Jared Crozier: Ottawa Senators vs Montreal Canadiens Series Breakdown & Prediction
- JaredCrozier

Okay, I like reading your stuff but to call the goaltending and coaching even is pretty laughable, and that is coming from a hockey fan that has really been rooting for the Sens and the Hamburglar to succeed.

can't argue with anything you say really. but for me what it comes down to is, right now, going into an NHL playoff series, who do you take: Carey Price or Andrew Hammond?
- DoubleDown

honestly, with the way they're playing, i'm not sure.

if you believe that hammond can keep his play up, which i do, it's a tough call.

I won't lower myself to MGD or Coors. Actually cannot stand North American beer. I prefer Guinness or Belgium.
- willey101

I still don't get the MGD hate but I also enjoy the euro brews. I only drink Guinness for st pattys or the holidays, but I do enjoy it. Cheers

I don't honestly see that breaking this series down is going to generate an accurate assessment.

Ottawa plays Montreal HARD. Ottawa has all of the momentum right now. Hammond beat Montreal twice, and one of those wins was a head to head against Price. Ottawa also thoroughly outplayed and beat Montreal in Anderson's January start.

Anything that happened before January doesn't matter at this point. Montreal isn't the team that they were in the first half, and neither is Ottawa. These teams are what they were coming down the stretch. Ottawa is red hot, and Montreal hasn't been playing well.

Is there a possibility that the wheels fall off from the Senators? Yup, but that's really unlikely. Is it a possibility that Montreal is going to all of a sudden flick a switch and become a playoff juggernaut? Yes, but equally unlikely, especially considering that Pacioretty almost certainly has a concussion.

I just can't envision a scenario where the Senators don't come in and blow the doors off of the Bell Centre. Like it or not Habs fans, Ottawa seems to have your number, the same way that Toronto has theirs.

Senators in 5 with 3 road wins.
- the_terror

Pretty good.

I think game 1 is incredibly important to Montreal. They need to win the first game. If not, the mass suicides may start early. But, if Montreal does win the first game, Ottawa needs the split to have hope.

The question I wonder is this:

Can Price elevate higher than what he's already done this season? He is already going to win the Vezina and possibly the MVP. Is there another level he can go to?

Seems to me, that best case scenario, he stays as good as he has been, and worst case scenario, he gets worse.

Even with the magical season he has had, the Habs haven't been much better than .500 since the all star break.

I guess the same question can be asked of Hammond, too. The difference, though is the Sens have more offensive upside to make up for Hammond if he comes back down to earth (they also have a pretty good option in Anderson if they need it).

If Price allows 3 or more goals (and sometimes even 2) the Habs generally lose. If Hammond lets in 3, the Sens still have the ability to outscore the competition.

just stop man.......

karlsson is easily a top 3-5 d-man in the league.................but him and methot are not the best d-paring in the league.

keith-seabrook
weber-josi
giordano-brodie
suter-spurgeon
staal-mcdonough
pietrangelo-bouwmeester

all those pairings are atleast as good, and some are better. methot has chemistry with karlsson, no doubt, but he's not a top-pairing d-man with most teams.
- sensarmy_11

What? Methot not better than Weber or Josi?

Not directed at you but I find it funny how some people just have blinders on and refuse to accept anything beyond their current team. SPORTS, POLITICS and RELIGION. 3 categories you can never win.

I do make sense actually.

Montreal finished 1st in the division and they are playing the 7th team overall. They are 'supposed' to win the series. But history is on Ottawa's side and the Sens are young and playing loose. Montreal has been playing underwhelming the past few months. They are the ones that need to raise their levels. Ottawa is already there. The pressure is all on you. Sorry but you can deflect all you want. We will beat you and your season will be a failure.
- riceroni

i'm not deflecting anything. i just think it's funny how hard you're trying to convince yourself of all of this, busting out every cliche in the book.

I still don't get the MGD hate but I also enjoy the euro brews. I only drink Guinness for st pattys or the holidays, but I do enjoy it. Cheers
- SmielmaN

I find North American beers, unless unibrioue just lack taste. Just provides gas.

honestly, with the way they're playing, i'm not sure.

if you believe that hammond can keep his play up, which i do, it's a tough call.
- sensarmy_11

well the second part i have no idea. don't see enough of him. either way we'll find out soon enough. regardless of the sentiment in here that Montreal is (frank)ed, i expect a great, long series.

I find North American beers, unless unibrioue just lack taste. Just provides gas.
- willey101

i can't speak to all north american beers, but i've discovered a few microbrews in Halifax (where i live) that are pretty friggin awesome...........and i lived in germany for almost a year, so i'm a bit of a beer snob.

im just happy the sens made it...i still kind of cant believe it...i hope they win and will obviously cheering like crazy...but Im mostly just happy they even made it...

win or lose this season has been crazy and super fun to watch

Best D pairing in the NHL? I think Nashville would have a pretty good argument there With Josi and Weber. And if Chicago paired Keith and Seabrook back together.

Neither of our teams have the best duo in the NHL. Top 3 maybe.

Let me add a +2 to that.....only because I have no idea what a + has to do with anything here.
- willey101

Let's see. Ottawa didn't get a couple of lucky bounces down the stretch - this has been 30 games of sustained excellence led by maybe the bets player in the NHL - Karlsson.

Lot's of people have lot's of opinions - that is mine, and I believe I will be proven right in the next 7 games.

Remember when Tukka Rask was the best goalie in the NHL and Bylsma was the top coach? That was another time. This is this time - and right now EK-Methot is the best pairing in the NHL

i'm not deflecting anything. i just think it's funny how hard you're trying to convince yourself of all of this, busting out every cliche in the book.
- DoubleDown

Listen, when we win and dominate during the games. You can hear me say 'I told you so' in the back of your head.

well the second part i have no idea. don't see enough of him. either way we'll find out soon enough. regardless of the sentiment in here that Montreal is (frank)ed, i expect a great, long series.
- DoubleDown

i agree......i wrote it in the montreal thread (in one of the 4000 pages, lol) that i think this will be the most exciting series of the opening round.

these teams match up very well, and i think there is more genuine "hate" between these two teams than any others series going on......IMO

well I hope you guys take this series..I hate both teams but the wife is a Habs fan and I never hear the end of it when they win..the less I have to hear the better!!..
- nascarguy

Okay, I like reading your stuff but to call the goaltending and coaching even is pretty laughable, and that is coming from a hockey fan that has really been rooting for the Sens and the Hamburglar to succeed.
- Hossa1881

Coaching isn't even. Cameron surely has the edge. Have you seen Therrien's face lately? He's a loaded gun with no safety and a hair trigger, and all it's gonna take is one Eller-Gryba incident to set him off, rambling on about respeck and whatnot. You just get the feeling that something is going to go wrong early and he's gonna lose his mind.

Goaltending? Statistically, no. It's not even. Price is going to win the Vezina. There shouldn't even be another name on the ballot. But discounting Hammond's run is foolish. Since he came into the league, he's been better than anyone at his position, including Price. You can argue sample size, because it's only been like 24 or 25 games or whatever it's been, but outside of that Rangers game (when he was hurt) when has Hammond showed any sign of cracking?

Yes, I suppose the playoffs are a different beast and that perhaps the pressure may get to him. But just watching him play, watching his interviews, the guy is icy. I doubt he's gonna get rattled. He might get outplayed by Price, but I wouldn't be entirely shocked if he doesn't.

just stop man.......

karlsson is easily a top 3-5 d-man in the league.................but him and methot are not the best d-paring in the league.

keith-seabrook
weber-josi
giordano-brodie
suter-spurgeon
staal-mcdonough
pietrangelo-bouwmeester

all those pairings are atleast as good, and some are better. methot has chemistry with karlsson, no doubt, but he's not a top-pairing d-man with most teams.
- sensarmy_11

Your analysis may be upside down. Karlsson, in my opinion, is flat out the best player in the NHL. And, he has played his game at a remarkable level for the second half of this season. The question is not about Methot and if he is a top pairing D man on another team. The only question that is important is if Methot plays a game that enables Karlsson to be be best player on the ice almost every game he plays.

i can't speak to all north american beers, but i've discovered a few microbrews in Halifax (where i live) that are pretty friggin awesome...........and i lived in germany for almost a year, so i'm a bit of a beer snob.
- sensarmy_11

Ya I travel quite a bit and always enjoy the Euro beers. never been to Germany but Belgium, England, Denmark, Sweden. Some really good beers out there. Guinness in ireland also tastes alot different than what we have here.

I just want to add fuel to a fire and see what happens.

I just want to add fuel to a fire and see what happens.


- willey101

Pernell sucks.

Pernell sucks.
- the_terror

That's just a rumour

I do make sense actually.

Montreal finished 1st in the division and they are playing the 7th team overall. They are 'supposed' to win the series. But history is on Ottawa's side and the Sens are young and playing loose. Montreal has been playing underwhelming the past few months. They are the ones that need to raise their levels. Ottawa is already there. The pressure is all on you. Sorry but you can deflect all you want. We will beat you and your season will be a failure.
- riceroni

You're reasoning contains some pretty big holes. First off, you said it, the Sens are young. Montreal has the more seasoned team in the playoffs and that is a HUGE advantage. From the goal out all the way to coaching the Habs have more playoff experience. You're also forgetting this way more experienced Habs team is hungry to avenge 2 years ago, they'll be reaedy.

And second, Montreal plays a tighter team defence, their GA numbers prove it. Combined with Price (MTL lost to Sens twice with Tokarski in net, remember that) and Therrien's shutdown system, the Sens' Offence will be hard put to it. With the last change, Therrien can get his team to set their own pace.

You're reasoning contains some pretty big holes. First off, you said it, the Sens are young. Montreal has the more seasoned team in the playoffs and that is a HUGE advantage. From the goal out all the way to coaching the Habs have more playoff experience. You're also forgetting this way more experienced Habs team is hungry to avenge 2 years ago, they'll be reaedy.

And second, Montreal plays a tighter team defence, their GA numbers prove it. Combined with Price (MTL lost to Sens twice with Tokarski in net, remember that) and Therrien's shutdown system, the Sens' Offence will be hard put to it. With the last change, Therrien can get his team to set their own pace.
- habfanforever

I have faith that with price in nets and their defensive system, Habs can win 4 2-1 games. Just don't get caught up with the extra curriculars and the Habs should be fine.

Has anybody else noticed how teams are structuring a Karlsson defensive coverage by loading his side of the ice between the blue lines to slow him down when he comes on the attack.

The winning goal against the Flyers came when Methot took advantage of the open ice in front of him to lug the puck into the end leading to the Pageau goal. It was an important play.

You're reasoning contains some pretty big holes. First off, you said it, the Sens are young. Montreal has the more seasoned team in the playoffs and that is a HUGE advantage. From the goal out all the way to coaching the Habs have more playoff experience. You're also forgetting this way more experienced Habs team is hungry to avenge 2 years ago, they'll be reaedy.

And second, Montreal plays a tighter team defence, their GA numbers prove it. Combined with Price (MTL lost to Sens twice with Tokarski in net, remember that) and Therrien's shutdown system, the Sens' Offence will be hard put to it. With the last change, Therrien can get his team to set their own pace.
- habfanforever

If that happens then good for you guys, it'll be the only way you can win.

We are in the Habs heads, I do think it will be a long series but the winner will be Ottawa.

If we win do you fire Therrien?