ANAHEIM - OTTAWA
Matches will be held on May 28, 30, 2, 4 and (if necessary) on June 6, 9, 11.
WHAT HAPPENED
7 titles of "senators" from Ottawa. In a past life. We are talking about the pre-war incarnation of the Canadian club, who won the Stanley Cup in 1909, 1910, 1911, 1920, 1921, 1923 and 1927. If you dig even deeper, you can recall another club of the capital of the Maple Leaf Country - Ottawa Silver Seven, which has consistently achieved success in the period from 1903 to 1906. Reborn at the end of 1991, the Senators only now reached the main finals. And this despite the fact that for ten consecutive seasons they invariably participate in the playoffs.
7 matches of “mighty ducks” from Anaheim. In the finals of the Stanley Cup 2003. It was a real breakthrough for the California team, who climbed to the top of the world from the third cup attempt. The previous two playoff trips ended in the first and second rounds. Four years ago, the "feathered", although they could not hoist the flag, symbolizing the conquest of the transatlantic ice Olympus, were close to the target. Having lost two away games with the same score 0: 3, Mighty Ducks regained balance in the series with New Jersey after two home victories in overtime. The native walls, in the end, tipped the scales to the side of the devils above. During the time between that final and the current one, Anaheim parted with “power” in the name, changed hosts, coaches and almost completely updated the roster. Only four were left from the 2003 team - goalkeeper Jean-Sebastian Giger and forwards Rob Niedermeier, Andy MacDonald, Samuel Polsson. And also general manager Brian Murray, who is training now ... Ottawa.
2 matches between Ottawa and Anaheim over the past four years. Scattered at various conferences, these clubs meet with each other exclusively on major holidays. Such, for example, as the Stanley Cup finals. In championships, the paths of “ducks” and “senators” intersect extremely rarely. Suffice it to say that the last game of rivals in Anaheim is dated October 17, 2003. Then 30 saves by Patrick Lalim ensured the victory - 0: 3. On January 19, 2006, the Californians had a chance to take revenge on Canadian territory, which they did thanks to Chris Kunitz’s winning shootout.
WHAT IS
58 points on the “goal + pass” system, which scored the first link of the “Ottawa” for three rounds of the current playoffs. Dani Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson together march in the quartet of the league’s best cup goal scorers and until they meet decent resistance on their way. Largely due to their efforts, Ottawa has not yet yielded in the course of the series. Overproduction Specialists and comrades are the main reason that the “senators” won seven of ten meetings that ended with a difference of one goal and invariably won in matches where they managed to open an account. Well, let's not forget that the last Canadian envoy to the playoffs scores an average of 3.2 goals per match - more than any other team.
3 owners of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as part of Anaheim. In different years, Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermeier and ... ducks head coach Randy Carlisle were recognized as the best defenders of the strongest league on the planet. The first two are nominated for a prize this season, and the latter, I think, knows firsthand how to block oxygen for snipers from God and arsonists from the devil. Pronger, Niedermeier Sr. and Francois Boschman spent more than thirty minutes more than once in the evening. Their skills, and, most importantly, their health, are the guarantor of Anaheim’s security. A quick response team will cope with any fire and shut up any fountain, no matter how high it hits.
11 Ottawa strikers have at least one abandoned goal in the playoffs 2007. Despite the dominant role of the first three, the “senators” have four fully operational units, each of which can fire in difficult times. At Anaheim, supporting actors Brad May, Joe Motzko and Ryan Carter appear on the site only occasionally, giving a breath to the stars of the first magnitude. In fact, the “ducks” can boast of two driving triples and one restraining. Charismatic leader Teemu Selanne goes to his first Stanley Cup career. His gaming connection with Andy MacDonald is tested by the championship. However, most likely, the main threat to the gates of the “senators” will come from the second line of attack, where the young Ryan Getzlaf, Dustin Penner and Corey Perry are powerful, fast and fantastically feel each other. At least, Dominik Haseku in the final of the Western Conference more than others were annoyed by these very young men.
Anaheim goalkeeper Jean-Sebastian Giger scored 12 cup victories in overtime for his Enhael career. An impressive indicator, especially when you consider that the goalkeeper of the “ducks” spent only 40 games in the playoffs, of which 13 went beyond the mandatory three periods. It is inspiring respect and only one missed goal in 250 minutes 44 seconds of extra time that the Californians spent this spring.
Ottawa won 7 victories in 8 away playoff matches. The ice factor for this team is an empty phrase. Spezza and Heatley with 14 points each topped the list of guest scorers. Alfredsson with 7 abandoned washers is the first in the sniper roster.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN
A classic finale that has all the prerequisites to take a prominent place in the annals of history. For the first time since 2001, when the Stanley Cup was contested by Colorado and New Jersey, the decisive matches of the season brought together equal rivals with approximately equal chances of success. There are no more Cinderellas at this ball - all the princes and princesses. Therefore, there is no reason to break the tradition of the last three finals, which invariably ended in seven matches. Ottawa will win if the first three does not lose courage, the unpredictable Emery does not flinch, the Russian Train does not go off the rails - Anton Volchenkov, the club’s chief staffer and blocker. Anaheim will slurp champagne from a silver bowl, if it breaks the rules less, rally around Zhigert, make full use of enviable anthropometric data and receive help from the third and fourth links.
The forecast "Sport today" is 3: 4.
Vladimir BYCHEK