NHL
OPINION
May 28th, 2007
OTTAWA SENATORS VS. ANAHEIM
DUCKS
Anaheim
has been a Stanley
Cup favorite since the beginning
of the season. Ottawa has
flown under the radar, but certainly
not based on talent. Their failings
from playoffs past haunted the Senators,
but those ghosts have been vanquished
and now Ottawa is poised to hoist the
cup for the first time in 80 years.
Their last rite of passage comes in
the form of the Twin Towers.
OFFENSE
The triumvirate of Alfredsson-Heatley-Spezza
has been absolutely unstoppable during
the playoffs. They have notched 58
combined points in the playoffs,
but will face their biggest challenge
in this series. Can they get past
Pronger and Niedermayer?
The
brunt of responsibility rests on
Teemu Selanne’s shoulders.
But he is a warrior and will answer
the call for his team when that puck
drops. What is more important is
that the second line of Getzlaf-Penner-Perry
gets off to a good start.
Ottawa’s offensive output
thins out dramatically after its
top-line, but those starting three
are a juggernaut. Teemu is a warrior
and the second-line of Anaheim is
solid, but Ottawa’s top-line
holds the edge in offense.
EDGE: OTTAWA
DEFENSE
This
is a story of quality versus quantity.
Anaheim boasts the more celebrated
blue-line, since Pronger and Niedermayer
are both Norris Trophy finalists.
However, past them, Anaheim only
has two other defenseman worthy
of mentioning (O’Donnell and
Beauchemin).
Ottawa
has a bevy of defensive talent
that begins with Anton Volchenkov
and Chris Phillips. Both are heady
defensemen who were able to shut
down the four-line depth of Buffalo
with relative ease.
As
good as Ottawa is, however, depth
is not a necessity on defense. Pronger,
Niedermayer and Beauchemin are all
capable of logging thirty minutes
a night. This will be the toughest
test for Ottawa, and expect the Twin
Towers to put the clamps on Ottawa’s
best in this series.
EDGE: ANAHEIM
GOALTENDING
Giguere is simply better then Emery
and Anaheim has a definitive edge
in net because of him. He is an elite
goalie in the NHL and
a proven playoff performer. Emery
has never been seriously tested thus
far.
EDGE: ANAHEIM
INTANGIBLES
Swagger. Ottawa has been playing with
an almost cocky confidence throughout
these playoffs. These Senators are
not the same as years past, and stomping
all over the Eastern Conference was
the best way to prove it.
Anaheim’s
physical style of play could seriously
disrupt the Senators mojo. Anaheim
will play those first two games
by throwing their bodies around,
trying to knock the smaller Sens
on their backs. If that happens,
the Sens swagger may fall by the
wayside.
EDGE: ANAHEIM
VERDICT
Anaheim
has been slammed recently for discipline
issues due to their game four meltdown
against Detroit. But that was one game,
and the Ducks proved they could overcome
that adversity by winning games five
and six.
Ottawa has crushed their opponents
thus far, while also crushing their
reputation as playoff pushovers.
But can they overcome the duo of
Pronger and Niedermayer? Everyone
who has tried before has failed.
That
is why you should bet on the Anaheim
Ducks to win in six. They have
the better goalie, better special
teams and the better blue-line. Ottawa
will bring the heat and that top-line
certainly can’t be stopped,
but they can be contained. Look
for Pronger-Niedermayer and Giguere
to take center stage in a classic
series.
The promised land is at your finger
tips, boys. Four more wins and the
glory is yours. Lord Stanley awaits.
Score
big with online sports betting
in the BetUS.com sportsbook, where
you’ll find NHL
odds and lines for every NHL
hockey game of the year. If you
like to bet
on NHL hockey, you’ll love
the NHL player and game props in
our online sportsbook. Join
BetUS today!
For all NHL
odds, visit Betus.com
Posted
on 5/28/2007 8:41:00 PM
NHL
Opinion 2007 - Stanley Cup Finals
Preview
By
Ringo Dalewood
BetUS.com
is a leading online sports betting
and sports wagering entertainment
website, providing a safe and
secure place for online gambling
for more than 13 years now. BetUS.com
is recognized as one of the oldest
and most respected online entertainment
companies, offering the level
of experience and industry expertise
expected of a world-class sportsbook.
|
