR SEASON
(Senators won season series 2-1) Dec. 5, at Pittsburgh: Penguins 8, Senators 5
Jan. 12, at Ottawa: Senators 4, Penguins 1
March 23, at Ottawa: Senators 2, Penguins 1 (shootout)
HOW THEY MATCH UP
Forwards: The Sens have been getting contributions from all over the lineup, with Mark Stone starting to heat up, Bobby Ryan rediscovering his scoring touch and Jean-Gabriel Pageau torching the Rangers for four goals in Ottawa’s dramatic overtime win in Game 2 of the second-round series against New York. But when it comes to differencemakers, we can’t go against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Edge: Penguins Defence: If Kris Letang was healthy, this might be a different story. But the way he is playing right now, Karlsson is the best defenceman on the planet and can almost single-handedly lead his team past a playoff opponent — just ask the Rangers. Edge: Senators
Goal: Craig Anderson spent much of the regular season, understandably, concentrating on his wife’s battle with cancer, while Marc-Andre Fleury found himself often sitting on the bench behind Matt Murray. But come playoff time, both have been outstanding. Edge: Even Special teams: Senators PP (14.6 per cent), PK (87.5 per cent); Pens PP (21.6 per cent), PK (87.5 per cent). The Sens’ penaltykilling percentage was helped out by a brutal Rangers power play. Karlsson is the ultimate powerplay quarterback, but the Pens man advantage can be lethal whenever you can put Crosby, Malkin and Kessel on the ice together. Edge: Slight one to Pens Coaching: Guy Boucher has gone 4-1 in post-season series over his NHL coaching career, accruing an impressive win-loss record of 19-11. Through it all, he has brought defence back to Ottawa. As for Mike Sullivan, he brought the Cup back to Pittsburgh last spring. For that, he gets the nod. Edge: Slight one to Pens Intangibles: Yes, the Pens are defending champs. But think about what the Sens overcame to get here. Anderson and his wife’s fight has made the Sens goalie a finalist for the Masterton Trophy. Former GM Bryan Murray battled cancer. Clarke MacArthur made an inspiring return after missing almost two full seasons with concussions. Edge: Even
Unsung heroes: Ottawa’s JeanGabriel Pageau and Pittsburgh’s Jake Guentzel
Key matchup: Sidney Crosby versus Erik Karlsson
What else would it be? Count on these two seeing a lot of each other on a game-to-game, period-to-period, shift-to-shift basis. In Karlsson’s case, he’s become a much more complete defenceman under Boucher’s tutelage. His foot injury should be a concern, although it doesn’t seem to be. Here are some numbers backing up Karlsson’s value to the Sens in these playoffs: With him on the ice in five-onfive situations, the Senators have outscored opponents 14-7. While on the bench, they’ve been outscored 18-9.
Penguins win if Crosby plays like Crosby, Fleury plays like he has in the previous two rounds and the Penguins play like the team that ground its way to the Cup a year ago. On paper, they are the more talented team, but games aren’t played on paper. Senators win if they exploit the Penguins’ weaknesses. This Pittsburgh team is more vulnerable than the one that beat the San Jose Sharks 11 months ago. With Kris Letang out, there is only one legitimate No. 1 defenceman in this series, and it’s Ottawa’s Karlsson. Keep this stat in mind too: in beating the Capitals in seven games, the Pens were outshot in 17 of 22 periods.