- 注册
- 2002-10-07
- 消息
- 402,179
- 荣誉分数
- 76
- 声望点数
- 0
BOSTON — Whether the Ottawa Senators win or lose here Saturday, feelings of bitter disappointment at not making the playoffs will follow the sound of the final buzzer.
In the search for final game incentives though, the Senators would like nothing better than to leave the Boston Bruins with the same empty feelings at not making the post-season.
Even with a victory over the Senators, the Bruins head into the final weekend needing help to stay ahead of Philadelphia and Detroit in the neck-and-neck-and-neck battle for the final two playoff spots in the East.
A Senators victory, however, would all but crush the Bruins’ hopes and could spell the end for Boston coach Claude Julien.
“Boston is waiting for us, this game means the season for them,” Senators centre turned left winger Zack Smith said following the bitter-sweetness of the final practice of the season Friday morning at the Canadian Tire Centre.
“They will be coming out hard and we’ll be looking to match it.”
No question, the Senators’ makeshift lineup will be in tough against the highly motivated Bruins. The Senators are taking no chances with their laundry list of injured players.
Winger Mark Stone and defenceman Marc Methot stayed at home, joining Dion Phaneuf, Clarke MacArthur, Kyle Turris and Mark Borowiecki on the sidelines. Curtis Lazar didn’t practise Friday and could be replaced by Scott Gomez in the season finale.
Andrew Hammond is expected to start in goal.
Just the same, Smith says the Senators will not roll over, hoping to end the season on a two-game winning streak following Thursday’s 3-1 win over Florida in the final home game of the campaign.
“We’re not handing anything to them,” he said. “We’ve had enough battles with them. There is a little bit of a rivalry there, too. We don’t owe anything to them, we have to go in there and win the game.
“Everyone has to find motivation from somewhere, whether it’s personal goals or just wanting to prove some things to different people that we’re not giving up, that we do have something to play for.”
Throughout the dressing room, the Senators acknowledged it was tough to practise knowing that the next time they’re back at Canadian Tire Centre for training camp in September, the team will not look the same. The rink-board advertising was gone, giving way to an empty look and at least some thoughts about what went so wrong.
But while all the tough questions will be asked early next week, the Senators insist there’s still pride in going out strong and making the most of what should be an electric atmosphere.
“It’s great, it’s the last game of the year and there’s going to be a great atmosphere in the building,” said winger Mike Hoffman, one goal shy of hitting 30 for the season.
“Why not finish the season on a high and go in there and kind of spoil the party there? We weren’t throwing in the towel (against Florida Thursday). We’re professionals, we’re trying to prove a point and play right to the last game. It’s going to be a tough game.
They’re fighting for their lives. It’s a good challenge for a lot of guys in here.”
Senators coach Dave Cameron agrees with Hoffman in saying that the game is a test of the players “professionalism”, finding ways to push themselves.
“We talk about what’s at stake for Boston, we talk about how we have to play,” Cameron said. “We had a good skate (Friday), we’ll do some video in the morning and it’s game on. You play to win every game and if you don’t win the game, you’re not happy.”
Considering the limited experience in the Senators lineup — rookies Ryan Dzingel, Nick Paul, Matt Puempel, Buddy Robinson, Fredrik Claesson and Ben Harpur are all expected to play — the game will also serve as a test to see how the club’s prospects can respond to a pressure-packed environment.
“It’s constant evaluation,” Cameron said.
“Every time they’re on the ice, even at practice. Until you establish yourself as an NHL player, practice is every bit as invaluable as games. Boston is going to come guns-a-blazing, so it will be another good evaluation.”
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kwarren@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren
查看原文...
In the search for final game incentives though, the Senators would like nothing better than to leave the Boston Bruins with the same empty feelings at not making the post-season.
Even with a victory over the Senators, the Bruins head into the final weekend needing help to stay ahead of Philadelphia and Detroit in the neck-and-neck-and-neck battle for the final two playoff spots in the East.
A Senators victory, however, would all but crush the Bruins’ hopes and could spell the end for Boston coach Claude Julien.
“Boston is waiting for us, this game means the season for them,” Senators centre turned left winger Zack Smith said following the bitter-sweetness of the final practice of the season Friday morning at the Canadian Tire Centre.
“They will be coming out hard and we’ll be looking to match it.”
No question, the Senators’ makeshift lineup will be in tough against the highly motivated Bruins. The Senators are taking no chances with their laundry list of injured players.
Winger Mark Stone and defenceman Marc Methot stayed at home, joining Dion Phaneuf, Clarke MacArthur, Kyle Turris and Mark Borowiecki on the sidelines. Curtis Lazar didn’t practise Friday and could be replaced by Scott Gomez in the season finale.
Andrew Hammond is expected to start in goal.
Just the same, Smith says the Senators will not roll over, hoping to end the season on a two-game winning streak following Thursday’s 3-1 win over Florida in the final home game of the campaign.
“We’re not handing anything to them,” he said. “We’ve had enough battles with them. There is a little bit of a rivalry there, too. We don’t owe anything to them, we have to go in there and win the game.
“Everyone has to find motivation from somewhere, whether it’s personal goals or just wanting to prove some things to different people that we’re not giving up, that we do have something to play for.”
Throughout the dressing room, the Senators acknowledged it was tough to practise knowing that the next time they’re back at Canadian Tire Centre for training camp in September, the team will not look the same. The rink-board advertising was gone, giving way to an empty look and at least some thoughts about what went so wrong.
But while all the tough questions will be asked early next week, the Senators insist there’s still pride in going out strong and making the most of what should be an electric atmosphere.
“It’s great, it’s the last game of the year and there’s going to be a great atmosphere in the building,” said winger Mike Hoffman, one goal shy of hitting 30 for the season.
“Why not finish the season on a high and go in there and kind of spoil the party there? We weren’t throwing in the towel (against Florida Thursday). We’re professionals, we’re trying to prove a point and play right to the last game. It’s going to be a tough game.
They’re fighting for their lives. It’s a good challenge for a lot of guys in here.”
Senators coach Dave Cameron agrees with Hoffman in saying that the game is a test of the players “professionalism”, finding ways to push themselves.
“We talk about what’s at stake for Boston, we talk about how we have to play,” Cameron said. “We had a good skate (Friday), we’ll do some video in the morning and it’s game on. You play to win every game and if you don’t win the game, you’re not happy.”
Considering the limited experience in the Senators lineup — rookies Ryan Dzingel, Nick Paul, Matt Puempel, Buddy Robinson, Fredrik Claesson and Ben Harpur are all expected to play — the game will also serve as a test to see how the club’s prospects can respond to a pressure-packed environment.
“It’s constant evaluation,” Cameron said.
“Every time they’re on the ice, even at practice. Until you establish yourself as an NHL player, practice is every bit as invaluable as games. Boston is going to come guns-a-blazing, so it will be another good evaluation.”
Related
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kwarren@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren
查看原文...
