RealGM

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 12:27 pm**

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.

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 1:21 pm**

Who is starting in goal?

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 2:21 pm**

go leafs go

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 3:26 pm**

Raycroft is starting apparently. They will get blown out today.

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 3:44 pm**

I agree Goal tending is Key and would like Toskala to start in goal, to establish himself as the number one Goalie...
Raycroft has a bad catching hand and can be beaten high to the glove side, this will be exploited by Ottawa's gunners Heatly, Spezza and Alfredson...
We however have a pretty fair Defence and checking line and may give Ottawa a run for their money...

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 7:44 pm**

Oh god....please god help us...

i predict a 7-2 outcome

you can decide who wins

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 8:21 pm**

Why is Razor starting? I guess I missed something. But I can't wait to see the start of the season for the Leafs.

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 9:00 pm**

beater97 wrote:Why is Razor starting? I guess I missed something. But I can't wait to see the start of the season for the Leafs.

Posted: **Wed Oct 3, 2007 11:42 pm**

Here we go. Another year of disappointment? I sure hope not.

Posted: **Thu Oct 4, 2007 1:14 am**

This has been a terrific game to watch so far.

Posted: **Thu Oct 4, 2007 1:24 am**

What a game!
Go Leafs Go!
Love Antropov...since he's playing at a high level tonight..keep it up.

Posted: **Thu Oct 4, 2007 11:39 am**

wow, well i think the Leafs deserve credit for at least getting a point, still disappointing to lose...couple bad goals allowed....not good but at the same time good things are surfacing

Posted: **Thu Oct 4, 2007 1:26 pm**

I thought they played pretty well last night. Antropov was on fire, hopefully he's starting to get confident and shows what he's capable of after all these years. Raycroft was hot and cold all night, still not too bad. The Blake - Sundin - Antropov line looks solid, and we finally may have a legit first line.

Posted: **Thu Oct 4, 2007 9:09 pm**

Good to see that Antropov has some confidence, I liked what I saw tonight.

Posted: **Thu Oct 4, 2007 10:47 pm**

Last night we looked very good, we just couldn't finish

Kaberle and McCabe were probably our worst two defensemen while Gill and Woznieuski were our best.

The Blake/Sundin/Antropov line looked extreamly dangerous, especially Antropov... not because of his goals but because it seem that he had some hockey sense out there. He used his body to create turn overs and made himself go into the slot and get proper scoring chances.

The Stajan/Steen/Poni line had a lot of good energy, just Steen needs to learn how to finish his checks and not let up at the last minute.

Raycroft was decent last night, the problem is he didn't make the big save when we needed it (when we went up 2-1 where they scored less than a min after, and the OT goal). But he's shown he is capable of keeping himself in the game

RealGM

Oct 3 : Ottawa @ Toronto 7:30 pm

Oct 3 : Ottawa @ Toronto 7:30 pm