The Devils and Senators have been consistently good for the better
part of a decade. The Senators have finished with at least 90 points
in every season since 1998-99 and have made the playoffs nine-straight
seasons. The Devils also have made the playoffs nine-straight years
and have won two Stanley Cups since 2000.
Not surprisingly, these teams have a healthy respect for each other
and have built their teams along similar foundations of defense and
accountability to fundamental hockey. As a result, this series will
most likely be played close to the vest with every inch of ice
furiously contested.
The teams already have met twice in the postseason -- 1998, 2003 --
and both series were long, and, for the most part, low-scoring. Don’t
expect this one to deviate too far from that norm.
Ottawa, however, plays with the added pressure of knowing it must
get by its nemesis if the franchise hopes to get to the Stanley Cup
Final before its current core is deemed past its prime. New Jersey,
though, will counter Ottawa’s urgency with the experience it has
earned in playing more than 100 playoff games since the turn of the
century.
Ottawa Game Breakers
Daniel Alfredsson
-- The Ottawa
captain says this is as good as he has felt in the postseason and it
is showing with his play on the ice. In the five-game series win
against Pittsburgh, Alfredsson had three goals and three assists and
played inspired hockey. Generally, Alfredsson has been effective
against New Jersey. He had two goals and two assists in four
regular-season games to share the team lead in points for the series.
Anton Volchenkov
-- The big
Russian is developing into a No. 1 defenseman right before our eyes.
In the first round, no Senator received more ice time than Volchenkov,
who is Bryan Murray’s primary option in both even-strength and
shorthanded situations. His physical presence (17 hits against
Pittsburgh) and shot-blocking ability (14 blocked shots in first
round) will be in demand as the Senators try to blunt New Jersey’s
suddenly resurgent attack.
Ray Emery
-- Most likely, the
Ottawa goalie will have to steal at least one game if the Sens hope to
advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in four
seasons. Despite having just 15 games of postseason experience, there
are suggestions that Emery is poised to be the difference maker. He
held Pittsburgh’s potent offense to just 10 goals in five games in the
first round and was brilliant against the Devils in the regular
season, playing to 1.98 GAA and .930 save percentage in four outings.
