Hockey

Let's hear from some people who are going to have do well to lead to victory tonight. "We're a team that likes to play anybody against anybody." "Everyone is going to be fired up." "You never want to play from behind, which we're guilty of sometimes." Sometimes?!!? What does the prediction machine say? Well, it says prepare yourself for awesomeness. The return of Jason Spezza to the lineup is huge for the Senators. Unfortunately, that energy works against them at the start of the game. Daniel Alfredsson will take an interference penalty while following up his breakaway(!) shot attempt. Unlike Colin Greening, Alfredsson is able to stop in time to get the puck, but is forced into Tomas Vokoun, which is pretty much utter bullcrap. Thankfully, the penalty-killing unit maintains its strong play, allowing just one Penguins shot while managing three of their own. Using the momentum from this kill, the Senators take the game to the Penguins, but are continually frustrated by players in shooting lanes. The Corsi would be ridiculous if I knew how to calculate it. Eventually, thanks to the pressure, Brenden Morrow is called for tripping, giving Spezza a chance to show his stuff on the power play. Unfortunately, Spezza will not get that opportunity for very long, as known jerk Mika Zibanejad is called for a blatant hooking penalty in the offensive zone, ending the Senator's best scoring hopes. Go have a Big Mac or something. Ultimately, play in this period is very even. Shots are even, and the Senators don't back down on special teams. The second period, however, is an onslaught. officials have swallowed their whistles, and the Penguins take advantage of some very weak line changes from the Senators to outshoot them almost 2:1. Thankfully, none of of the shots are particularly dangerous outside of a Sidney Crosby-Kris Letang one-timer that rings off of the post after trickling through Anderson. Thankfully, the Senators approach the third period re-energized. A Cory Conacher feed to Andre Benoit just misses somehow, and later Kyle Turris sets up a pinching Chris Phillips for a glorious one-timer attempt that Phillips simply whiffs on. Freaking Phillips. Still, the team can't find a way to beat Vokoun and it looks like overtime is inevitable when finally a break goes their way. With just over a minute remaining, Jason Spezza forces a turnover in the neutral zone and Conacher snatches up the loose puck to streak down the wing. Conacher's high, hard shot deflects off of a defenseman's face(!) and into the net. Of course, the Penguins would pull Vokoun, but after a Spezza shot from center ice goes over the net (yeah, this happened), Spezza would strip Letang of the puck and find himself with an empty net to shoot at. Game over, man. Game over. A triumphant return for Spezza and a return to form for Anderson. Karlsson still sucks, though. Your three stars: Storylines Jason Spezza makes his return tonight if you haven't heard. He's admitted he's not 100% healthy, but feels better than he did prior to surgery. Prior to surgery he had 5P (2G, 3A) in 5G. He also matched up against Crosby in their only meeting this year, a 2-1 overtime loss for the Sens. Crosby had three shots and no points in that game, though he did score in the shootout. Per Ian Mendes, our forward lines: Conacher-Spezza-Michalek Silvferberg-Turris-Alfredsson Z. Smith-Zibanejad-Neil Greening-Pageau-Condra Meanwhile, Patrick Wiercioch is skating, but not expected to suit up, which means we'll see Andre Benoit again. Methot-Karlsson Cowen-Gonchar Phillips-Benoit In net: Lehner (Ah-aaaah!) Meanwhile, no changes are expected for the Penguins--and why would they, up 2-0?--which gives us the following lines: Dupuis-Crosby-IginlaKunitz-Malkin-NealMorrow-Sutter-CookeAdams-Vitale-Kennedy Orpik-MartinNiskanen-Letang Murray-Engelland Vokoun(starter)Fleu

March 8 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville on his bench during the first period of the game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports If you have listened to any bench interview of Joel Quenneville he has one constant word-PACE.  He talks about it constantly whether it’s pre-game, post-game, NHL 36  you could have a drinking game with the number of times he talks about Pace.  The Hawks are a fast young team that can create pace but in Game #2 it wasn’t there due to the nonstop clutching and grabbing a la 1980′s playoff hockey of the Detroit Red Wings.  Here is  four easy steps to create pace in Game #3 and steal back home ice advantage in the series. 1. Re-Insert the #3 line- Yes I’m as tired as everyone else about hearing the benching of Viktor Stalberg but it is evident that the dominant line in the Wild series has disappeared in the Detroit series.  Throughout the season people talked about the Andrew Shaw, Byan Bickell, Viktor Stalberg line.  Most people said it was incredible that this was the Hawks #3 line was better than most teams #2 lines.  When Marian Hossa was hurt the Hawks moved Bryan Bickell to the top line for two games but quickly learned their mistake and put back together that line while calling up Jimmy Hayes to move players around.  This line is pesky with speed and a hitter why break it up now in the second round of the playoffs. Hopefully whatever lesson you were teaching Stalberg is learned and we all can move on (This is rumored to be happening after practice today). 2. Bench Michal Handzus. If you want to talk about pace then it is time to put Handzus up in the press box.  Yes, he was part of the only scoring play of the game but that was on a deflected pass and only because he was trailing the play. Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane are fast players and need someone with (pace) speed to keep up with them instead of having Handzus trailing every sequence.  The way to beat Detroit is speed and pace and the last time I checked that is not one of  Handzus’s strengths. 3. Replace Daniel Carcillo- Not that the carbomb is a slow skater but this isn’t a goon series nor do we need Brandon Bollig.  We need skill and speed which is why Carcillo is averaging about 6:30 a game of ice time.  Skill and speed is a recipe for beating the old guard Red Wings and Carillo only has one of those traits.  Put Ben Smith in for Carcillo on the fourth line and let’s get some young legs that really want it with some skill.  The new fourth line of Marcus Kruger, Michael Frolik, and Smith would be fast and skilled and would be able to be on the ice more than one shift  a period and penalty kills a game.  The Hawks seem to be getting away from rolling four lines and this needs to become a focus again in Game #3.  Skill and speed will be the evil enemy. 4. Put Dave Bolland back on line #2.- I’m all for this even though people like calling Bolland names. He’s annoying yet skilled enough to play between Kane and Sharp.  He’s a better option than Kruger without breaking up line #3.  Bolland is a playoff gamer but seems a little off ,due to time off and the guys he’s skating with in the first two games.  Put him back on the line with Kane and good things will happen plus they will have a defensive presence added with Bolland on the ice that is missing with Handzus.  This will increase the pace for Q and will still be offensive for the team. What do you think? What changes or adjustments would you make for Game #3? For more Blackhawks conversation follow us on Twitter @Blackhawk_Up or Like us on our new Facebook page at Blackhawkup.

Of course, as the Rangers demonstrated in their seven-game first round win over the Capitals, in which they lost the first two games in Washington, this afternoon’s Game 2 against the Bruins is not a must win. But to win, the Rangers must do certain things better, namely, as written ad infinitum since their 3-2 OT loss in Game 1, forecheck and figure out something with their power play. And, their top line must be better, too. Three Keys to Game 2: 1. Make it tougher: The Rangers’ forecheck was not effective in their 3-2 overtime loss in Game 1, meaning not only did the Bruins have a relatively easy time getting the puck out of their own zone, the Rangers were not able to wear the Bruins down physically. Worse, having a good forecheck had been a point of emphasis in Game 1 with the Bruins dressing three rookie defensemen. 2. Still waiting for the power play: The Rangers were 0 for 3 on the power play in Game 1, leaving them at 2 for 31 in the postseason. The Rangers generated just three shots on goal in 5:35 with the man advantage. 3. Limiting opportunities: It wasn’t just that the Bruins were able to take 16 shots on G Henrik Lundqvist in overtime, or 48 total in the game. The Bruins held puck possession enough to also have 29 attempts blocked and 16 miss the net, meaning they actually had 93 attempts. The Rangers had just 66, including 35 shots on goal. Also, here’s a leftover quote from coach John Tortorella from his media session on Saturday when he was asked about the effect of the lockout on certain players. “You look right through the league, the guys that did go and play, it certainly benefited them,” Tortorella said. “Some guys that didn’t go and play it hasn’t affected them at all. But some guys that didn’t go and play it has affected them. I think older players should have played. I think older players, even when it’s not a lockout need to do even more as far as conditioning as far as being on the ice. Some guys feel because they’re veteran and they’re up in age they need to rest. I’ve seen guys careers end quickly because they’re not doing enough. They need to be on the ice more, that’s the way I feel about it. People may not agree with it but I really believe that. I’ve seen a number of situations when I was an assistant coach when I was in Buffalo, not going to name the two players, they felt they needed to be off the ice more because they were older, where their career ended where they should have been on the ice practicing and conditioning more.” Tortorella certainly also didn’t name anybody by name on the Rangers. But, and this is just me talking here, it certainly sounded like he could have been describing Brad Richards. Both teams will maintain the same lineups they dressed in Game 1 as Bruins coach Claude Julien said before the game that defensemen Wade Redden and Dennis Seidenberg were not available. Something maybe I only find interesting in pre-game line rushes but, all season, regardless of what line he’s actually skating on, Richards typically is given the courtesy of taking the first line rush. I’ll admit I’m not sure about Game 1, but, today, the lines went in order so Derek Stepan’s top line took the first rush. Rangers lines/D-pairs: Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello Taylor Pyatt-Brian Boyle-Derek Dorsett Chris Kreider-Brad Richards-Arron Asham Ryan McDonagh-Anton Stralman Michael Del Zotto-Dan Girardi John Moore-Steve Eminger Henrik Lundqvist (4-4, 1.76 GAA) Bruins lines/D-pairs: Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Jaromir Jagr Rich Peverley-Chris Kelly-Tyler Seguin Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton Zdeno Chara-Dougie Hamilton Matt Bartkowski-Johnny Boychuk Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid Tuukka Rask (5-3, 2.36 GAA) ====

It seems like nothing can shake Zdeno Chara. The Bruins’ captain has been playing exceptionally well despite lining up next to some fresh faces. With Andrew Ference, Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden out due to injuries, Dougie Hamilton, Torrey Krug and Matt Bartkowski have been filling in — and Chara hasn’t skipped a beat. Chara has two goals and eight assists this postseason with 30:02 average time on ice. Chara’s general manager said the defenseman has been “a monster” this postseason. Check out the video above or go to NESN’s YouTube channel to hear Jack Edwards talk to Peter Chiarelli about Chara and how the Bruins’ postseason experience may help them late in games.

from Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star, Senators Nation? Uh-oh Canada. The Ottawa Senators may be the only franchise of seven from north of the 49th Parallel still alive and kicking — feebly, to be sure — in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yet they remain very much a parochial, narrowly embraced entity, a team utterly yoked to one city and one city alone. Further, it’s a city that only civil servants and governance geeks could love. Our national capital is less loathed than smug Toronto and less parodied than slacker Vancouver but also lesser envied than either. Nor does it possess the small-market virtues of Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. And it made no friends in at least one of our two Canadian solitudes by handily dispatching Montreal in the first round. This is not a town that will spiritually stitch together the country’s diverse parts through the unifying force of hockey. continued

IIHFThe Phoenix Coyotes failure to make the playoffs this year had a silver lining. Phoenix's lack of a postseason berth allowed seven players and head coach Dave Tippett to participate in the 2013 IIHF World Championships in Scandinavia. Six of the seven player's teams reached the medal round with only Mikkel Boedker's Danish squad not making the round of eight. However, only forward David Moss is coming home with a medal. Moss' Team USA squad defeated Lauri Korpikoski's Team Finland squad 3-2 on Sunday in the bronze medal game. Korpikoski scored both of his team's goals and finished the tournament with 3 goals and 2 assists in the eight games he played for his country. Moss finished with 4 goals and 3 assists in 10 games played. While only two Coyotes made it to the medal round others put up impressive individual numbers. Mike Smith finished with a 2-2 record for Team Canada, but the record is a bit misleading. He finished with a .944 save percentage and 1.65 goals against average. Three of Smith's teammates in Phoenix played for their native Czech Republic. Defensemen Zbynek Michalek showed off his offensive prowess, putting up 3 goals and 1 assist in 8 games. The inseparable combo of Martin Hanzal and Radim Vrbata combined for 3 goals and 4 assists and while facing off against other countries top lines (sound familiar?). Expect to see a number of the players play for their national teams again at next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi assuming NHL participation in the event gets worked out.

The Rangers brought the Bruins to overtime in Game 1, but that was mostly due to the brilliant play of Henrik Lundqvist. The Bruins vastly outplayed them during the game, with Adam McQuaid being the only Bruin to struggle mightily with possession. That Boston was able to do this with all the injuries to their defensive core should be quite worrying to New York. Honestly I think the Bruins already have their ticket punched to the Eastern Conference finals thanks to the Leafs being the Leafs, but hopefully the Rangers can wear them down enough that the Penguins take care of them easily. Should be a good game this afternoon, maybe Ragnarok will come. Follow @AndrewBerkshire Follow @HabsEOTP

The Bruins’ fourth line has no shortage of fans around the Boston area, thanks to the unit’s energetic play that seems to come through just when the B’s need it the most. That line could also be a difference-maker during the team’s Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Rangers. According to NESN’s Jack Edwards and Andy Brickley, the Boston forwards could end up playing a key role in this series because the Rangers just don’t have the depth up front to match up with the B’s. On defense, however, the two tell a different tale. See what Jack and Brick have to say in the the video above or on NESN’s YouTube channel.

New York Rangers (GDT) @ Boston Bruins (GDT) Game 2 (BOS leads 1-0) 2pm NBC Pittsburgh Penguins (GDT) @ Ottawa Senators (GDT) Game 3 (PIT leads 2-0) 6:30pm NBCSN

Ottawa centre to play first game since suffering back injury in January