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Guys? This wasn't supposed to happen.

I know the Penguins weren't exactly lighting it up going into the playoffs but let's be honest...neither were we. They're the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Sidney Crosby. Evgeni Malkin. Marc-Andre Fleury. They were supposed to stomp all over us and I was emotionally prepared for it. Usually, when the playoffs roll around, I am a nervous wreck. I can't eat anything and I'm twitchy. But today, I was totally zen. I sat down and prepared myself for a decent effort but nothing spectacular. The fact that we even made the playoffs was enough for me to be happy. I wasn't about to get greedy.

But for some reason, the Senators weren't content with that. They showed up with some fight and it's not something I've seen from this team in awhile. I don't know how long it will last but I'll take it. We were getting goals from guys who don't usually score and Erik Karlsson was cool as a cucumber out there. Both goaltenders were a wreck tonight but it makes for a nice change when it's not just our team with poor netminding.

As happy as I am with this win, it wasn't the strongest outing from the team. Peter Regin's penchant for visiting the penalty box cannot continue and as much as I love that secondary scoring might not be the big issue I've been wringing my hands about all season, Jason Spezza has to remember how to play hockey (i.e. STOP PLAYING LIKE ARSE) and the big guns have to find the back of the net.

I'm excited now. I'm fired up and buzzing about my team and I haven't felt like that in awhile. Let's keep it up boys!

I just hope this is enough for me to get motivated/unlazy about posting again!

This is DHS' contribution to this post:

Labels: pittsburgh penguins, round 1: pittsburgh penguins, stanley cup playoffs

Yes, I've decided to get off of my lazy ass and make with the wordsmithing . I don't think it would be proper to usher in the return of playoff hockey to this Nation's capital without a few words from your humble scribe.

It's bad enough I didn't post to recognize the awesomeness that is Daniel Alfredsson. He continues his walking-on-water ways by punching the clock for his 1000th shift in the NHL all under the Ottawa Senators logo. What more can I say about our Swedish Captain? He's awesome, I think we are all on board with that assesment.

So, here we are. Fifth place in the Eastern conference, staring directly at the defending Stanley Cup Champions in the first round just hoping that somehow this team doesn't piss its pants. BRING IT!

I won't sit here and bore you with a line by line analysis or a comparison of the two teams in all facets of the game. There are many other fine places you can get that and besides, it would be a hell of a lot of work and well, that just isn't my style. Instead I've enlisted the help of a few of the OBC rabble and given them a quiz based on the upcoming playoff series.

Question the First

Do the Senators actually have any chance at advancing past the first round?

Meaghan - Of course! There's always a chance. Defending Stanley Cup Champs could equal "tired" or "cursed." You never know. Up and down. They were more UP than DOWN this year, and who's to say they can't be UP in the playoffs? Finally, the fact that they're even in the playoffs is a gigantic bonus. I had no expectations of success in September and I have none now.

Sherry (I really don't think a hyperlink is needed) - I know that any way I answer this will probably come back to haunt me. The truth is I didn't even think we were going to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season and the fact we finished in a respectable position is enough to make me hopeful. So, I won't be greedy. If we can manage to not get swept that'd be even better. That being said, the Pens have hardly been lighting it up since the Olympic break (we've been inconsistent too but frankly that's not a surprise) so I think if the team manages to be opportunistic we might manage to put up a fight.

Question 2

How will the absence of Kovalev affect the team? No, seriously, do you think it will affect them?

Free Willig - Kovalev's absence will have a profound effect on the team; it will make them more of a team. If I was Mike Fisher, I would have punched Kovalev in the face a long time ago.

S - Kova-what?

Question 3

Daniel Alfredsson is a golden god?

True ____
Truer ____
Not False ____ Please Explain ________

F - Not False - If Alfie was really a God, would he need to take off days of practice? Or, does he not need the practice because he's a God. But if he's a God, don't you think he would have won a Stanley Cup before now or REALLY hurt Darcy Tucker?

M - Truer

S - Truer

Question 4

What is the biggest difference between this 5th place Ottawa team we see today and the team we had on paper at the beginning of the year that didn't give us much more hope beyond "please for the love of god you have to be better than the Leafs"?

F - At the beginning of the season, we had no idea what Erik Karlsson or Matt Carkner would be this year or if we'd score enough goals. Of course, the one thing that is exactly the same is we still don't know if we have any goaltending.

M - I don't think there's a difference. I thought they were a total wildcard at the beginning of the season and hey, it turned out they were.

S - I'm going to go out on a limb here and say coaching. Clouston proved himself very capable at the end of last season but there was still question marks given his lack of experience. I think the team's definitely bought into his system and gelled better as a result. He appears to hold guys accountable and I think that's definitely worked for this group.

Question 5

When the first round is over, who will be the goalie in Ottawa's net when the final buzzer sounds? (Assume Brian Elliott is the goalie when the series starts. Bonus points will be awarded if you are able to reference Patrick Lalime.)

F - Patrick Laime

M - Probably Anton Volchenkov

S - Brodeur! No, I'm kidding. I think it'll be Elliott still.

Question 6

Who will/needs to step it up in order for the Senators to have any chance?

M - There are two possible interpretations for this question. If you mean, "Who needs to play his best to give the Sens a chance in this series?" then I'd say obviously Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov, and Brian Elliott need to bring their "A" game. If you mean, "Who needs to improve his performance significantly over what he did during the regular season?" Then I'd say it wouldn't hurt if Mike Fisher had a hot streak right about now. A few goals from Milan Michalek would also not be a bad thing.

S - I'm willing to cut Jason Spezza some slack. Then again I feel like I'm ALWAYS cutting Spezza slack. He's one of the core guys on this team and he really needs to step it up now. Fisher too. I know he had a pretty hot season but he has an 'A' on his jersey now and that means he's more accountable now and needs to keep that gravy train going.

Question 7

Word association:

Eric Karlsson - Swedish (S)
Ryan Shannon - Cherubic (S)
Matt Cooke - Douche (M)
Sidney Crosby - Gold (M)

Question 8

If this Ottawa Senators team was a song, what song would they be?

F - "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" by Elton John

M - How about "Both Sides, Now" by Joni Mitchell:

I've looked at [the Sens] from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's [the Sens'] illusions I recall
I really don't know [the Sens] at all

Editors Note: I was going to award points for this entire thing but once Meaghan broke out the Joni Mitchell lyrics it was all over. I award her maximum points. Thank you everyone else for playing.

Bonus Question

Please put on your prognostication hats and tell me what the results of this first round is going to be.

F - Pittsburgh in 7

M - Pittsburgh in 7

S - *covers eyes and points* Pittsburgh in 6

BOOOO all of you there. It wasn't a bonus question. It was a trick question. The answer is Sens in 7.