To coin a well-worn sports cliché, the Ottawa Senators faced gut-check time, and responded with a strong performance.
Down 0-2 in the Stanley Cup finals and knowing another loss would put them into a hole too deep to climb out of, the Senators played their best game of the series to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 5-3.
For the first time in this series, the Senators got a strong effort from their footsoldiers, from their checkers and grinders. Their defensemen were involved in all five Senators goals, and they did a much better job in their own zone.
Ray Emery didn’t play a good game but he didn’t have to, as for once his teammates stepped up and answered the call.
It was gritty guys like Mike Fisher, Chris Neil, Antoine Vermette, Dean McAmmond and Oleg Saprykin who got the job done up front, hitting the Ducks defensemen and winning the battles for the puck.
The Senators top line was still kept in check, although Daniel Alfredsson got a fluky one that went off his skate that was initially waved off as kicked in but upon review was counted when it was correctly determined it deflected in off his skate.
Jason Spezza played a little better but he’s yet to be a true factor in this series, while a search party is needed for Dany Heatley because he’s yet to show up.
As for the Ducks, JS Giguere like Emery also didn’t have a good game, and the so-called blueline “big three” of Pronger, Niedermayer and Beauchemin was unimpressive in this one. As I noted in my post-game analysis, Pronger and Niedermayer may be Norris contenders but they’ve yet to play like it in this series. I’m still waiting for these two to have a good game, let alone a great game.
Their checkers may be keeping the Alfredsson line under wraps but they can’t control all the the Senators forwards, particularly the grinders willing to battle hard once they gained the Ducks zone. That’s where they need that “Big Three” to start playing up to their reputation.
Gotta give it up to their “Kid Line” of Getzlaf, Perry and Penner, as they’re growing in this year’s playoffs into bona fide stars. They gave the hint of greatness in last year’s playoffs, especially Getzlaf and Perry, but this year they’re really living up to expectations.
Those kids had a great game tonight, although their penchant for undisciplined penalties didn’t help their team’s chances for a third period comeback.
Bottom line in this game: The Senators were desperate, they played desperate and won because of it. They’re not out of the woods yet as a Ducks win in Game Four would put them down 3-1 heading back to Anaheim, but they’ve played themselves back into the series, perhaps gained some confidence, and relieved some of the pressure on themselves.
Other than the Sens first line stinking this was a very acceptable game on Ottawa's part. Emery let in 3 goals and that's ok, since he was superman in game 1 and 2.
What's with Pronger? Of all times of the year to let your agression go to far, this is the worst time of the year.
Pronger should get at least a one game suspension for his hit on McAmmond - perhaps two considering he is a repeat offender. If he does get suspended, I'm sure he will fault the Canadian media again. I hope Pronger gets exiled from any future participation on Team Canada.
Its about time the sens showed up to a game. They actually played well in the opener for a bit, but then they just stoped playing. As a flames fan I know how good home ice can be, but if they can only win on home ice, its not going to be a good ending for them. The checkers once again proved that they are the heart and soul of the team, I mean they aren't the superstars, but they're always going to be there playing their heart out, Chris Neil....whoever says fighters don't have a place in the league just have to watch highlights of lasat night.
Pronger should get a cuople of games at least, he got one for the hit in detroit, and this one looked worse, there was only him involved, its going to be his second suspension of the playoffs and its the finals, anyone who is watching hockey is watching this series....If the league wants to show that they mean buisness, they have to do it now, with meaning.
Great game by the Sens. Being back home really helped to motivate the team. Emery was probably the weakess link in game 3 (really didn't have his groove on) compared to game 1 & 2. Great call by the review committee on that Alfie goal. It's hard to kick in a puck when you skate is going backwards. But the refs fail to call big bad Pronger's elbow to the head. I wonder what the leagie will do now. Repeat offender in the past two weeks. Personaly, I hope that he gets suspended for the remainder of the series but that seems a bit too much to ask so, with that said, I would suspend him for 3 games. Anything less then that the league could face a potential broue ha ha on the ice. At 3 games would means that Pronger would only return for game 7.
On another note. What is happening with Phillips, Volchenkov and Alfredsson. These guys were hitting, block, fighting...like nuts in the first three rounds. Many of Anaheim's goals tonight could've been block by one of these guys but their are not going down anymore. Wake up and do your thing!
The Sens did not fight back the game was handed to them on a silver platter by the refs. Also on Alfie's soccer skills (worst call I ever saw)
Our good friend Hollman posted this and I feel exactly they way he does
"The only thing I pulled from tonight's game is that the only way Ottawa can win a game in this series is when they have one handed to them by the officials. Tonights game was so one-sided, it was downright embarassing.
Every questionable call went Ottawa's way tonight. Alfredsson's goal required undesputable evidence to over call what was called on the ice. The on-ice official waived it off, and NBC's replays seemed to reinforce that call.
The hooking call on Neidermayer was just bad. He barely touched the Ottawa players stick. The call on the play against Saprykin by Brad May late should have been a dive, as he was barely touched and fell like he was shot.
Finally, the last call on Getzlaf was atrocious. He's battling for the puck, leans forward reaching for the puck trying to extend past the Ottawa player, and he gets called for holding the stick? C'mon.
I realize that the NHL and NBC have a profit sharing deal. If the series ends in a sweep, and NBC only gets 2 games, where do the profits come from? I normally wouldn't think of things like this, but this game reeked of bias on the part of the officiating.
And don't tell me Pronger should be suspended for the hit on McAmmond. Yes, he threw an elbow. But his intent appeared to be to check away an attacking player to keep him from a rebound.
Last edited by True_kings_fan on June 3rd at 7:51 AM.
Cont
Chris Neil threw 3 more vicious elbows than this one, and Schubert also threw at least one late check with his elbows up. If Pronger was 6-1 instead of 6-6, and if McAmmond wouldn't have admired his shot, this wouldn't be a topic of discussion.
I'm a Pens fan, I don't have a dog in this fight. I just want to see a good game decided by the players. By making two horrible calls at the end of the game, the refs took the game out of Anaheim's hands.
The Ducks have taken lots of penalties throughout their run to the finals. They're here because they were able to overcome it most of the time. This time they couldn't. It happens. I thought Pronger deserved a minor for his shot to McAmmond's face but he didn't get one...the beat goes on. It's not the end of the world for Anaheim that they lost a road game against a cornered foe.
Ottawa was desperate and played accordingly. Emery just looked desperate to get the hell out of there. Not his best day, but his team owes him some slack.
Saying the game was handed to the Senators because of the officiating is sour grapes. It clearly wasn't the case at all. The officiating was no better or worse than at any other time in this year's playoffs so that's a baseless statement to make.
Enough of the silly conspiracy theories! If that were the case we'd never see a Stanley Cup finals go less than five games, and we've seen more than our share of those in the not-so distant past.
As for Alfredsson's goal,there was no kicking motion on that goal. The puck simply deflected in off his left skate. If it had gone in off his right skate, which was the one more forward toward the net (since Alfredsson was using it to brake himself), then the argument could be made for a no-goal, as one was waved off under similar circumstances in the Rangers-Sabres series.
It didn't happen that way, and it was a good call.
Yes, Neil got away with elbowing. So did Pronger. The difference was, the guy Pronger hit wound up helped off the ice. If McAmmond had popped back up and kept playing, or returned to action soon after taking that hit, there'd be no talk of suspension for Pronger.
Why is it when the Ducks won the first two games it was a great performance on their part, but the Sens finally win one and the refs handed it to them? Gee, couldn't be because the Sens actually played hard for the first time in this series, and their muckers and grinders stepped up when their best players were still being shut down? Naaah, gotta be a conspiracy! Quick, call Mulder and Scully!
If Pronger gets a suspension, I'd be shocked. All of you who think he should must have only watched the slow motion replay. If you watch it in real time, you will see Pronger's elbows never moved to meet McAmmond's head, but vice versa, and Pronger didn't have the time to adjust.
Not saying McAmmond wanted to get hit in the head, but wanted to get out of the way and moved too late to do so. Both of them were flying (I had no idea Pronger could skate like that!) and it was definitely not a Neil on Drury or Jannsen on Kaberle type of headshot.
That being said, Pronger is public enemy number one, and if the league does nothing, Ottawa fans will be screaming conspiracy. It's what hockey fans do...
It seems certain players can do what they want and get away with it, Pronger should be suspended, 3 games? Na, i highly doubt it, i'd say one, if at all. Who's the first one to go whinin to the refs, league, media, fans, anyone who'll listen to his diatribe when he gets 'wronged' on the ice? Pronger. It was a good game, i don't see how ppl are saying that Alfie kicked it in, if your in motion and the puck hits your skate, by the time you feel it hit, a bit too late to 'kick it' in. I didn't think Ottawa was going to just lie down and give to Anaheim, these ducks have a series on their hands now.
Last edited by lonewolf40 on June 3rd at 10:06 AM.
saying the ref's handed Ottawa the game is incredibly disrespectful to the players on both teams. Randy Carlisle himself said Ottawa should feel good about themselves because they outworked Anaheim. At least the bottom three lines did.
I think Anaheim lost their focus a bit after the DA goal and one can put the onus on them for a certain lack of effort ... I mean when you let Saprykin of all people outwork you on the boards ... you don't deserve to win.
Having said that. I am in the No Goal camp on the disputed call. I was frankly quite surprised when they overturned the call on the ice on that one.
To me it looked pretty clear that DA reached his left leg back ... angled the skate to direct the puck and then jerked it slightly towards the net. (I discount the big long follow through which can be explained away by trying to stop).
To me a side-footed pass is still a kick ... I think it was the incorrect call.
Spector,
do you think that a Zherdev - Samsonov trade is a possibility? I don't know how much Zherdev is making, but this could fit under the 'dumping problems' heading for both teams, no?
It's been official that Pronger has been suspended game 4. Good for the league (you too Campbell) for having the balls to step up and suspend one of the games best players. Let's see which media member Pronger blames this time, my moneys on Ian Mendes.
Personally I think Pronger should have been suspended for the rest of the series. How else is he going to learn you can't go head hunting in the NHL? Didn't seem to faze him that he missed one game in the Wings/Ducks series, cause he was at it again. The only way to hurt him is to hurt his team. Suspend the goon for the rest of the series. Maybe then he'll think before using his elbows or cross checking someone in the head. Nothing else seems to work on him.
Using his height as an excuse is lame. There are other tall players but none of them seem to have the same type of problem. It seems to be exclusive to Pronger. This is a recurring problem for him - he's been suspended a total of 6 times, twice in the last two weeks. Perhaps there should be a height restriction in the NHL for "men" that don't know that their raised elbows are at the same height as other player's heads.
Wake up officials and pay special attention to Pronger. You guys let him get away with murder - and it's possible that he could kill someone someday - with the way he plays. Time to haul the big boy down.
dalle: two problems with that. First, Samsonov's salary is more expensive than Zherdev's, and second, I don't know how keen Gainey would be to add another player who only plays the periphery and doesn't like to backcheck.
That's quite a list for one guy! Pronger does appear to be crossing the line too often, but the hit on McAmmond wasn't in the same league as the Holmstrom hit (At the neck, from behind and into the boards/glass). The league has to make their statements and I support the effort.
At the same time you have Chris Neil, who is nobody's Mr. Clean, hitting Buffalo captain Chris Drury way up high and causing a concussion. At the time everyone harped on the "lateness" of that hit, which was debatable either way. But why are some head shots OK and others suspension-worthy?
hey headhunter68, dood, that was really uncalled for, it's not my place to say it, it's Spec's blog, but, now, come on, how would ya like it if i called you a dumbazz and said to go away, the point of a blog is to agree to disagree and exchange points, now, sensgirl, i agree, if Pronger keeps goin unchecked by the league, we'll see another Bertuzzi, or, somethin like it. When Nashville played the Sharks, the officials did focus on Tootoo, like he was a marked man, history aside, he did do some things he shouldn't, but, his clean hits were hard, but legal, he still got called on them, i will agree that what Radulov did was unneccessary, but, rookies make mistakes. Pronger is far from a rookie and one of the first to go whining to the refs when he gets 'done wrong', the attention and focus is been taken away from a good Ottawa effort.
and, sensgirl, as much as i don't like JR, even he doesn't deserve to get hit like that, he's a very skilled player who has hung on too long, IMHO, but, that aside, you don't do that to other players, whether they're Wayne Gretzky or Jamie McLennan ( apologies to Ontarioflamesfan).
sabreguy- I think it depends on the caliber of the player, i might be wrong here, but, you hit someone like Sid the Kid and you're out for awhile, hit someone who is a grinder or something and it seems it's ok.
I've deleted headhunter's comment. While I appreciate the fact he was trying to stick up for me and other posters, the comments weren't justified. I'm not banning you, headhunter, just asking that you respect the opinions of others.
I've always wondered. If the league doesn't punish these guys that take liberty with other players head (insert the name you want here), what's stopping the team of the player at the receiving end to put their goon on the ice to take out the head of the best player on the other team? In the past I always beleive that players had respect for each other, if that is the case, why would you hit a guy in the head (with your elbow, stick, skate...). Would you call that respect and sportsmanship or someone that just wants to play dirty. I will be the first to say that Pronger is a talented defenceman and I love his physical game, but this non-sense has to stop. I love the way Scott Stevens played (love him or hate him) he hit to hurt (which in my book is ok because hockey, like football, is a contact sport and you want that edge) but when you use other thing then you body to hit another player, then that to me is a big no no and should be punished.
Guys I have played alot of hockey in my time and would love a shot at pronger. He is a dirty man and needs a heatley walking.. I would love to see this go game seven with heater scoring the big GWG. Heats has a cool profile on ilivesports if you are interested
Once again Colin Campbell has done nothing for the game of hockey. Here he has a serious repeat offender and just because Pronger is a so called superstar he gets one game instead of the balance of the series. Pronger should have been gone for the year after his hit in the Detroit series.
If this had been anyone of lesser note they would have gotten the max.
Anyone who thinks the officials gave the game to the Sens they better think again. It was hard work and you can expect the same again on Monday.
The most negative comments seem to be coming from a disgruntled Pens fan.I have to wonder if he would be so forgiving of Pronger had it been Sid the Kid who suffered this blow.
Alfredsson's goal was definitely not a kicking motion, but I'm still surprised they allowed it. I've seen better goals than that go off a foot and disallowed because of some invisible "distinct kicking motion."
And I'm glad Pronger at least got one game, but as a repeat offender I think he should've gotten two. Especially considering his first offense wasn't something like 10 years ago, it was a couple weeks ago.
Neil's (unpenalized) headlong, flying elbow was a much more blatant and deliverate attempt to injure than Pronger's elbow. Yes, it was an elbow, but the real damage was done when McAmmond's head bounced violently on the ice. Most of the force was McAmmond flying headlong towards Pronger, who mostly just extended his elbow (albeit - directly into McAmmond's jaw).
Intent should count for something and Pronger's suspension is unwarranted. 2 minutes for elbowing - definitely - but this suspension is just a pathetic attempt by the league to divert attention from the fraudulently awared, game-turning gift goal they gave the Sens.
Actually, in the Chris Neil situation, it was Drury's head hitting the ice that did the worst damage as well. The point that seemed to be lost on everyone at the time was that it was a head-hunting style of hit. I don't think Pronger'#### on McAmmond is the same thing because he simply hit a guy that was on his way to him. He didn't stalk McAmmond, the guy came to him. 2 minutes for roughing? Absolutely. But there's no way in hell that hit is worth the same as the mugging of Holmstrom. That's where I think Colin Campbell really blew it. But he, and those higher up surely don't want Conference Finals decided with the marquee players in street clothes.
How can you say Pronger wasn't head hunting. The guy brought up his elbow and hit McAmmond in the head. He could've easily just laid his body on McAmmond to take him out of the play. Plus, being a repeat offender in the span of two weeks for the same cheapless #### should warrant a longer suspension. It's true that your head hitting the ice doesn't really help but the action was there and the motive too. I really hope all these senseless, shameless act of cowardism tarnish Chris Pronger chance at exceding to the Hall of Fame. Goons and thugs should not even be permitted to be on the list of potential candidate to teh HHOF.
All I'm trying to say is that his suspension in the Detroit series should have been multi-game. By meting out a single game punishment, Campbell, whether he likes it or not was setting the bar. And if the bar was one game for the Holmstrom hit, what does that make the hit on McAmmond? The same? Worse?
Pronger wasn't head hunting? Since he knows he has a problem with his height (or the lack thereof for other players), if he wasn't head hunting why deliberately raise your elbow in someone's face? To say the problem was because Dean fell and hit his head on the ice welllllllllll he wouldn't have fallen and hit his head if Pronger hadn't elbowed him to the head. Cause and effect. He knew exactly what what he was doing.
Pronger was made to look like a patsy on a few of the goals and he didn't like it and retaliated.
I still believe that he should have been suspended for the rest of the series because he obviously hasn't learned anything from all his other suspensions and until the League lays down the law on him he'll keep on keeping on.
I was afraid of this, the last time the Ducks made it to the finals, they didn't win one road game. Jersey and the Ducks won their home games and the Devils won in 7.
The hit by Pronger was stupid, what was he thinking, does he never freakin learn, you can be aggressive, but use your brain.
I think the suspension was flat-out stupid. It's hockey, one of the most physical sports in the game. There's a line, and if anyone crossed it in this game it was Chris Neil. Pronger has a record, but Chris Neil was the headhunter in this game.
Let's also not forget, McAmmond is half a foot shorter than Pronger. That puts him at shoulder-height already, and he was bent down just a bit, which gets him even lower. Are we supposed to play hockey with our arms limp now? I'm not saying bringing an elbow up to someone's face is good hockey, but size does make a difference, despite what Al Strachan says.
On the other side, Chris Neil's "interference" was nothing short of a charge. He left his feet to hit a guy into the boards, and he hit him with an elbow. Why wasn't that reviewed?
Pronger's not the black sheep everyone's out to make him. He may not be a squeaky-clean player, but this is a two-way street. Guys like Neil do the same thing, but because they're not league superstars, it seems they're under less scrutiny than those who are. Sorry to the Senators fans (and some canadian hockey fans too) refusing to see the flipside of the coin.
Pronger'#### reminded me very much of the Stevens-on-Lindros hit.
On another note, it seems a lot of negatives were taken from the game. That's pretty depressing, considering a good number of us are die-hard hockey fans.
-Alfie's goal SHOULD NOT have counted. I've also played soccer and, obviously, I still follow it. To me any time you turn your ankle like Alfie did, thats a deliberate motion to turn the puck in the net, and you don't do that to stop yourself when on skates.
-If Pronger is suspended so should Neil. I don't believe in conspiracies and I don't think one is going on here but the inconsistencies in the way some guys are suspended and other aren't is a joke. Like I said I don't believe in conspiracies and I don't think one is going on here which means that the head office is in shambles and is just a plain, old joke.
-Emery didn't play a bad game, this is how he plays all the time. The Sens just have a great team.
I played soccer in 6th grade until I broke Keith Nugents arm one week and kicked Billy Irwin in the head for 12 stitches the next week and was kicked out of soccer, so I'm no expert but I wonder how they don't count one 2 weeks ago ,when the guy was sliding out of control ,it hit his foot and went in and this guy, who, clearly directed it in and it counted.
LGB: I think it was a sloppy game by both netminders.
Giguere wasn't his normal, suffocatingly stingy self, and let up a few rebounds he'd probably like to have back. He seemed a bit out of position on a couple shots, though Ottawa was cruising compared to the first two games.
Emery, I'm not going to comment on. I've never been fond of him. He's a punk.
There's a topic that's been eerily silent in these goings on. At the beginning of the playoffs, I seem to remember a quote from Randy Carlyle along the lines of "We'll do whatever's necessary to win," hinting that maybe he was willing to have his team take some cheapshots if it improved their chances to take the cup. Not sure if that's how I interpreted it, or if someone else brought it up, but I definitely remember thinking that at some point. I wonder if it's too far off the mark.
Chaas-I respect Carlysle for saying that because Murray never would. Murray has had his team "do whatever it takes" to beat Buffalo the past two years and that includes injuring them. At least Randy isn't afraid of saying that the Cup is all that matters. Murray tries to hide behind his excuses.
An interesting thing to note about the play of Giguere in the Stanley Cup Finals, I saw this on ESPNEWS, is that he has won every game at home and lost every game away. He's given up something like 5 goals in the 5 games at home with two of those shutouts and he's given up something like 17 goals in the 5 games away from home. Not that I need to say it BUT thats a huge difference.
Cobra-I can say as a Sabres fan(because we won) that I'll admit we were lucky not to get Rachunek's "kick" a goal and his was even less deliberate than Alfie's. A lot less.
Personally I think you either have to get rid of the rule totally(which I'm all for) or just going back to the old system of "if it touches your skate at all, then no goal".
LOL, you could be a good spokesman for soccer in the United States because a lot of people think its for wusses!
Sports Illustrated hockey writer Michael Farber had this to say about the reasons for the Pronger suspension:
"Game 3 was the first of the finals that was televised on NBC. And seeing a glassy-eyed McAmmond prostrate on the ice for a few minutes is hardly the image the NHL wants to show to its audience in the United States."
My question is, what United States are you talking about Mike?
If there's one thing we love here in the land where football (most war-like of all sports) is king, it's athletes who are glassy eyed and prostrate!
well to me, it's not a sport unless you can hurt someone. I watch ESPN and see darts...DARTS are you kidding me? And bowling... I'd rather watch lepers rot. The toughest sport I ever did was Bull Riding. At 6'2" I was way too tall. The best ones are around 5'7" . I rode them one time up near Medicine Hat Alberta and I got this hunting bull who, when he throws you comes back after you trying to stomp. I was in the shute with a big ol chaw of tobacco in my gob'[ Irish for mouth]. The second buck out of the chute, I come down on my cajones[testicles for you Canadians].
2 more bucks and I lost all interest in riding that bull as the chaw was 1/2 way down my throat. i fell off and lay their not knowing whether to hold my cajones or my throat when the bull comes after my head. I rolled over and he kicked my elbow. I couldn't move it. Only problem was training camp opened in a week and there was a big fine for rodeo. How I made it thru the physical, I don't know , I couldnt move my right arm. During our 1st practice I told Charlie Simmer to deke to my right. Chas asked why. I told him I had to hurt my elbow on the goalpost. He looked at me like I was crazy but he deked to my right and it became a hockey injury. whew no fine.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
