Orpik-Martin, Letang-Niskanen, Engelland-Murray

I see what Bylsma is doing there and I like it. Nisky has been terrible so far and he's trying to resurrect his game by pairing him with Letang (whom also needs some help on his game).

I'm confident we'll do a good job, even with Engelland in the lineup. We beat the Islanders with him in the lineup didn't we? + Ottawa has some big D pairings of their own..
- Orpik44

Ottawa doesn't have the speedy forwards that the Isles had. I can see Engo having a better series but hate Despres not dressing.

WTF is that? Not the cat...
- canadianpenfan

A sloth.....or Matt Cooke

A sloth.....or Matt Cooke
- Rawdog9755

It looks like it's getting ready to snap that cats neck.

Ottawa doesn't have the speedy forwards that the Isles had. I can see Engo having a better series but hate Despres not dressing.
- lloyd095

I agree. Niskanen has been playing like hot garbage anyways. Id sit him and play either of Despres or Eaton. Eaton's lack of speed wont get exposed as much against the Sens(regardless of all the Sens fan claiming they are as fast as the Islanders), and with Despres you get the mobility plus some physicality; and a blown tire at least once a game which will directly result in an odd-man break.

Ottawa doesn't have the speedy forwards that the Isles had. I can see Engo having a better series but hate Despres not dressing.
- lloyd095

I also would like to see Despres dressing over Engo but let's support this move. Engelland will do just fine. I wouldn't want to start $hit with Engo/Crank in the lineup.

I agree. Niskanen has been playing like hot garbage anyways. Id sit him and play either of Despres or Eaton. Eaton's lack of speed wont get exposed as much against the Sens(regardless of all the Sens fan claiming they are as fast as the Islanders), and with Despres you get the mobility plus some physicality; and a blown tire at least once a game which will directly result in an odd-man break.
- Rawdog9755

For the record, I agree with the Senator fan that said that. I think alot of you are seriously underestimating their team speed.

It looks like it's getting ready to snap that cats neck.
- canadianpenfan

I was getting more of a rapey vibe from it than violence and neck snapping. One of my fav gifs of all time. It is also a good way to shutup that one person who cant watch a game without opening their mouth and spouting nonsense; just run your hand down their face and give them the "Shh, No words". Shuts them up every time.

Ottawa doesn't have the speedy forwards that the Isles had. I can see Engo having a better series but hate Despres not dressing.
- lloyd095

Yeah...but there's a little bit of a mis-conception with that...

When you play better defensively...as a team..you take away open ice and that slows teams down.

The Isles..the Canadians...the Flyers...all looked fast when they had room to skate ...and blow by flat footed, poorly positioned defenders.

If the Pens get sloppy and negligent of defensive responsibilities...we'll all say how we didn't realize the team speed of the Sens...

Most NHL teams have speedy players...it's whether or not they have time and space to show it.

I agree. Niskanen has been playing like hot garbage anyways. Id sit him and play either of Despres or Eaton. Eaton's lack of speed wont get exposed as much against the Sens(regardless of all the Sens fan claiming they are as fast as the Islanders), and with Despres you get the mobility plus some physicality; and a blown tire at least once a game which will directly result in an odd-man break.
- Rawdog9755

Seems to be like this nowadays..I hope next year he gets the starting position for good on this team.

For the record, I agree with the Senator fan that said that. I think alot of you are seriously underestimating their team speed.
- canadianpenfan

Ive watched a lot of games this year and at no point did I watch the Sens and think "that is one of the fastest teams in the league". I can only call it how I see it.

i think stache will have a different strategy this series, as pitt won't be as easy to push around physically. i imagine sens will play a little more defensively, and there won't be asmany shots given up.
- sensarmy_11

Yeah, that strategy won't work against the Pens. They are a bit bigger and more physical than Montreal, and if the Sens don't worry about puck possession and try to run the Pens, they could be down 4-0 by the end of the 1st period.

I think that with the Sens lack of offense, they have to do their best to keep possession of the puck, and limit the Pens chances.

Their best bet is to follow the Isles plan, and try to outshoot the Pens all they can, and create turnovers and get the puck back and up ice as often and as fast as they can.

Yeah...but there's a little bit of a mis-conception with that...

When you play better defensively...as a team..you take away open ice and that slows teams down.

The Isles..the Canadians...the Flyers...all looked fast when they had room to skate ...and blow by flat footed, poorly positioned defenders.

If the Pens get sloppy and negligent of defensive responsibilities...we'll all say how we didn't realize the team speed of the Sens...

Most NHL teams have speedy players...it's whether or not they have time and space to show it.
- icedog97

No doubt but we got a full deck this round. Neal, Orpik, and Sid all playing. I thought Bylsma did good preparing for game 1 against the Isles. Now the lines can become somewhat stable. All of this should lead to the Pens being better on defense too.

If I were the Sens I would try to see what happens if they engage the Pens in a gutter fight like the Flyers series last year. The Islanders didn't engage in any of that stuff, which I thought was to the Pens advantage as it allowed them to focus on the games and not getting even...
- Emperor Filonius

The Flyers are my second favorite team and as I recall that strategy did work pretty well for the Flyers last year. As a Sens fan I hope they do move this battle into the more manly aspects of game where the Pens are uncomfortable playing.

Ive watched a lot of games this year and at no point did I watch the Sens and think "that is one of the fastest teams in the league". I can only call it how I see it.
- Rawdog9755

nobody said they were the fastest team in the league, but i would wager they're in the top 10.............add to that the fact that they can also beat teh crap out of teams......

speed and physicality is always a great combination to have.

not saying ottawa will win, or that they should be favoured, but i think a lot of people are overlooking the skill and speed on this team, and just assuming that it's just all anderson.

people point to the reg season and say that ottawa can't score.....but ignore the fact that they played almost the entire season without spezza, karlsson, michalek, and cowen.

the last 7-8 games, since they started getting players back, they've been scoring almost 4gpg, and that's without spezza, who will likely be back in game 3.

i think pitt is still the favorite, but if they look at this series and think "all we have to worry about is anderson", they're gonna be in big trouble.

The Flyers are my second favorite team and as I recall that strategy did work pretty well for the Flyers last year. As a Sens fan I hope they do move this battle into the more manly aspects of game where the Pens are uncomfortable playing.
- TheRat14

i don't think the pens are uncomfortable playing a gritty game.

maybe they were last year, but with the additions they made, this is a much tougher team. they won't shy away from contact like montreal did.

Sens do have some speed, yes that is for sure. However when it comes to overall team speed they are not on the same level with the Islanders.

Also one main point, the Sens do not have a player like Tavares.

I agree with this, but conversely, if the Sens think they can give up 35 shots a night like they did vs Montreal, they are going to get a rude awakening against the Pens, and I don't care where its Anderson in goal or not.
- Emperor Filonius

Something that many non Pens tend to forget. They are saying how good Ottawa looked against Montreal, which they did. But, they forget that they ain't playing Plekanec, Desharnais, Ryder, Bourque, Gallagher and Galchenyuk this series.

Sens do have some speed, yes that is for sure. However when it comes to overall team speed they are not on the same level with the Islanders.

Also one main point, the Sens do not have a player like Tavares.
- nbartley9

Unless they think Turris is just as good (since he's a 3rd overall pick)

Something that many non Pens tend to forget. They are saying how good Ottawa looked against Montreal, which they did. But, they forget that they ain't playing Plekanec, Desharnais, Ryder, Bourque, Gallagher and Galchenyuk this series.
- Oneonta Penguin

They claim to be the best EVERY post. It's amazing! Looks like we are the 7th seed on this series.

They claim to be the best EVERY post. It's amazing! Looks like we are the 7th seed on this series.
- Orpik44

please point out ONE POST where a sens fan claimed to have a better team then pitt........................honestly, just one

Sens do have some speed, yes that is for sure. However when it comes to overall team speed they are not on the same level with the Islanders.

Also one main point, the Sens do not have a player like Tavares.
- nbartley9

Karlsson?

please point out ONE POST where a sens fan claimed to have a better team then pitt........................honestly, just one
- sensarmy_11

I thought you guys have been pretty tolerable in here. Hopefully we have a good series. Good luck!

I thought you guys have been pretty tolerable in here. Hopefully we have a good series. Good luck!
- dbell646

you too

please point out ONE POST where a sens fan claimed to have a better team then pitt........................honestly, just one
- sensarmy_11

Your posts are like this:

The Pens are the favourites to win it BUT....(then you go on writing 10 lines about how good the Sens are and make head to head players matchups where eventually we end up with the worst team...how we can't handle the Sens d-men..blah blah blah)...

Just a little biased posts, that's all.

What's your take for tonights game?

Your posts are like this:

The Pens are the favourites to win it BUT....(then you go on writing 10 lines about how good the Sens are and make head to head players matchups where eventually we end up with the worst team...how we can't handle the Sens d-men..blah blah blah)...

Just a little biased posts, that's all.

What's your take for tonights game?
- Orpik44

i said the pens should be the favorite BUT if they take the sens as lightly as some of the fans seem to be, then they could be in trouble.

would you prefer i say something like "pens should be favoured, and they're gonna win easily because ottawa sucks at every position, and should just stay home"

my posts about the sens strenghts have mostly been in reply to those suggesting they arent' as fast as the isles, and the comparisons have been how the sens play compared to how the isles play.

nowhere have i even suggested that ottawa is a better team, except in goal, where i think most people will agree that ottawa has the advantage.