MacLean won’t cruise to end
Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean intends to push to the final buzzer of the regular season.
He’ll rest key players if they need to rested, to make sure they’re ready for the National Hockey League playoffs, but he’s expecting his team to play the final three games as hard as they’ve played the first 79.
“Healthy is what you want to be going into the playoffs, but at the same time we’ve said all along that we want to see where we are at the end of 82 games, and I think that’s the mantra we want to stick to,” MacLean said Monday.
“We want to make sure we play every game. If people have boo-boos and whatnot, we’re not going to err on the side of playing people if not playing them would be the right thing to do, But the expectation is we will come to play and play hard in the last three games.”
MICHALEK HUNTING MILESTONE
Winger Milan Michalek’s goal and two assists against the Islanders gave him 60 points (35 goals, 25 assists), putting him within shooting distance of his career-best season of 66 points (26 goals, 40 assists) with the San Jose Sharks in 2006-07. It’d be a nice mark to surpass, but it’s not something that’s on his mind.
“Not really,” he said. “I’m just happy we made it to the playoffs. That’s big for us. When everybody’s playing good, the points come. I’m happy about the way the season is going right now, and maybe we can do something in the playoffs, too.”
It’s all gravy from now on.The season has been a big plus for fans.
“He’ll rest key players if they need to rested,”
I think you accidentally a word there.
The Paulrus might have another reason to win. Your poll didn’t mention Florida as an opponent. If the Senators tie on points with the Devils they end up in 6th place. Not as unlikely as it sounds given they have an older team and they’re resting people. They’re four points back, and their game tonight is against the Islanders but if motivated Detroit beats them and Ottawa goes three straight (including beating the Devils in the last game of the season – wow) the Devils face the Bruins in a Brodeur/Thomas cagematch while the Senators take on the Panthers.