Silver Nuggets: Leclaire starts; Donovan in for Cheechoo
A whole season comes down to this one game. If the Ottawa Senators lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the season is over. If they win, then a whole season comes down to the next game. Here are some headlines heading into game five:
- Pascal Leclaire starts tonight, and Shean Donovan subs in tonight in place of Jonathan Cheechoo. (Twitter)
- UPDATE: Tyler Kennedy is still out after being injured off a hit by Andy Sutton last game, so Ruslan Fedotenko is the likely replacement. Rumours of Eric Godard getting into the lineup are, apparently, grossly exaggerated. (Pensburgh)
- One game at a time. There is no tomorrow. On the brink. On thin ice. Never give up. Can we find more cliches, please?
- Prediction panel: Only Russell from Sens Underground and I keep the faith. Especially Russell... if his 11-0 prediction comes true, he'll look like a genius. (Citizen)
- One thing Ottawa's got to do tonight? Play their style, and try not to get caught up in gunning for the killer hit. (Sun, NHL)
- Still, Sidney Crosby knows nothing's done yet; he expects game five to be the toughest of the series. (NHL)
- Ottawa still a goalie graveyard. Water still wet. (Sun)
- Don Brennan seems convinced Ottawa is done. If for not other reason than to spite him, Ottawa needs to come back. (Sun)
- Folks are making sure to give the Pittsburgh defence plenty of credit, and to acknowledge Bill Guerin's play in the series, somehow forgetting that Sidney Crosby has almost single-handedly put the Penguins in the position they're in now.
- There were comments about the refereeing last game, but they were subtle. The Senators have enough things to worry about that they can control, no sense worrying about that which they can't. (Sun)
- Brian Costello takes a (pessimistic) look at the Senators salary commitments for next year. Because who needs to wait for the season to end before you worry about what'll happen in the off-season? (Metro)
- Sens prospect Patrick Wiercioch was named to a first-team All American for his play with the University of Denver. If you're wondering, no, he's not American; he's from Maple Grove, B.C. (WCHA)
- Former Senators GM Rick Dudley found a new job in Atlanta; The Falconer takes a look at his reputation, including a quick blurb about his time here by yours truly. (Bird Watchers Anonymous)