The Ottawa Senators had begun to doubt themselves after falling
into a 2-0 hole in the Stanley Cup finals, but Saturday's victory
over the Anaheim Ducks has given them new hope of a fighting chance
at a comeback.
"We know how we can beat this team now," Ottawa coach Bryan
Murray told reporters after his Senators downed the Ducks 5-3.
The larger and more physical Ducks had overwhelmed the Senators
in Anaheim but on home ice, all four Ottawa lines came alive and
scored at least one goal and delivered more hits than their
opponents.
The Senators, who have made it to the playoffs every season for
the past 10 years, had thought they had shed their image of
big-game chokers when they breezed through three rounds to get to
the finals until they came up against Anaheim.
The Ducks had been especially effective in virtually shutting
down the Senators top line in the first two games, but Ottawa came
back with ferocity in front of their home fans.
"We had a real big effort from everybody. We had a lot more
energy - there's no doubt about it," said defenseman Wade Redden,
whose shot off the skate of Captain Daniel Alfredsson gave Ottawa
the go-ahead goal.
Some had blamed the Senators' performances on the soggy ice in
Anaheim, their nine-day layoff before the Stanley Cup finals or the
fact that they had not been familiar with the harder-hitting Ducks
play.
However, they showed no hesitation in standing up to Anaheim on
Saturday.
"I thought we cycled and battled and got pucks to the net and
played with a lot more edge and were obviously more competitive,"
said center Mike Fisher, who scored Ottawa's second goal.
(China Daily via Agencies June 4, 2007)