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

Good heavens. Goalie = Even? Coaching = Even? Id like to see Ottawa win but don't see that happening one bit regradless of regular season

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

Lets go sens!

wow the way you see it, habs sucks or even....

Price even to Hammond ?

Good heavens. Goalie = Even? Coaching = Even? Id like to see Ottawa win but don't see that happening one bit regradless of regular season
- Popcorn Kid

I agree. You have to give Montreal a huge advantage in goal. Not saying Ottawa does not continue the great goaltending. But Price has won a gold medal Olympic game, had an incredible season and has proven to be entirely cool under pressure.

My biggest fear is Ottawa is going to ease up a bit and get side swiped because once you take your foot off the pedal it is hard to recover the momentum.

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

Sens in four.

I agree. You have to give Montreal a huge advantage in goal. Not saying Ottawa does not continue the great goaltending. But Price has won a gold medal Olympic game, had an incredible season and has proven to be entirely cool under pressure.

My biggest fear is Ottawa is going to ease up a bit and get side swiped because once you take your foot off the pedal it is hard to recover the momentum.
- spatso

I love the confidence in Sens media and fans ! Remind me of what happened in 2013, but in reverse...

cockiness.........

I agree. You have to give Montreal a huge advantage in goal. Not saying Ottawa does not continue the great goaltending. But Price has won a gold medal Olympic game, had an incredible season and has proven to be entirely cool under pressure.

My biggest fear is Ottawa is going to ease up a bit and get side swiped because once you take your foot off the pedal it is hard to recover the momentum.
- spatso

I've got to agree with Spats on this one Jared. Goaltending edge is definitley to Montreal - that said, I think Hammomd will be just fine.

I do see this being Ottawa in 6, not because they (or the fans) are overconfident, I just have a gut feel that this ride isnt over.

GO SENS GO

Goaltending Even? As awesome as Hammond has been for this team let's not kid ourselves, Montreal/Price has an advantage in goal, no questions.

Also, considering Therrien has playoffs experience compared to Cameron, I'd give Montreal a slight edge in that department as well. Maybe coaching can be even if we get MacLean and his doppleganger to sit behind the Montreal bench during home games though lol

I agree. You have to give Montreal a huge advantage in goal. Not saying Ottawa does not continue the great goaltending. But Price has won a gold medal Olympic game, had an incredible season and has proven to be entirely cool under pressure.

My biggest fear is Ottawa is going to ease up a bit and get side swiped because once you take your foot off the pedal it is hard to recover the momentum.
- spatso

I'd be worried if we we're facing any other team than the Habs. You would think they might have the "happy to be here" mentality which would cause them to slow down a little bit, but since they are facing Montreal I think that will help them to come out flying just like they have been for the last 2 months.

Really excited for this first round!!! Love the rivalry and happy to see the sens turn it around the latter half of the season! Goo habs

Good heavens. Goalie = Even? Coaching = Even? Id like to see Ottawa win but don't see that happening one bit regradless of regular season
- Popcorn Kid

it will be a great series and it's really tough to call. but yeah calling the goaltending even is a bit of a homer call. it's Montreal's one clear advantage going into this series.

I'd be worried if we we're facing any other team than the Habs. You would think they might have the "happy to be here" mentality which would cause them to slow down a little bit, but since they are facing Montreal I think that will help them to come out flying just like they have been for the last 2 months.
- PaskySens

it will be interesting to see the teams intensity levels on Wednesday. Ottawa has been in PO mode for 2 months while Montreal kind of sleepwalked through March and April. can they turn it on right away and can Ottawa maintain or even find another level?

a lot of Montreal fans are unhappy about this matchup but personally i love it. there are no easy playoff matchups anyway and this one figures to be really, really nasty and entertaining.

I haven't liked the way the habs have been playing for about 2 months now and predicted a first round loss no matter who they played. I think Sens take this one as well.

Hammond has been playing really well, fantastic actually but as people pointed out above, Price has played that way since game 1. No way that this is even when it comes to goal tending.

But this is the playoffs and in the end your regular season matchup means absolutely nothing.

Why does everyone discount us and want to be the underdog?

I loved the blog Jared, sure maybe it's a little homerish when you are talking about goaltending but Price is garbage against the Sens and Hammond is on the hot streak so going into the series I'd definitely say even as well and depending on how they both perform in game 1 will determine the 'edge'.

And, about the underdog thing... We aren't. We are going to wipe the floor with the Habs. This series will be over in 5 not 6. Montreal may steal one of the two games in Ottawa but I think Ottawa wins both on the road to open it up. Saying we're the underdog is acknowledging the possibility of losing. Frankly it's just not going to happen against the Habs. We will destroy them. No mercy!

Go Sens Go!

Why does everyone discount us and want to be the underdog?

I loved the blog Jared, sure maybe it's a little homerish when you are talking about goaltending but Price is garbage against the Sens and Hammond is on the hot streak so going into the series I'd definitely say even as well and depending on how they both perform in game 1 will determine the 'edge'.

And, about the underdog thing... We aren't. We are going to wipe the floor with the Habs. This series will be over in 5 not 6. Montreal may steal one of the two games in Ottawa but I think Ottawa wins both on the road to open it up. Saying we're the underdog is acknowledging the possibility of losing. Frankly it's just not going to happen against the Habs. We will destroy them. No mercy!

Go Sens Go!
- riceroni

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

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.

I haven't liked the way the habs have been playing for about 2 months now and predicted a first round loss no matter who they played. I think Sens take this one as well.

Hammond has been playing really well, fantastic actually but as people pointed out above, Price has played that way since game 1. No way that this is even when it comes to goal tending.

But this is the playoffs and in the end your regular season matchup means absolutely nothing.
- willey101

agree with most of this but i don't necessarily think the playoffs are a continuation of the regular season, so i'm not quite as pessimistic as you. i don't see why the Canadiens cannot win this series. not that im sure they will. i just don't agree with the popular view that has developed among Sens and Habs fans that this will be a quick, easy Ottawa win.

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

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.

agree with most of this but i don't necessarily think the playoffs are a continuation of the regular season, so i'm not quite as pessimistic as you. i don't see why the Canadiens cannot win this series. not that im sure they will. i just don't agree with the popular view that has developed among Sens and Habs fans that this will be a quick, easy Ottawa win.
- DoubleDown

They can win it. I just haven't been a fan of their style of play. Recent playoffs tell you that an 8th Seed can win the cup, or an 8th Seed can go out in the first round. Teams are so even now tat there is no true advantage of one over another.

My pessimism just comes from their style of play of late. But The best player in the NHL is a Hab so they have a chance to go deep, I just have doubts.

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

Yeah, this. That guy is a complete troll, though, so you may as well not engage.

They can win it. I just haven't been a fan of their style of play. Recent playoffs tell you that an 8th Seed can win the cup, or an 8th Seed can go out in the first round. Teams are so even now tat there is no true advantage of one over another.

My pessimism just comes from their style of play of late. But The best player in the NHL is a Hab so they have a chance to go deep, I just have doubts.
- willey101

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.

wow the way you see it, habs sucks or even....

Price even to Hammond ?
- HabsKovalev27

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.

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

oh i think NYI/Pitts/Detroit are all making quick exits.

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

Exactly. On paper it should be lopsided. But Crosby and easily just take that series over. If I were the pens I'd load up Malkin and Crosby together and pay them together every shift. Apart they play with Shiiite, so load it up and go for broke like when the Wings used to play Shanny-Yzerman and Fedorov together.