The Ottawa Senators took a big step last season after years of falling short of expectations. This year, however, anything less than winning the Stanley Cup would be yet another disappointment.
A season after the franchise captured its first Eastern Conference title, new coach John Paddock hopes to take the Senators one step further as they open the season with a home-and-home series against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, starting at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night.
One of the league's most talented teams for close to a decade, the Senators finally broke through last season and made their first Stanley Cup finals appearance. Although it managed only one win against champion Anaheim, Ottawa proved it is a legitimate contender for hockey's ultimate prize.
"The little taste we got of going to the final last year, that's our main goal again," star right wing Dany Heatley said. "We're hungry, we're skating well and everyone's excited to get going again."
Preview
They better not get blown out, or else it will get ugly.
