OTTAWA — Generally, ready is extra rewarding than immediate gratification.
After a 21-year hiatus, hockey followers in Canada’s largest province are lastly getting one other Battle of Ontario within the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“It’s going to be enjoyable,” Ottawa Senators coach Travis Inexperienced mentioned. “It’s going to be an intense sequence. Going to be numerous feelings for each cities. Actually, it’s the whole lot you need in a playoff sequence. Gamers are going to adore it and followers are going to adore it.”
The sequence can be a matchup between playoff newbies within the Senators, who’re within the post-season for the primary time in eight years, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who maintain the longest energetic playoff streak however have only one sequence win in that point. The Maple Leafs are led by stars equivalent to Auston Mathews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, all of whom have a few of the deepest playoff scars you may ever encounter. In the meantime, the Senators have younger, energetic stars like Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson who don’t have any playoff baggage.
A dichotomous scenario that ought to result in a playoff dogfight.
Inexperienced was on the opposite facet of the rivalry within the early 2000s, donning the Blue and White when Toronto and Ottawa confronted off in 4 playoff clashes in a five-season span.
Inexperienced echoed the followers after discovering out Ottawa’s opponent could be Toronto following the Senators’ 4-3 extra time loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The phrase “thrilling might be downplaying it a little bit bit,” Inexperienced mentioned.
One man is assured in his group.
“I do know we have had onerous luck within the Battle of Ontario, however they have a brand new proprietor proper now,” mentioned Senators proprietor Michael Andlauer on the TSN broadcast on Tuesday.
His funding within the group has modified Ottawa’s trajectory from basement dwellers to playoff contenders by permitting basic supervisor Steve Staios so as to add vital playoff-tested veterans in David Perron, Nick Cousins, Michael Amadio and Linus Ullmark. Every of them can be important to Ottawa’s possibilities and supply assist for the membership’s inexperienced stars. This may very well be simply the beginning of one other wave within the rivalry between Ontario foes.
Because the final sequence between the Senators and Maple Leafs in 2004, the 2 groups have made the playoffs in the identical season on solely two events.
However there has nonetheless been some turmoil between the groups. Final season, Ridly Greig’s empty web slapshot objective offended Morgan Rielly and the veteran defenceman took exception with a cross-check to Greig’s head, resulting in a suspension. This sequence may have that very same emotion and vitriol however cranked as much as the nth diploma.
The groups have been almost even during the last eight years whereas the Senators have been in a rebuild. Because the begin of the 2017-18 season, the Senators are 17-14-4 in opposition to the Maple Leafs however Ottawa has gained the final 5 conferences courting again to December of 2023. You should not glean an excessive amount of into common season matchups, however Ottawa appears to have Toronto’s quantity.
“It’s my third 12 months now, and I believe these are my favorite video games to play in opposition to Toronto,” Jake Sanderson mentioned of the rivalry earlier this week. “Even at residence, and so they have a ton of followers in our rink, you do not adore it, however on the identical time, you like to beat them, and preserve these followers quiet.”
Many Senators followers quiver on the sight of Maple Leafs trustworthy invading the Canadian Tire Centre as they’ve for years. That break up within the stands will issue into the drama and intrigue.
Go across the Senators’ locker room and provides the gamers some fact serum, and I’d think about lots of them are champing on the bit to take down their glitzy rivals from southern Ontario.
We cannot delve right into a full preview of the sequence now. Nonetheless, Ottawa’s key can be Ullmark enjoying at a Vezina stage and the group’s ahead depth profitable over Toronto’s. Particularly, whether or not or not Shane Pinto‘s line can successfully shut down the Maple Leafs’ stars. Historical past reveals that Toronto’s “Core 4” can wrestle to attain within the playoffs. The Maple Leafs have solely scored greater than two objectives as soon as of their final 14 playoff video games. Ottawa beat Toronto 2-1 earlier this season and win needs to be the template on this sequence. If it’s tight-checking hockey, the Senators ought to have the sting, in idea. If it’s extra of a monitor meet, then Toronto has the sting in expertise.
Expertise versus ignorant bliss. Underdog versus Goliath.
Tkachuk ought to sit out season finale
A well-recognized tune for the ears of Senators followers who bear in mind head coach Man Boucher reciting that phrase consistently over the last playoff run in 2017.
For that season, Ottawa shouldn’t enable Brady Tkachuk to play Recreation 82. The captain has handled quite a few accidents recently, together with sitting out the final seven video games with an upper-body damage, and there may be nothing at stake in Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Hurricanes.
“We’ll see Thursday”, mentioned Inexperienced post-game on whether or not Tkachuk will swimsuit up in opposition to Carolina.
Inexperienced has already acknowledged that he expects Tkachuk to play in Recreation 1 and felt comfy with Tkachuk heading into the playoffs with out enjoying any common season video games.
Earlier this week, Tkachuk was requested if he anticipated to be able to play for the playoffs.
“I don’t assume I’d ever miss a chance to play within the playoffs,” he replied.
The Senators’ post-season hopes relaxation on Tkachuk’s well being. If he aggravated any damage within the meaningless last recreation, there could be a really justifiable outcry from the followers.
Who desires to see Tkachuk within the playoffs in opposition to Toronto? All people.
Generally, warning is the perfect technique.
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