Can the Sens catch the Sabres?

[jeffc]

10 points back with 30 games to play. Is it possible? The Sabres are currently in a slump while the Sens are tearing it up.

I say they do it.

[jonf]

I doubt it, for the exact reasons you state. Buffalo is slumping, Ottawa is playing really well, and there's still a big gap. Buffalo will not slump for long, and Ottawa cannot continue this pace.

Here's my question....do we even want to catch them? Going into the playoffs in first place hasn't treated us that well in the past. A nice fourth place finish would be fine with me.

[Indio]

I think its possible.... how many games do they have left against the Sabres?

[Sensgirl]

I think its possible.... how many games do they have left against the Sabres?

They have 3 to go against Buffalo

[spackler]

Never mind that, can they catch the Habs????

[jeffc]

what do you mean? they did today.

[Indio]

what do you mean? they did today.

[spackler]

doh! uhhhhh, Habs have a game in hand....uhhhh...man I should check the scores before I post.

[byerxa]

I don't think they will, but as someone else mentioned who cares? It's all about the playoffs. This season is almost a complete mirror of last year. Ottawa was white hot to start, then limped home in the second half but hung on to end up first in the east. Buffalo blew chunks at the beginning (Ottawa thumped them 10-4 in one game), but caught fire in the second half and almost caught Ottawa. We know what happened in the playoffs.

This season more than ever seems to be about streaks. I have never seen it so bi-polar! A team can win 5 in a row and look invincible, then suddenly they tank for a bunch. The Leafs are a prime example - I have never seen a team look good one game then look so terrible the next. When the playoffs hit you just have to hope you team is hot.

[rezadue]

Like the others said anything is possible. Espcially since they play 3 more games head to head. Having said that I am reminded of last year when the positions were reversed and Buffalo almost caught Ottawa, but in the end they finished behind Ottawa. And then the playoffs happended...

[spackler]

Never mind that, can they catch the Habs????

OK, can I say this now?

[jeffc]

what took you so long?

[spackler]

what took you so long?

lol, we just got back from Florida.

I do agree with most that the Sens and their fans shouldn't spend too much time worrying about what seed they are in the playoffs. They'll have tough series no matter what position they go in at and would be better to prepare for that, rather than to concentrate on trying to get the best seeding.

[jeffc]

yes...probably true...it's so tight this year it will be a struggle to make it into the playoffs me thinks. I think all of the series will be tight, east and west. I think this season, provided they make the playoffs is the best thing for them.

["Richard"]

I would much rather have the sens be the 5th seed and start on the road. what has finnish near the top done for them? More canadians and less eros and they will win the cup. I'm with cherry on this one

[jeffc]

tough to blame it on the Euros this year - only 5 (Heatley doesn't count).

11 Alfredsson, Daniel RW 5-11 202 12/11/72 Gothenburg, Sweden
89 Comrie, Mike C 5-9 185 9/11/80 Edmonton, AB
7 Corvo, Joe D 6-1 205 6/20/77 Oak Park, IL
44 Eaves, Patrick RW 5-11 174 5/1/84 Fairbault, MN
1 Emery, Ray G 6-2 203 9/28/82 Cayuga, ON
29 Gerber, Martin G 5-11 200 9/3/74 Burgdorf, Switzerland
17 Hamel, Denis RW 6-2 203 5/10/77 Lachute, PQ
15 Heatley, Dany RW 6-3 215 1/21/81 Freiburg, West Germany
22 Kelly, Chris C 6-0 191 11/11/80 Toronto, ON
37 McAmmond, Dean LW 5-11 200 6/15/73 Grand Cache, AB
16 McGrattan, Brian RW 6-5 238 9/2/81 Hamilton, ON
14 Meszaros, Andrej D 6-0 198 10/13/85 Povazska Bystrica, Czechoslovakia
25 Neil, Chris RW 6-0 215 6/18/79 Markdale, ON
4 Phillips, Chris D 6-3 216 3/9/78 Calgary, AB
42 Preissing, Tom D 6-0 205 12/3/78 Rosemount, MN
6 Redden, Wade D 6-2 212 6/12/77 Lloydminster, SK
27 Schaefer, Peter LW 6-0 190 7/12/77 Yellow Grass, SK
5 Schubert, Christoph D 6-2 210 2/5/82 Munich, West Germany
19 Spezza, Jason C 6-2 205 6/13/83 Mississauga, ON
20 Vermette, Antoine C 6-0 191 7/20/82 St-Agapit, PQ
24 Volchenkov, Anton D 6-0 237 2/25/82 Moscow, USSR

Injured Reserve
No. Player Pos Ht Wt DOB Birthplace
12 Fisher, Mike C 6-0 203 6/5/80 Peterborough, ON

["Richard"]

not blaming it on them this year. Blamed paste playoff failures on them.. I think they will do much better in the playoffs this year. It would be interesting to see of the last 10 cup winners, what % of the team was canadian and durring that year what % of the league was canadian...

can I group canadian and american together? same style of play and grit right? Or am I wrong?

[jonf]

same style...canadians are just on a different level.

[Pinshark]

Its not the euros on the team but the one leading th team that has been the problem for the Sens in the past. I say who cares if they catch Buffalo they have to make it in the playoffs then play to beat the sabres.

[g8r]

Its not the euros on the team but the one leading th team that has been the problem for the Sens in the past. I say who cares if they catch Buffalo they have to make it in the playoffs then play to beat the sabres.

The only problem is that the rest of the team didn't show up either and he was guilty of trying to do too much. The "no-euro captain has ever won a cup" stuff is just Don Cherry "homerism". but that's a whole other topic...

Seeing as they are now 10 points back with 3 games lef tagains thte Sabres, it is possible to catch them. Maybe a good run in the last few weeks will help them warm up for the playoffs and give them the fire needed to continue the run to the cup. Home ice advantage would be nice...so anywhere from 1-4 works for me.

[Hank Hill]

.....what has finnish near the top done for them?

Finnish? I thought Alfie was Swedish?!?!?

[davevandyk]

Finnish? I thought Alfie was Swedish?!?!?

i think he meant finishing near the top

[Hank Hill]

i think he meant finishing near the top

I know, I was joking, hence the