Ottawa Senators

Game Day: Penguins @ Senators - Goalies, in the Spotlight; Chabot vs Brown
May 19, 2017, 9:24 AM ET [34 Comments]
Jared Crozier
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Before getting to the main course, Senators fans can get a quick glimpse of the future tonight as an appetizer. The Memorial Cup kicks off in Windsor with the host Spitfires hosting the Saint John Sea Dogs (7:00 pm on Sportsnet).

The last Senators first picks will be squaring off with 2015 selection and QMJHL playoff MVP Thomas Chabot going head to head with 2016 first rounder Logan Brown. Brown and his teammates have had seven weeks off to rest and practice after falling to the London Knights in the first round, so they should be fresher than the 3 league champions that they are hosting (Erie and Seattle being the other two participants).

Now, on to the main event.

Goaltending will be in the spotlight, as in a series where both Marc-Andre Fleury and Craig Anderson were brilliant in the first two games, it was Fleury who blinked first and it remains to be seen if he will get a chance at redemption or if it will be Matt Murray taking over.
Whoever is in the Pens net, if Anderson can continue his focus like he has through three games, he will give the Senators a chance to win and head back to Pittsburgh with a commanding 3-1 series lead.

The Senators got off to a hot start at home on Wednesday night, beating Fleury 4 times on 9 shots before he got the hook, and they didn't look back. Although you can't expect similar success in terms of goals, having the same domination from the opening whistle and giving their goalie some margin for error can only be a good thing.

Combining that with a continuation of the stifling defense that has handcuffed the Penguins top offensive talents is a recipe for success that has worked so far.

The Senators have outscored the Penguins 7-3 through 3 games, getting goals from 7 different players in the process, showing a balanced attack and different players stepping up.

Offense aside, the presence of Dion Phaneuf and Marc Methot can't be overstated because heading into the series the big question for Ottawa was how they would be able to shut down the Penguins' elite offensive players. So far, through three games those questions have been answered.

They can't rest on their laurels tough, as I have said before each game 4 that it is the most important game in any series. An Ottawa win tonight and they put the battered and bruised Penguins' backs to the wall still looking for answers and needing to win three straight. A Penguins win and they feel a lot better about themselves, even the series making it a best of three and regaining home ice advantage in the process.

In boxing parlance, the Senators stunned the Pens with a quick jab on Wednesday night. Tonight they need to deliver the right hook for the standing 8 count and set up for the knockout blow for which they will get three opportunities to deliver.