i agree with this post 100%

there is so much parity right now, and if you look at pretty much any of the 8 series, there doens't seem to be a clear favorite in any of them.

i would argue the biggest "lopsided series" would probably be pitt and NYR (largely due to injuries on pitt's D) but i don't think anyone would be the least bit surprised if MAF or crosby/malkin stepped up and won that series.
- sensarmy_11

Tampa Detroit looks pretty lopsided to me as well. Otherwise, you're right... Tons of parity!

A very biased read. You make some good points but the Habs are much better off than you think. I hope Ottawa wins too but I still think Montreal has some edges especially in goal, hot Hammond or not, and Montreal can easily sweep this series of they are not on their game.

Ok, the only defence I have for this is that, while Price is WAY better than Hammond under normal circumstances, Hammond is ridiculously hot right now...

Even still, Price SHOULD be an edge over Hammond. Conversely, just because of the run he's on, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if Hammond (win or lose) has comparable or even better numbers than Price does at the end of this series.
- Mr_Clean

yeah, i think that was jarod's point (that a lot of people missed)

obviously price is the better goalie, nobody disputes that..........but the way hammond is playing right now, i don't think many people would be surprised if he outplayed price.

really?!?!

goaltending obviously goes to montreal...........but offense is BY FAR in ottawas favour.

ottawa finished the season with the 9th best g/gp while montreal finished 20th..........it's good to know that you actually look at the numbers before posting......and then chastize other people for not doing it.
- sensarmy_11

Canadiens were 4th in 5 on 5 scoring. That's a pretty important stat. Not down talking Ottawa but there are other talented players on the Canadiens not named Pacioretty.

Ok, the only defence I have for this is that, while Price is WAY better than Hammond under normal circumstances, Hammond is ridiculously hot right now...

Even still, Price SHOULD be an edge over Hammond. Conversely, just because of the run he's on, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if Hammond (win or lose) has comparable or even better numbers than Price does at the end of this series.
- Mr_Clean

it depends what we're lookin at here. are we putting the Sens run in a vaccum? or are we looking at 82 games' worth? seems that anyone judging this series is only looking at the last 2 months of the season. which is understandable.
but in Montreal we heard the same thing last year going into the Boston series. the Bruins were a runaway freight train that didn't lose down the stretch and we saw what happened. that's a battle-tested team in Montreal. they're not going be run over the way some of you expect.

Canadiens were 4th in 5 on 5 scoring. That's a pretty important stat. Not down talking Ottawa but there are other talented players on the Canadiens not named Pacioretty.
- SmielmaN

montreal was 19th in 5v5 goals with 148.....ottawa was 10th

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...als5On5&viewName=goalsFor

i'm not saying montreal is a bad team.....they're OBVIOUSLY a very good team. but for that guy to say montreal had a clear advantage in offense is completely assinine, and completely ignores pretty much every offensive stat.

Homer much?

Sens equal or better in all categories except a "slight edge" in special teams?

Montreal has a better offence, montreal has better goaltending, and montreal has better coaching.

You are looking at the nice burst of momentum which got the sens into a wildcard, not at the body of work that got the habs to the top of the conference.

Get control of your excitement and listen to yourself.
- jackzack87

Offence to Ottawa.
Defence to Mtl.
Goaltending close if Hammond keep the pace but i think it's the ?? for Sens. Let's say edge to Mtl right now.
Special teams. They both suck. Even.
5 on 5. Even if Pacioretty healthy.
Coaching... Who knows but experience definately goes to Therrien.

Intangibles:
Playoffs experience to Mtl.
Momentum to Ottawa.
Games between the two teams : Ottawa

Wrap up:

Globally , i give the edge to Mtl but intangibles are on Ott's side.

If Hammond continue his play, it will be tough for Mtl to produce sustained offence, even if Pacioretty plays. But i think he will downgrade is efficiency during the first 2 games and OTT will turn to Anderson for game 3.

My uneducated guess??

Mtl wins first 3 games to win in 5 games if Hammond returns to normal status. But if he is still solid, i say Ott in 6.

Offence to Ottawa.
Defence to Mtl.
Goaltending close if Hammond keep the pace but i think it's the ?? for Sens. Let's say edge to Mtl right now.
Special teams. They both suck. Even.
5 on 5. Even if Pacioretty healthy.
Coaching... Who knows but experience definately goes to Therrien.

Intangibles:
Playoffs experience to Mtl.
Momentum to Ottawa.
Games between the two teams : Ottawa

Wrap up:

Globally , i give the edge to Mtl but intangibles are on Ott's side.

If Hammond continue his play, it will be tough for Mtl to produce sustained offence, even if Pacioretty plays. But i think he will downgrade is efficiency during the first 2 games and OTT will turn to Anderson for game 3.

My uneducated guess??

Mtl wins first 3 games to win in 5 games if Hammond returns to normal status. But if he is still solid, i say Ott in 6.
- soad_live

pretty much agree with most of this. i might say that defense is pretty even, especially with a healthy methot....but other than that, pretty bang on.

this series will come down to which goalie stays hot............if both goalies play the same, i think ottawa will win in 6 (obviously i'm bias, and i fully expect habs fans to say the exact opposite, lol).

Hammond equal to Price? Really? Homer much?

Let's see how hot Hammond is when he steps into a rabid Bell center on opening night. I don't doubt he is a good goalie right now but the playoffs are a whole different animal.

As far as this ridiculous mentality amond hab fans that we should "fear" the Sens, I say BRING IT ON!. The Habs will elevate their game a few notches while the Sens have been in playoff mode for at least a month and a half. There is a very real possibility they hit a wall.

Oh and I don't think the Habs forgot 2 years ago, I'm sure they're just itching to jam some crow down Sens nation's mouth.

Habs in 5

pretty much agree with most of this. i might say that defense is pretty even, especially with a healthy methot....but other than that, pretty bang on.

this series will come down to which goalie stays hot............if both goalies play the same, i think ottawa will win in 6 (obviously i'm bias, and i fully expect habs fans to say the exact opposite, lol).
- sensarmy_11

the teams' defences are built completely differently. i think if we're judging defence, it's got to be team defence. same with offence. i don't think you can compare forwards and dmen separately anymore.

Hammond equal to Price? Really? Homer much?

Let's see how hot Hammond is when he steps into a rabid Bell center on opening night. I don't doubt he is a good goalie right now but the playoffs are a whole different animal.

As far as this ridiculous mentality amond hab fans that we should "fear" the Sens, I say BRING IT ON!. The Habs will elevate their game a few notches while the Sens have been in playoff mode for at least a month and a half. There is a very real possibility they hit a wall.

Oh and I don't think the Habs forgot 2 years ago, I'm sure they're just itching to jam some crow down Sens nation's mouth.

Habs in 5
- habfanforever

why are habs fans surprised that they read a sens blog, and it favours ottawa.

i'm sure all the habs writers are being perfectly impartial when juding this series....i'm positive there will be no homer opinions at all.

the cockiness some of you guys exhibit is bizarre. but good luck with that.
- DoubleDown

I just don't view Montreal as a strong team outside of Price. Sorry, I can't go out and say you guys are amazing. You aren't. At best it's a coin flip this series. And, the pressure is on Montreal, there is absolutely no pressure on the Sens.

Good luck, you'll need it.

montreal was 19th in 5v5 goals with 148.....ottawa was 10th

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...als5On5&viewName=goalsFor

i'm not saying montreal is a bad team.....they're OBVIOUSLY a very good team. but for that guy to say montreal had a clear advantage in offense is completely assinine, and completely ignores pretty much every offensive stat.
- sensarmy_11

Well then sportsnets puck wall and Elliott Freidman lied to me Saturday! Lol. They said they were 4th. Damn u Sportsnet... Lol

Well then sportsnets puck wall and Elliott Freidman lied to me Saturday! Lol. They said they were 4th. Damn u Sportsnet... Lol
- SmielmaN

maybe they were talking about a certain string of games or something

or maybe, you just watched sportsnet and assumed they weren't all dumb asses.

why are habs fans surprised that they read a sens blog, and it favours ottawa.

i'm sure all the habs writers are being perfectly impartial when juding this series....i'm positive there will be no homer opinions at all.
- sensarmy_11

There are a lot of things the Sens are better at than the Habs but to say Hammond and Price are "equal" is a bit ridiculous. Price is not only on a whole different level than Hammond, he's in a different universe. 2 of the Habs losses to the Sens this year came with Tokarski in goal so the season's matchup between both teams is pretty moot right now.

maybe they were talking about a certain string of games or something

or maybe, you just watched sportsnet and assumed they weren't all dumb asses.
- sensarmy_11

They were going over Montreal's stats for the season, but geez you would think Freidman would be the most reliable hahaha

Well then sportsnets puck wall and Elliott Freidman lied to me Saturday! Lol. They said they were 4th. Damn u Sportsnet... Lol
- SmielmaN

No, They were talking about goal differential 5 on 5. They are 19th for and 1st against with only 125, 5 on 5 goals against.

Wow, listen, you have every right and reason in the world to be excited about your Sens. I don't blame you one bit, however, Price is a former Vezina Trophy winner and is better than Hammond. We still have no idea how Hammond will perform in the post-season, whats gone on the last 6-8 weeks means nothing. Defense is even at best, the Habs had the best GAA in the league, and its not ALL Price. Scoring, yes, the Sens have an edge. Cameron just came aboard, I am not sure you can easily even say its an edge, Therrien has a much larger body of work. I'm not saying the Sens can't win but this, but IMO you're being a little dismissive of Montreal's recent success. Good luck and enjoy the ride

There are a lot of things the Sens are better at than the Habs but to say Hammond and Price are "equal" is a bit ridiculous. Price is not only on a whole different level than Hammond, he's in a different universe. 2 of the Habs losses to the Sens this year came with Tokarski in goal so the season's matchup between both teams is pretty moot right now.
- habfanforever

This I agree with. Also, price's loss against the sens was one of the 3 stinkers he's had all year. Edge has to be to the goalie everyone says will win the vezina and hart. That's Montreal's one clear advantage.

There are a lot of things the Sens are better at than the Habs but to say Hammond and Price are "equal" is a bit ridiculous. Price is not only on a whole different level than Hammond, he's in a different universe. 2 of the Habs losses to the Sens this year came with Tokarski in goal so the season's matchup between both teams is pretty moot right now.
- habfanforever

why is it ridiculous to say...........price obviously has more experience and has been playing at an insane level for a long time, but since hammond has come up, he's been the best goalie in the league. if he keeps his play up, he's every bit as good as price..............right now

i'm not saying i'd take hammond over price if i'm starting a team (obviously i wouldn't)............but the numbers don't lie, and right now, with the way he's playing, hammond is every bit as good as price.

Wow, listen, you have every right and reason in the world to be excited about your Sens. I don't blame you one bit, however, Price is a former Vezina Trophy winner and is better than Hammond. We still have no idea how Hammond will perform in the post-season, whats gone on the last 6-8 weeks means nothing. Defense is even at best, the Habs had the best GAA in the league, and its not ALL Price. Scoring, yes, the Sens have an edge. Cameron just came aboard, I am not sure you can easily even say its an edge, Therrien has a much larger body of work. I'm not saying the Sens can't win but this, but IMO you're being a little dismissive of Montreal's recent success. Good luck and enjoy the ride
- Blueshirts4ever

really?

No, They were talking about goal differential 5 on 5. They are 19th for and 1st against with only 125, 5 on 5 goals against.
- willey101

Ahhhh. Thx buddy. I had bought one of those Heineken mini keg things to go with my case of MGD and started at 330 pm. I'm surprised I made it to my bedroom that night lol

Ahhhh. Thx buddy. I had bought one of those Heineken mini keg things to go with my case of MGD and started at 330 pm. I'm surprised I made it to my bedroom that night lol
- SmielmaN

MGD.....wow, not only to you watch a hockey game on CBC but you drink MGD. Desperate times.

Wow, listen, you have every right and reason in the world to be excited about your Sens. I don't blame you one bit, however, Price is a former Vezina Trophy winner and is better than Hammond. We still have no idea how Hammond will perform in the post-season, whats gone on the last 6-8 weeks means nothing. Defense is even at best, the Habs had the best GAA in the league, and its not ALL Price. Scoring, yes, the Sens have an edge. Cameron just came aboard, I am not sure you can easily even say its an edge, Therrien has a much larger body of work. I'm not saying the Sens can't win but this, but IMO you're being a little dismissive of Montreal's recent success. Good luck and enjoy the ride
- Blueshirts4ever

you can't say what hammond has done in the past couple of months means nothing, while at the same time saying that price is better because of what he's done in the past.........that's a ridiculous way to make a point.

right now, this day, as the playoffs are about to start. hammond is the hottest goalie playing. everyone, and i mean EVERYONE, says that a hot goalie wins series.........so there is no reason that ottawa shouldn't be confident that their goalie is evenly matched, RIGHT NOW, with montreal.

why is it ridiculous to say...........price obviously has more experience and has been playing at an insane level for a long time, but since hammond has come up, he's been the best goalie in the league. if he keeps his play up, he's every bit as good as price..............right now

i'm not saying i'd take hammond over price if i'm starting a team (obviously i wouldn't)............but the numbers don't lie, and right now, with the way he's playing, hammond is every bit as good as price.
- sensarmy_11

Hammond's success in the past month and a half-2 months means absolutely squat right now. This is the playoffs. Price knows what to expect, he doesn't. Like it or not, Montreal has the clear advantage in net.