The Ottawa Senators have one regular-season recreation remaining, however their sights are firmly set on the upcoming playoffs.
On Tuesday evening, the Senators discovered they’ll open the post-season in opposition to their provincial rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ottawa was 3-0-0 in opposition to Toronto this season.
This marks Ottawa’s first playoff look in eight years and their first post-season showdown with the Leafs since 2004.
Senators head coach Travis Inexperienced is raring for his crew to expertise the depth of playoff hockey and he’s no stranger to the fanfare the provincial battle supplies.
Inexperienced was a member of the 2001-02 Leafs crew that beat the Senators in seven video games within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
“Thrilling might be downplaying it slightly bit,” stated Inexperienced. “I feel it’s going to be nice for the province. The Battle of Ontario is well-known and we haven’t been within the playoffs for a very long time and it’s going to be thrilling.”
Now Inexperienced will get to expertise the rivalry from a special vantage level.
“It gained’t be simply the gamers which might be excited,” he stated. “Coaches can be excited, too.”
And this time round he and Daniel Alfredsson, the Senators’ assistant coach, can be on the identical crew. As a participant, Alfredsson by no means skilled beating the Leafs in a playoff series, which ought to solely add to the crew’s motivation.
“It’s going to be so much of enjoyable,” stated Inexperienced. “It’s going to be an intense series, so much of feelings, each cities, actually every part you need in a playoff series and gamers are going to find it irresistible and followers are going to find it irresistible. Looking forward to it.”
Most of the present roster had been simply kids the final time the 2 groups met within the playoffs however they’ve heard concerning the rivalry and are excited to begin a brand new chapter for a brand new era.
“It’s superior,” stated Drake Batherson. “I imply, we’d be completely satisfied with anybody, however I really feel like everybody desires the Battle of Ontario they usually’re going to get it and it ought to be an excellent one.”
Brady Tkachuk has missed the final eight video games with an upper-body damage and Inexperienced wouldn’t commit a technique or one other if his captain would play the ultimate recreation of the common season on Thursday in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes.
“We’ll see Thursday,” stated Inexperienced. “We weigh each determination on who’s going to play and who’s not going to play and Brady’s no totally different so we’ll see Thursday if he performs or not.”
Inexperienced stated he had no concern if Tkachuk didn’t get a recreation in earlier than the opening-round playoff series begins, which is predicted to be Sunday in Toronto.
The Senators have been giving totally different gamers a recreation off in preparation for the post-season battles, however for these nonetheless within the lineup the depth and preparation stay the identical.
“You need to win all of them,” stated Tim Stutzle. “Like I stated earlier than, we would like to go into the playoffs with an excellent feeling.”
For others the previous few video games have been a possibility to get their recreation again up to velocity. Nick Cousins missed 30 video games due to surgical procedure and was thrilled to give you the option to return to the lineup this previous Sunday and get some recreation motion earlier than the playoffs.
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