The Killer Instinct
The Tale of Two Teams in the NHL Playoffs
The Killer Instinct can’t always be taught. Sometimes it’s ingrained. Sometimes it comes down from DNA, hidden within the mass of nuclides and peptides. Sometimes it is gained in the course of war, upheavals, or during some sort of action when someone finally understands what it is to finish something. To take control. To wrest opportunity from chance. Sometimes, within the hammering of a coach or mentor, the template can be created. But it is no sure thing.
The Killer Instinct is what creates a champion. It is what is the divide between contender and pretender. It is the difference of won and lost. The difference of satisfaction to frustration. The difference between success to disappointment. It is what is getting the
Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup finals.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa fans for years have lamented that lack of fire and killer instinct for their team. Whether it was their inauspicious start as an expansion…losing their draft information and “winging” it, to their time with Daigle and Yashin, to their last few years of languishing in the playoffs. The Senators always seemed to whither under expectations.
After Ottawa playoff exit versus Toronto in 2004, finally something broke. Jacques Martin, coach for over 8 years, was fired. Patrick Lalime, their inconsistent goaltender, was traded off. A commitment to change was made. In 2005, they made an additional step forward, grabbing Dany Heatley from Atlanta for Hossa. Heatley quickly shed the giant chip off his shoulder of tragedy and has performed every since. Ottawa’s new goalie Emery emerged as a true #1 netminder. Things were looking good…until they met the Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd round of last year’s playoffs.
And it was just another mouthful of sour taste for Ottawa fans.
Buffalo Sabres
Woe to those who are Buffalo fans. Buffalo fans have always seemed to have to take in stride horrific disappointments. From watching Jim Kelly and the Bills in the Super Bowls only to lose…to Brett Hull in the crease of an already lost series. Then add Norwood’s foot of infamy. These disappointments that simply boggles and addles the mind of any fan.
Buffalo’s Sabres have had a tremendous turnaround from dark days of ownership. Youth have developed. Fans are back in the seats. Last year, they had their best season in 20 years, 110 points. Last year they dismissed the Ottawa Senators and took on Carolina, only to lose, that bitter taste again in fans mouths.
2006-2007 Playoffs
This year, Buffalo once again achieved. 113 points in the regular season. This team looked ready for the Cup. Ottawa dipped, and found themselves facing a new NHL hot opponent in Pittsburg. Buffalo was to have an easy time versus the NY Islanders.
But funny thing about the playoffs…it’s a clean slate.
Buffalo won that first round, but every game but the 1st was close. Sometimes they were a barnburner to the very end. Pittsburg meanwhile showed, once again, why they have additional work to do to gain in the playoffs. Their goalie and defense seemed porous versus a charged up Senators team.
Round 2, Buffalo squeaked by in close games that either team could have won against the NY Rangers. This was the team that was cup worthy? Sometimes games, like Round 1, fell to referee and NHL official decisions and gaffes. The final glimmer of taking control was that final sixth game in the 2nd period, when Buffalo’s offense suddenly remembered that NY had a crappy defense and took advantage �" and then held on.
New Jersey seemed fat and slow against Tampa who gave NJ more trouble than a team with no goalie should. Was Brodeur tired after playing 78 games? Did Lou, godly GM, make a mistake in firing Claude Julien at the end of the season, after leading NJ to another banner year? Yes to both. Ottawa took advantage and took them out in 5 games.
Here and Now
The playoffs are all about momentum and taking control. So as round 3 is only 3 games in, Ottawa already has a stranglehold on Buffalo 3-0 in the series. Is it really any surprise? I made many a point in previous blogs that something is missing in Buffalo. Something very important. That will to win. That control. That killer instinct to rip the jugular of opponents. It was clear in round 1, clearer in round 2, and clearest of all in round 3. Buffalo and its fans are going to swallow a very, very bitter pill soon and will be left watching the games from
Duff’s stewing and lamenting with great Wings and Molson.
Ottawa has only showed more poise, taking advantage of opportunity, and closing down the game for the wins. This is the hallmark of a champion…even if they are unable to beat Detroit or Anaheim in the cup finals. It is something intangible, missing for years, that has suddenly developed, and Ottawa will be better for it.
Yes, we will hear from Buffalo fans that it’s not over yet. And indeed it isn’t. But the time for Buffalo to wake up and have that killer instinct was a round or two ago. Ottawa has been feeding on the opposition’s blood all through these playoffs. Can it be ever clearer?
Tomorrow…back to satire and fisticuffs.
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