Sens-Leafs Game 4 Roundtable

Is this the last pre-game Roundtable of the postseason? I’m not ready to give up yet, so we’ve gathered the staff yet again to talk about things before Game 4 of the Ottawa Senators‘ series against the Toronto Maple Leafs:

Here we are, down 3-0 in a series where the Sens haven’t been great but likely deserve a bit of a better fate. Where’s your head at? What are you looking for in game 4?

Beata: I have gone through all stages of grief, with a heavy emphasis on the "depression" stage, that I have reached a state of total zen. I have decided to convince myself they're getting swept so that if they don't get swept I will be pleasantly surprised.

Ross: I'm going through the first four stages of grief at the same time. I think I'm mostly telling myself Game 4 will be an ugly, demoralizing loss so I'm not disappointed.

BT: I'm not angry, just disappointed.As for what I am looking for in Game 4 - a win would be nice.

Owen: I feel remarkably upbeat against all logic. I hate the leafs forever don't get me wrong. The Sens have played well enough to put my mind at ease though long term. If Ottawa can cause a bit of anguish and plant that seed of doubt to remind Toronto that everyone hates them then that would be great.

Trevor: It’s incredibly disheartening seeing them lose back-to-back OT games. I’m just in the mindset of “please don’t get swept” now.

Nada: I think I numbed up after Game 2, kinda felt if the Sens didn't get the split, they’d be in trouble. I guess I'm just hoping for them not to be embarrassed even if they do lose.

nkb: I bought tickets to tonight’s game, so damnit I’m banking on them winning. I’m in a bit of denial about the long term outlook for this series, but a win tonight would go a long way for my psyche.

Is there anything the Sens can do to salvage this series? What does success look like now that it’s 3-0 Toronto?

Beata: If they can push it to at least 6 games, and win at least one game decisively (so by several goals) I will feel slightly better about this team, but nothing short of a reverse sweep will be a true success.

Ross: Success right now is winning a game. If they do that, success is winning another game. They can't salvage the series short of a generational miracle, but not winning a single playoff game feels like a huge defeat. Hey, the Caps got swept in Round 1 last year, and then came back to be the second-best team in the league this year. Maybe we can do that. (This is the bargaining stage of grief.)

BT: It probably looks a lot like the game in Toronto in November. Scoring early, adding some insurance, and never letting Toronto get into the game in the first place. At least for one game, but preferably 4.

Owen: Just by doing as much mental damage as possible on the way out that would amount to a win in my books

Trevor: As much as I’d love to believe, I don’t think they have a shot. I’d say winning two games and making it close would be a success.

Nada: Maybe this is overly demanding, but the only thing that can be called a success at this point is a reverse sweep, or at least getting the series to a Game 7. Will it happen? Probably not....

nkb: Like others have said already, real success is winning the series; anything short of that is just coping. At the same time, winning the series 4-3 after going down 3-0 would be the funniest thing ever so I am holding onto that possibility as means of staying sane.

Are there any changes you’d like to see from Travis Green?

Beata: Personnel-wise, no, I don't think so. I'd like to see a lot more focus on getting to the net and creating rebounds, though, because that seems like their biggest problem at the moment.

Ross: Not really. I like Zetterlund on the second line vs. Perron. I think it's about personnel executing: Giroux winning faceoffs, the team getting shots through. I'd like to see the team do a lot more to generate shots and traffic — 20 shots on goal in a must-win OT game is unacceptable — but that's not really on the coach.

BT: I'm not sure what he can do at this point. I don't see any lineup changes that would have a significant impact (but does he roll the dice and put Yak in?), and the issues this series has put on full display aren't ones that can be fixed quickly.

Owen: I'm going against the grain and saying no. Ottawa has played well and is trending in the right direction. It's just too little too late. Keep encouraging good habits with and without the puck. Reap the fruits of your labour next year as sad as that makes me to say.

Trevor: It’s hard to say, they just need to finish their chances. Other than that, they have good lines. 

Nada: I don't think shuffling personnel is the issue, something is just not clicking and I don't know if Travis Green can fix it.

nkb: It’s too late for any kind of big strategic changes, and I think Green is playing his cards as well as he could right now. This team had been challenged offensively all year, and I’m not sure much of that is Green’s fault. Staios has some work to do in the off-season but that’s a discussion for another day.

Lastly, any predictions for tonight?

Beata: I just said I've convinced myself they're getting swept, but that's just to protect my heart, so I'll be a bit more optimistic here: they get an ugly win to push the series to 5 games.

Ross: The Sens won't get enough shots. Ullmark won't make enough saves. The Sens' PP won't get enough chances. The Sens' PK will give up too many chances. Regardless of the score, I predict all four of those things will feel true to Sens fandom.

BT: The Sens will actually get shots on net in the first half of the third period, and will extend the series.

Owen: The sweep happens but at least the Sens get a proper farewell at home to wrap up a productive year that just happened to end with a cold streak at the worst possible time.

Trevor: Ottawa is able to bury some more chances and win 4-1. 

Nada: Unfortunately, I think the Leafs will have the confidence to finish off the job tonight; something like a 3-1 Leafs win to get the sweep.

nkb: I’m gonna keep saying it until they do it: Sens win 4-2. Stützle with the hat-trick.