I'm reminded of a line from I don't know where that says "Good triumphs over Evil but only when Good is very very careful" or something like that. That saying could apply to the Senators as they prepare to face the Penguins: they can take the series, but they'll have to work at it... hard.



By working at it, I don't mean that they'll have to do anything special. Yes, they'll have to step up the tempo, but really, they'll just have to play the Clouston system to a fault, and they'll do fine. But just in case someone important is reading this blog (as has seemed to be the case in the past) here's the keys for a Senators victory in this series.

Goaltending
Brian Elliott has to be hot. There's no two ways about it. Without some solid goaltending, this series is going nowhere fast for the Sens. Again, nothing special. Elliott has to play the positionally sound game that has worked for him, and make the occasional heroic save. It's nothing he hasn't done before.

Defense
The Sens have to make the Pens pay for crossing the blue line. It's that simple. There are some big bodies on that blue line, and a few break-out passers. Chris Phillips is unique in that he does both and has a very decent shot. But I'm looking for the Big Rig and Anton Volchenkov, Matt Carkner, and Andy Sutton to make the Penguins forwards pay for all intrusions into their zone. Worrisome is the fate of Erik Karlsson. You just know the Penguins will be checking hard, but I think the young man can hold his own and will be a key player,.

Offense
Simplify. It is satisfying to score on a gorgeous tic-tac-toe play, but what will get it done is putting pucks on the goalie, crashing the net, and going after the junk goals. It also means penalizing the Penguins defense who are the Pens' weak link. The Sens must therefore be physical on the offense as well. I like the chances of the forechecking lines here.

Overall
Everyone has the Pens tagged to win this one easily. I'm not so sure. Winning in the post season is about balance, and I see the Senators as the more balanced team of the two with a pretty solid performance everywhere. The point is that "pretty solid" won't cut it in the second season. The Senators must be very solid everywhere, and they will make it far.