Senators prediction panel: Game 2
The Senators get right back at it with a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Who will come out on top? Our prediction panel weighs in.
The Ottawa Senators get right back at it with a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Who will come out on top? Our prediction panel weighs in.
Ottawa Senators (0-1-0) at Toronto Maple Leafs (1-0-0)
James Gordon, SenatorsExtra.com editor/Citizen hockey writer
Senators 1, Leafs 2
There already appear to be many frustrated Senators fans after Game 1, but there are probably going to be many nights like Friday in Detroit this season. The learning curve gets a little less harsh in this game, but I think the end result will be the same.
Record: 1-0
Exact scored predicted: 0
Wayne Scanlan, Citizen columnist
Senators 2, Leafs 3 (OT)
If the Leafs aren’t too full of themselves after reading their Game 1 clippings, they might have enough to hold off Ottawa at the ACC. If they believe all they read in the gushing Toronto media, they could be ripe to be had by the young Sennies.
Record: 1-0
Exact scores predicted: 0
Ian Mendes, Sportnet.ca Senators reporter and blogger
Senators 3, Leafs 1
The Leafs always seem to beat the Sens at the ACC – except when it’s October.
Record: 0-1
Exact scores predicted: 0
Graeme Nichols, writer/editor, The Sixth Sens blog and podcast
Senators 1, Leafs 3
Of the six times that the Senators play the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, each will occur on the second night of a back-to-back series. Toronto takes advantage with their first win in the Battle of Ontario.
Record: 0-1
Exact scores predicted: 0
Steve Lloyd, host, Healthy Scratches on Team 1200
Senators 4, Leafs 2
Every time they meet the Leafs this season the Sens will have played the night before, but it’s too early to matter. Sens grab round one.
Record: 1-0
Exact scores predicted: 0
Peter Raaymakers, writer/editor, Silver Seven Sens blog
Senators 3, Leafs 4 (OT)
The first Battle of Ontario for the year won’t be a friendly affair, but it should be a competitive, exciting one. The Leafs are better on paper (plus Grabovski and Kessel are Sens killers), so I think they’ll get the win, but I don’t think it’ll be an easy one.
Record: 1-0
Exact scores predicted: 0
Russell, host, SensUnderground podcast
Senators 2, Leafs 1
Did you know that every time the Sens play the Laffs this year, it will be on the back end of back-to-back games? Not sure how Burke arranged that, but that won’t help Ottawa catch one of the few teams they have a chance at surpassing this year. Yes, by that I mean Leafs suck.
Record: 1-0
Exact scores predicted: 0
Jeremy Milks, writer/editor, Black Aces blog
Senators 4, Leafs 3
The season doesn’t really start until a lot of ink and a little blood is spilled in the first Battle of Ontario. The Sens lost a real stinker in this barn playing a back-to back situation to start off last October. They’ll have better legs this year in second games because Paul MacLean ran them like horses for a month. Should be a nasty affair.
Record: 1-0
Exact scores predicted: 0
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Hey Mendes, why don’t you just write that you are picking the Sens for all 82 games!!! You picked the Sens to beat the Wings and now the Sens to beat the Leafs……
How about some objective Sports writing? Your exhaustive dribble about your favorite team is painful to read. Did you actually believe the Sens would beat The Wings?? Do us all a favor and join the Sens front office and leave the sorts writing to the pros.
Dennis,
Who do you mean by “Do us all a favor”? I quite enjoy Mendes. Perhaps you should beat it.
The excuses are in full swing already, can you tell this is a Bryan Murray managed team?
Here’s a few reasons why the back to backs are GOOD;
i)If they lose game 1, they have the motivation to come out stronger the next night.
ii)If they WIN game 1, they have the momentum to carry over the next night.
iii)If the Senators need any additional motivation to beat the Leafs, fold the franchise already.
Enough excuses guys. Anderson letting in five goals per game isn’t anywhere close to his promise to lead this team to the playoffs as he did with Colorado. Jason Spezza is in full cherry-picking mode, doing nada for two periods then stat-padding when the game is out of reach. Phillips is that same old lovable lug that isn’t fast enough or young enough, but that’s ok because it’s Big Rig!
DO NOT LOSE TONIGHT OR TUESDAY.
If the Senators get manhandled by the Leafs, a head needs to roll.
If they lose to Dany Heatley, MacLean needs to take them for a “Jacques Demers Tour” of some factories and workplaces at 6 a.m. in the morning.
As for Mendes, he DOES work for the Senators, he covers the games for Sportsnet and he used to be in their communications department. Do not expect him to deliver objectivity or crticism, it isn’t in his make-up. Instead, expect lovely stories about his kids watching football when hard questions should be asked.
NOT HAPPY WITH LAST NIGHT’S PERFORMANCE. WIN TONIGHT.
Greg
Come on Sens fans we know this is a work in progress. You don’t throw your kids out when their behavior displease you; you just remember that they are children and they will learn. Lets enjoy this Sens team and not be overly critical because they make mistakes, revel in the victories when they happen and take the defeats gracefully and as a given for a work in progress