posted
Well we'll either beat them at home on Tuesday, or whomp them in Calgary on Sunday. Either way we're taking this series!
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posted
It's tough to imagine Calgary winning a road game, they've been terrible on the road. Pens lost because Crosby can't/wouldn't grow a playoff beard.
Sabres should close out the Islanders tonight. I'll be glad to see them go.
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quote:t's tough to imagine Calgary winning a road game, they've been terrible on the road. Pens lost because Crosby can't/wouldn't grow a playoff beard.
Nah, they lost because Ottawa was clearly the better team. Better playoff team, anyway. They looked seriously good this series.
And the Pens had absolutely no secondary scoring. From their forwards: Sid had three, Staal had three, Roberts had three, and that was it! That is just plain ridiculous.
But, considering that the Pens' top three goal scorers this year were two rookies and a sophamore, you gotta believe that the future is bright. Here's to next year.
Letang is likely going to be up from the juniors and playing with the big club next year. I expect big things from him, perhaps even competing for the Calder.
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posted
That was a good series. I'm hoping the Sens will keep enough momentum to advance past the second stage. If we can keep playing like we did this series, we'll definitely be contenders for the Cup. All the way, baby.
Sidney Crosby would look really weird with a beard, playoff or otherwise. Posts: 1594 | Registered: Apr 2006
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He probably has some kind of contractual agreement with his promoters to not grow a beard. It'd ruin his "Sid the Kid" image. Posts: 3243 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I certainly hope Calgary can't win a home game. The first two games we just walked away with it. They fought back hard in the second two, but they only just barely won both of those games, they didn't walk away with them.
All we have to do is win every home game. I don't know how feasible that is, but our power play needs some serious, serious work. We're like 1 for 28 or something like that. It's totally letting good chances slip through our fingers.
Last night would have been different if not for the poor officiating, but we can't blame the refs for us not capitalizing on every chance we had.
Props throughout the series to Valterri Fillipula. He's the next Datsyuk or Zetterberg, and he's really shown what he has with the chances he's had. He started the playoffs with 8 minutes a game, and a goal a game, and he'll get more ice time because of it. It's good to show off that the future of the Wings is just as bright as the past was. We just need to see all our lines click a little better. Once Zetterberg is back in game shape, we'll be on a tear. If we can get to that point.
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posted
He got clipped and might have overreacted, but he popped right back up. Should have been a penalty regardless. You don't touch the goalie in the crease, that's supposed to be the rule.
When he flopped around like a fish out of water a dozen games ago, that was ridiculous. Thursday night it was ridiculous that there was no call.
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quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: He got clipped and might have overreacted, but he popped right back up. Should have been a penalty regardless. You don't touch the goalie in the crease, that's supposed to be the rule.
When he flopped around like a fish out of water a dozen games ago, that was ridiculous. Thursday night it was ridiculous that there was no call.
He still embellished it like a soccer superstar. Normally you get the penalty call and the diving call in that situation.
posted
Wow. Just... wow. Like... Iginla. And McLennan. What the hell was that? Calgary's going to be a bloodbath tomorrow.
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posted
I would have accepted a diving call and an interference call.
As for tonight's game: That was bull.
Alright, hockey is a physical game, and there is a psychological aspect to the physical play. You're trying to scare off the other team as much as you are just trying to grind them down.
But the kind of cheap shots that Iginla and especially McClennen took on our players at the end of the third period were about one thing: Injury.
Those were cheap shots meant to harm us, not to try and get in our heads. Iginla should know better, he's their captain, and his explanation was crap.
Frankly, I think the whole damned thing was shady. Their coach sends McClennen in with THREE MINUTES to go in the game? He IMMEDIATELY chops away at Franzen and gets kicked back out? Fishy as all hell.
It's going to be a free for all tomorrow, and for their effort, I hope we beat them tomorrow on THEIR ice. Beating them at home on Tuesday would be fine, but I want the satisfaction of seeing their fans deflated. And I hope we beat the crap out of them tomorrow.
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posted
I was wondering how you'd react to that game, Lyr. Despite Calgary usually being my second team, I'll be rooting for the Wings tomorrow. No chance of that being a clean match, though.
[ April 22, 2007, 12:52 PM: Message edited by: Flaming Toad on a Stick ]
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posted
I didn't get to watch the entire game, I was at work.
Fortunately, I work at a sports bar, so there's a half dozen giant plasma screens that I got to catch every now and then when traffic was slow.
I caught Cleary's penalty shot, which was friggin' amazing. I was a little disappointed that Filppula didn't manage to scoop the puck into the net in the first period, the kid made almost an identical play in Game 2 and scooped it up, but I'm not going to fault him. He's a rookie who has had a great year with little ice time, and he's making the most of it. I'll say it again, he's our next Zetterberg.
I think I scared some of the customers at the restaurant when McClennen hacked at Franzen. I slammed my fist down and yelled at the screen...which is probably 50 feet away from where I was standing.
I just think it was incredibly unsportsmanlike. You can beat up on each other during the game (like what Bertuzzi did to Phaneuf), but a player, especially a goalie, hacking away at another player (especially under those fishy circumstances) is NOT good hockey. That's cheap. And much as I usually hate the kind of behavior our fans displayed, I'm GLAD they were tossing crap at McClennon when he was being escorted off the ice.
If they want to be frustrated at anyone, Calgary should be frustrated at themselves for playing crappy hockey, and not being able to win a game outside the Saddledome, but don't purposely try and ruin the chances of the other team to get any further.
Did you see Babcock staring down Calgary's coach after the play? I think he thought it was just as fishy as I did. Scotty Bowman would have laid into him, and Bowman was usually one of the quietest guys in the Joe.
Until the last five minutes or so, it was a great game, with unmatched intensity. Then they ruined it. I think McClennon should get tossed for the remainder of the playoffs (until Tuesday basically) and then 20 games starting next season. He's a backup goalie, which is why you didn't see Kiprusoff doing that. Who cares if McClennon gets tossed for a game or two? He's never going to play anyway! His suspension should reflect the severity of his actions, and the reality of the situation, which I think means extended punishment into next season. Those cheap ass penalties at the end of the game, when they KNOW it will have no carry over to the next game has to have a fit punishment.
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posted
I agree with you. I'm also of the opinion that Iginla should miss a coupla games. I don't know if you saw him when he rammed a player with the end of his stick, then did a group of cross-checks, but that just struck me as totally over-the line. That's a suspendable offence, so I hope the NHL reviews it.
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quote:Calgary Flames goaltender Jamie McLennan has been suspended for five games, Calgary coach Jim Playfair has been fined $25,000, and the Calgary Flames organization has also been fined $100,000 for a number of late game actions in Detroit, according to NHL media relations.
With the Red Wings up a commanding 5-1, McLennan was given a match penalty late in the third period for his slash on Detroit's Johan Franzen. The infraction was one of four late-game penalties incurred by Flames players for aggressive or illegal use of their sticks in the closing moments.
The NHL made it a point to inform its coaches and general managers before the playoffs began that actions taken with games already out of hand would not be tolerated.
"In our pre-playoff conference calls with the coaches and General Managers of the respective organizations, we addressed a number of topics - and one of them was actions late in the game when the score was out of hand," said Colin Campbell, NHL Senior Executive Vice president and Director of Hockey Operations. "The coach and the organization must be held accountable for the players' actions."
McLennan's suspension will begin with Game 6 of the series, Sunday in Calgary. Detroit led the series 3-2.
I think Iginla should have gotten something as well. The money isn't much of a big deal, it won't effect their gameplay. And a five game suspension is a slap on the wrist for a backup goaltender. McLennan hasn't even played in the last five games, with the exception of his hatchet job. Still, I'm glad the NHL at least took note of this and handed down some punishment, even if I don't think it was enough of a deterrent. For all the damage they tried to do at the end of that game, they did so knowing there would be zero carryover into the next game, which apparently the NHL tried to head off ahead of time, so props to them.
But fines, to me anyway, won't change the way this series is being played at all.
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posted
Count it baby! Wings win the series in double over time!
I got my wish, we won there. And man did the Saddledome clear out fast. It was like someone pulled the fire alarm, only worse (actually the fire alarm DID go off a couple games ago and everyone ignored it).
That was sweet, SWEET poetic justice with Franzen getting the series winning goal.
Before I run down the street waving my Red Wings banner at 1AM, I have to add that Calgary is a dirty, dirty team. Physical play is one thing, but they play dirty. You don't slash to the face and sucker punch and crosscheck with the intent to injure, and you don't friggin' send out a backup goalie to do a hatchet job on the other team.
When you do stuff like that it proves two things: 1. You have NO CLASS. 2. You can't win any other way and you SUCK.
You'll have to forgive my energy at the moment. I think the Flames played like hacks, and I'm thrilled beyond belief that we stomped them at the Saddledome.
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West 1 Red Wings vs. 8 Flames 4-2 Wings WIN (YEAH BABY!) 2 Ducks vs. 7 Wild 4-1 Ducks WIN 3 Canucks vs. 6 Stars 4-3 Canucks WIN 4 Sharks vs. 5 Predators 4-1 Sharks WIN
East 1 Sabres vs. 8 Islanders 4-1 Sabres WIN 2 Devils vs. 7 Lightning 4-2 Devils WIN 3 Thrashers vs. 6 Rangers 0-4 Rangers sweep Thrashers 4 Senators vs. 5 Penguins 4-1 Senators WIN
Semifinals Standings:
West 1 Red Wings vs. 4 Sharks 0-0 2 Ducks vs. 3 Canucks 0-0
East 1 Sabres vs. 6 Rangers 0-0 2 Devils vs. 4 Senators 0-0
Next round starts on Wednesday. Interesting that last year the top four seeded teams in the west lost, and this year the top four seeded teams in the west all won. The only upset this year was the Rangers annihilating the Thrashers.
All four of the series are going to be great I think. I'm only slightly worried about the Wings against the Sharks. Personally I would have rather played the Stars, who I think we could have womped on. This will be a much tougher series, but if we ever had to prove we had toughness, it was in the last series. I think we're ready for whatever they throw at us. I'm looking forward to the Rangers/Sabres series.
Anyone want to make predictions?
Lyrhawn's predictions:
Red Wings in 6 Ducks in 5 Sabres in 6 Devils in 7
Devils struggled a lot against Tampa Bay while Ottawa had a seemingly easy first round against the Penguins. But I have faith in Brodeur.
The Ducks had it easy in their series, and the Canucks are coming off a weary seven game series against the Stars. I think the Ducks come in with strong home ice advantage and a lot of power up front against a somewhat tired Canucks. It's going to be a more physical game than their series against the Stars wars (which was already pretty physical). I think the Ducks will take 2 at home, steal one in Vancouver, and finish it at home.
Sabres and Rangers is a hard one to call. The Rangers in Sean Avery and Brenden Shanahan have found themselves a powerful new voice that hes totally reenergized this team. They are a force to be reckoned with, and the Thrashers obviously learned that the hard way. But the Sabres are no Thrashers, and they feel a sense of destiny about them that I think will lead them to push back just as hard. I think this will be a long hard series, but the Sabres have a lot of talent up front, and in the end I think they'll end up outplaying the Rangers, who aren't really ready for a team that puts up more of a struggle than Atlanta did.
The Wings got beat up a lot in their six game series against Vancouver, but thus far in the playoffs are not only undefeated at home, they've scored a monumental amount of goals at the Joe. They'll have a few days off before they start on Thursday, and both teams will come in fairly rested, but I think the fire in the Wings is more noticeable than in any year since 2002. They play a much, much more physical game now, having lost none of the finesse that is usually attached to them. hasek will stonewall much of the San Jose offense, assuming they can get past a defensive shield that has kept Calgary to less than a few dozen shots over six games, while the Wings posted a couple HUNDRED shots. If they continue to win at home and even steal a game in San Jose early on, this thing might be over in five, but don't count out a level of fatigue and a fired up and hungry pack of Sharks. This won't be an easy round.
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posted
Every time I look at the Senators/Devils series I change my mind as to the winner. Will the Sens implode? Will the Devils let them hang around like they did with the Lightning? Right now I'm leaning Sens as they can put up some goals, and NJ can't keep up...but Brodeur is the wild card.
I have a feeling the Sabres will really start to roll this round. Really, the lines are only just now coming together as everyone came back from injury leading up to the playoffs. The guys really seem to have the right attitude to deal with Avery. Sabres in 6 sounds good, although 5 games would not surprise me.
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West 1 Red Wings vs. 8 Flames 4-2 Wings WIN (YEAH BABY!) 2 Ducks vs. 7 Wild 4-1 Ducks WIN 3 Canucks vs. 6 Stars 4-3 Canucks WIN 4 Sharks vs. 5 Predators 4-1 Sharks WIN
East 1 Sabres vs. 8 Islanders 4-1 Sabres WIN 2 Devils vs. 7 Lightning 4-2 Devils WIN 3 Thrashers vs. 6 Rangers 0-4 Rangers sweep Thrashers 4 Senators vs. 5 Penguins 4-1 Senators WIN
Semifinals Standings:
West 1 Red Wings vs. 5 Sharks 2-2 2 Ducks vs. 3 Canucks 4-1 Ducks WIN
East 1 Sabres vs. 6 Rangers 2-2 2 Devils vs. 4 Senators 1-3
This has been a crazy semifinal round. The Rangers are holding their own against the Sabres and have now made it into a best of three series. I think the Canucks are finished, as are the Devils.
The Wings are going into OT right now, and we need to take this game or we go down 3-1 in the series. I would love to go back to Detroit with a best of three series with home ice advantage. We need to score fast! Our OT record is not something of envy, but I think we can eke out a win here. Go Wings go!
Edit to add: Wings tie the series! It's back to Detroit for Game 5!
posted
WOOOOO! Well, I have to say, Marty Brodeur is certainly putting up a hell of a fight, but even the best goalie will eventually break if we keep out-shooting them like that. Sens in 5, baby!
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posted
I'll be out of town this weekend, and might not even have a chance to see the game on Saturday (which is depressing since it's on NBC, and the NBC commentators crack me up). So I wanted to say it while I could:
LET'S GO RED WINGS!!
Wings fans, cheer them on!
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posted
And that's it. Three Ottawa goals in the second period, with Gomez scoring at the very beginning and the very end for the Devils. They kept fighting till the last minute, and gave us an intense game, but we ended it.
Props to both teams for providing a great game with only 3 penalties on each side, and minimal icing and cheap playing. Props to Brodeur and Emery for some seriously solid goaltending throughout the series.
And now it's done. WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
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Oh, and the Wings game was pretty solid, although you feel that SJ got their hearts ripped out. 4-1 Wings take it.
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West 1 Red Wings vs. 8 Flames 4-2 Wings WIN (YEAH BABY!) 2 Ducks vs. 7 Wild 4-1 Ducks WIN 3 Canucks vs. 6 Stars 4-3 Canucks WIN 4 Sharks vs. 5 Predators 4-1 Sharks WIN
East 1 Sabres vs. 8 Islanders 4-1 Sabres WIN 2 Devils vs. 7 Lightning 4-2 Devils WIN 3 Thrashers vs. 6 Rangers 0-4 Rangers sweep Thrashers 4 Senators vs. 5 Penguins 4-1 Senators WIN
Semifinals Standings:
West 1 Red Wings vs. 5 Sharks 3-2 Wings WIN!!! 2 Ducks vs. 3 Canucks 4-1 Ducks WIN
East 1 Sabres vs. 6 Rangers 4-2 Sabres WIN 2 Devils vs. 4 Senators 1-4 Senators WIN
Conference Final Standings:
West 1 Red Wings vs. 2 Ducks 0-0
East 1 Sabres vs. 4 Senators 0-0
Wings win an awesome game on Saturday and aim to clinch the series on Monday night in San Jose. Losing Schneider won't be a disastrous loss, but it will hurt us. Lebda should be back soon, and if we can hold on long enough, Niklas Kronwall might even be back in time, which will be a huge boost to our defense. We played five man defense and still dominated Game Five.
I hope we can take Game Six in San Jose, and finish it out like we did against Calgary. At least we finally have the upperhand, in score, momentum, and drive.
Senators and Sabres should be an amazing, hard fought series. Can't wait to see it.
posted
I'm a bit behind, so let me get some game 5 thoughts out of the way. WOOHOO CHRIS DRUUUUUURY! I should know better than to doubt the comeback ability even with 16 seconds left. Max responds to his benching with an incredible slapshot FTW. I was watching with my brother and his friends (of the 'isn't hockey boring?' variety) and we went nuts. Locals are basically ready to hand Drury a blank contract and let him fill it in.
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Sharks are shut out in the final game of the series. Wings are 11-0 in their last 11 games when their opponent was facing elimination. We know how to close out a series
Wings face Anaheim on Friday. Sabres face Ottawa on Thursday.
And not to toot my own horn too much, but I was dead on with three out of four predictions for the results in the Semis. I made the mistake of giving Jersey way too much credit apparently.
So I'll make further predictions for the Conf. Finals.
Sabres in 6 Wings in 7
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West 1 Red Wings vs. 8 Flames 4-2 Wings WIN (YEAH BABY!) 2 Ducks vs. 7 Wild 4-1 Ducks WIN 3 Canucks vs. 6 Stars 4-3 Canucks WIN 4 Sharks vs. 5 Predators 4-1 Sharks WIN
East 1 Sabres vs. 8 Islanders 4-1 Sabres WIN 2 Devils vs. 7 Lightning 4-2 Devils WIN 3 Thrashers vs. 6 Rangers 0-4 Rangers sweep Thrashers 4 Senators vs. 5 Penguins 4-1 Senators WIN
Semifinals Results:
West 1 Red Wings vs. 5 Sharks 3-2 Wings WIN!!! 2 Ducks vs. 3 Canucks 4-1 Ducks WIN
East 1 Sabres vs. 6 Rangers 4-2 Sabres WIN 2 Devils vs. 4 Senators 1-4 Senators WIN
Conference Final Standings:
West 1 Red Wings vs. 2 Ducks 1-1
East 1 Sabres vs. 4 Senators 0-2
Senators steal a game from Buffalo in the opening of the conference finals. Tonight the Wings square off against the Ducks at home. This is odd, as the Ducks swept us off the map a few years ago, and last year we were favored to win but lost, now the Ducks are the favorites to win and we're on the outs. The critics are saying that all our injuries are finally going to catch up to us, especially with Schneider out.
But for the third time in this playoff season we're the underdogs. A lot of people said we'd lose to a physical Calgary team becuase we were too weak. Then we we were supposed to lose to the Sharks because our offense wasn't good enough and because they were just as physical and we were old and slow. Now we're getting the same speech again for Anaheim. Wings will be outplayed, Ducks defense is stifling. Well we had a better record against Anaheim than against San Jose, and every time they tell us we're not supposed to win, we pull out the stops and win it. Even down three defensemen, bringing up AHLers, and in the last game against the Sharks playing a five man defense rotation we still won, win style.
Wings are going to make this a tough series, and with our grit and determination, I think we can win it.
posted
As long as Emery stays sharp, the Alfredsson-Heatley-Spezza line keeps up the pressure, and Volchenkov keeps blocking shots, we're going to be hard to beat. The Sabres are definitely still in this, and when they rally, they're really hard to stop. We know that the Sabres can play much better than that, and we have to be very focused. Still, it's a promising start.
posted
Wings win to take a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals!
HEY HEY HOCKEYTOWN!
That was a seroiusly intense game. They battled through the whole thing, tons of misses, stifling defense on both sides, and some great plays. Zetterberg continues his amazing play with the opening goal of the game. Zets is my pick at the moment for the Conn Smythe after the Wings win the Cup. Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Anaheim ties the series on a lucky goal late in OT. Now the series goes to Anaheim, were I'll be satisfied if we split the series there to make it a best of three.
Buffalo plays at Ottawa tomorrow night in what I imagine has to be a must win game to avoid a three game deficit.
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posted
Just like we like to complain about officiating. Nice 'call' on Alfie there, guys. I guess boarding is an optional penalty in the playoffs. Did any of you guys see the shot of Vanek's that was ruled no-goal? Just curious what a 3rd party observer thinks of it.
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posted
Frankly I thought one of the Anaheim goals shouldn't have been allowed, I think Hasek was pushed into the goal by a Ducks player with his stick and it shouldn't have been allowed.
But the shot that won the game was lucky, but it was cool. And I admitted, I guess not on this board but somewhere else, that BOTH of the goals the Wings scored in the first game were ugly, lucky goals, but I'll take them where I can get them.
Wings need to get back to their basics, control the puck, and play physical hockey. Too much of the play was controlled by the Ducks. I think we're really feeling the loss of Schneider, but I have a good feeling about splitting the series in Anaheim to make it a best of three series.
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posted
WOOOOO! Ottawa take a 3-0 lead with a 1-0 win at home. Volchenkov proves, yet again, that he's one of the best defenders in the league. Ottawa played very physically throughout the game, and completely shut down the Sabres' power play.
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posted
I never for a moment thought the Senators would take a 3-0 lead in the series. Sabres need to step up their game if they want to turn this into a series.
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Miller played like a MAN, the rest of the team like boys. There are several players, I can't even remember if they were on the ice, and a few others I DO remember for all their bad plays (Briere missing the wide-open net, Kalinin the TO machine).
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posted
End of the second in Anaheim, Wings up 4-0. I just saw Holmstrom get nailed by Pronger and Nidermayer. It was pretty bad. I thought he was out cold for a minute, bleeding from his forehead, but he got up. Anaheim's completely lost their cool, and they're playing really dirty to boot. Despite hating Bertuzzi, I'm smiling everytime he nails a Duck today.
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posted
5-0 Wings, final score. Hasek pulls off some sleek, unpredictable goaltending at the end, and Filppula sends them off with a nice goal. Maltby high-sticks Getzlaf right at the end, cuts his eye open. Looks like Detroit's line-balancing strategy really worked against the Anaheim defense.
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quote:I never for a moment thought the Senators would take a 3-0 lead in the series. Sabres need to step up their game if they want to turn this into a series.
I am honestly not surprised. They outplayed Pittsburgh by a healthy margin, and the Penguins are a pretty darn good team.
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