Everyone's talking about the Senators facing Dany Heatley for the first time since last summer's drama and his pre-season departure to warmer, and more earthquake-prone climes. I never understood the willingness with which people have moved to California. Every one tends to gloss over the fact that California sits astride this gigantic crack in the Earth's crust. If I have one "get rich" tip for you readers, it is this: buy land in the Sierra Nevada. Because sooner or later, that's gonna be beachfront property. But I digress.

Yes, the Sens are facing the Sharks and a first tilt with the reviled Dany Heatley. I have heard requests for an A-train strike on Heatley (although Anton Volchenkov remains only a "probable" for tomorrow"), for a Jason Spezza vistuoso performance, etc. The one fact that people tend to gloss over is that Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek are going back to where they came from. And they know the Sharks' system. Backwards.



Although there was a mighty clean-up in San Jose between this season and last, a large part of the core crew remains. Patrick Marleau, and Joe Thornton are still as dangerous as ever, topping out the Sharks' scoring, above Dany Heatley. Rob Blake, Dan Boyle still anchor the blue line. The Sharks are once again comfortably atop the Western conference standings. To say this is going to be a tough game is like saying Dolly Parton might have problems sleeping on her stomach.

But having Michalek and Cheechoo in the mix will be like having insider information. Pretty much everyone on the Sens team has the inside on Heatley. But only those two have an inside on the opposition. Cheechoo plays on a line with Chris Kelly and Jarkko Ruutu, and they form a hard-checking line that gets chances. Michalek is, of course, on the top line, and likely matched against the Sharks' top line, which should be interesting to see.

Michalek as the new top goal-scorer of the Sens will want to prove himself. So will Heatley as San Jose's new top scorer. Cheechoo will want to show how wrong they were about him, and I expect a lot of heart from him. Mike Fisher, as the inheritor of Heatley's 'A', and as new scoring crown prince, will also want to show his stuff. Spezza will also have something to prove in trying to demonstrate what he can do without Heatley.

I believe that playing the Sharks may be much more of a test for the Sens than playing either Pittsburgh or Washington. The Senators are on the road, each team with players that have something to prove to their old team. Typical British understatement would forecast a play that is "spirited".

I'd love to see a rough and tumble game, sure. But more than anything, I would love for the Senators goal machine to start clicking right about now. Something tells me to watch for some action from Alex Kovalev. He's been hot the last few games, and this will show once and for all if his heart is with the Senators in a game that likely matters a lot to the team. I, for one, believe he'll rise to the challenge.