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Commentary, news, analysis and reader-driven discussions focusing on this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.
First Period • Great hitting by both teams to open this Stanley Cup. • Ducks forchecking is stifling. All four lines are hitting great. They are causing turnovers at the offensive blue line, thanks to the defensemen pinching at the blue line to keep the puck in. Ottawa is doing a horrible job of getting the puck out of its own zone because of the checking blanket. This was apparent during a six-minute stretch midway through the second period, starting with Andy McDonald's goal. • Dustin Penner, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry easily comprise the best line in the game, especially when establishing the forecheck. • To the Senators credit, they weathered the storm without much damage, which you have to do if you're the road team and the crowd is loud. • Lots of jawing between both teams, mainly initiated by Brad May. May and Chris Neil will fight if this game gets out of hand, score-wise, at the end. May was chirping at the Ottawa bench twice. Second Period • Nice puck movement on the power play by Ottawa. Nice goal by Wade Redden over the right shoulder and under the crossbar, especially after Joe Corvo almost scored on the previous shot off the post. • Three undisciplined penalties by Anaheim lead to a goal by Ottawa and the momentum shift in Ottawa's favor. Bad penalties by Getzlaf with cross check on Comrie. Paulsson also had a bad slashing penalty. • Not as much hitting by Anaheim in the second period because they were shorthanded half the period. They seem to have lost some momentum. • The fourth line for the Ducks (May and Co.) are producing opportunities off the forecheck. • Two of the three goals scored have been by college-bred players: Mike Comrie (Michigan) and McDonald (Colgate). Third Period • Getzlaf is great, although that was a soft goal by Emery. Getzlaf drove the net hard, and when you drive the net hard like he did, good things happen. • If Ottawa finds a way to win, it'll happen because they were able to win a "greasy" road game. What does that mean? Well, they were able to: • Weather the storm of Anaheim's forecheck and hitting. • Somehow keep the puck out of their net -- even though they can't get the puck out of their zone and are turning it over at their own blueline. • Cash in on their power plays and stay in the game because of undisciplined penalties by the Ducks. If they lose, as they should, it'll occur because they couldn't handle the forechecking and their stars (top lines) didn’t do anything, even strength. • So far, this is a great game, even though it's one-sided to the Ducks, especially at even strength. • Nice goal by the Ducks as the fourth line finally cashed in for Anaheim. Getzlaf kept the puck in the zone and Travis Moen found an opening in the slot between coverage and buried it. • Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson played with NO urgency the whole game until the final 1:30. The top line (and other lines) will need to do more in Game 2 offensively, at even strength, and the Sens team defense needs to be better in their own zone. • Meanwhile, Getzlaf and the fourth line were the best for Anaheim. Getzlaf was the best player on the ice. • Bottom line: Ottawa couldn't eke out the greasy road win. Where was the Heatley line in Game 1? They'll have to do more in Game 2 if they're going to win. That line had almost no forecheck and not that many good chances.
posted by SI.com | View comments |
Comments:The Moen Pahlsson Niedermayer line is not the fourth line, as you call it. It's the third line.
Getzlaf is living up to his hype. Unlike Phaneuf in Calgary he is truly dominating.
I don't think Getzlaf's goal was a soft one. His rapid forehand to backhand shift so close in forced Emery to move. Especially with May driving hard to the net as well. I expect Pahlsson to have Alfredsson so PO'd by the end of this series Daniel starts swinging. Ducks in 5.  |
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