lingzi
1454 posts
|
OTTAWA —Daniel Alfredsson has been here before. Dan Connolly Jersey . Many of his teammates
havent. The Senators captain will look to pass his playoff experience on to a
youthful Ottawa locker-room before the team opens its Eastern Conference
quarter-final with the Rangers in New York on Thursday. But Alfredsson says
theres nothing that can really prepare a player for his NHL playoff debut. “Its
like going to Vegas for the first time,” the 39-year-old said Wednesday. “People
can tell you how incredible it is to see these buildings in the middle of the
desert, but until you go there it doesnt do it justice. “The playoffs are the
same way.” Ottawa, the eighth seed in the East, will dress no fewer than six
players with zero NHL playoff experience at Madison Square Garden against the
heavily-favoured Rangers. Alfredsson, who has 107 playoff games to his credit,
believes preparation will be key for the Senators young players. “Its just
making them aware of how things are on such a bigger scale. If you say the wrong
thing its going to be in every paper and youre going to have to answer for it,”
he said. “Its about handling your emotions because youre so pumped up and you
have to be able to direct them in the right way. Theyll learn a lot right from
that first game.” One of those young players is rookie defenceman Jared Cowen.
“Weve been talking about playoffs for a while now, especially since we
clinched,” he said. “Its exciting to actually get into it now and actually
experience it for the first time and get the game started.” Cowen says he feels
both excited and nervous but adds the experience of players like Alfredsson and
Sergei Gonchar (118 playoff games) is reassuring. “Its nice to have those guys
here to know I can ask them about anything,” said the 21-year-old Cowen. “They
always have things to say in the locker-room or just in general about how things
are going to work because the playoffs are different and they help to calm me
down.” The success of the AHLs Binghamton Senators, who won last seasons Calder
Cup, also helps. “I think were going to rely on that experience a lot simply
because we dont have NHL playoff experience,” said winger Colin Greening. “We
went through four rounds of really hard, arduous hockey so were banking on that
experience to help us.” In addition to Greening and Cowen, Erik Condra,
Kaspars Daugavins, Jim OBrien and Bobby Butler were part of Binghamtons
championship team. Zack Smith was also part of the squad, but he played six
playoff games for Ottawa in 2010. With so many first timers in the lineup Paul
MacLean isnt quite sure what to expect. “Thats what experience gives you. Its
the fact youve been there before so its not as surprising or overwhelming as a
guy whos there for the first time,” said MacLean. “We feel a sense of confidence
in our group because theyve had the experience at the Calder Cup and winning a
championship. “Although its different from the Stanley Cup playoffs its still
playoff hockey and our feeling is thats going to make the adjustment a little
shorter than it would be for the normal guy thats just starting out and its his
first Stanley Cup playoff game or playoff game.” Gonchar says he still gets
nervous before playoff games, but relying on structure and routine helps manage
that excitement. “Well do our preparations and our stuff and make sure were
ready for when the game starts,” said Gonchar. “I dont think well have to do too
much, well just do our thing and make sure everyones on the same page. Its
making sure we play our game, play for 60 minutes and do your job. Just focus on
the things that youre doing and make sure you do them right.” Notes: Game 2 of
the series goes Saturday night in New York. The series shifts to Ottawa for Game
3 on Monday and Game 4 on Wednesday. ... Senators D Matt Carkner returned to the
ice Wednesday and said he is fit to play if needed. ... Senators RW
Mika Zibanejad was assigned to Binghamton. Zibanejad caused a minor stir on
Tuesday when he skated on Ottawas top line in practice with Jason Spezza and
Milan Michalek. Binghamton has two games left in its regular season and wont
make the playoffs. Nate Solder Jersey . In the process, they
provided the Jacksonville Jaguars with a harsh taste of reality. Joe Flacco
completed 27 of 36 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns before leaving early
in the third quarter, and Baltimore cruised to a 48-17 victory Thursday night.
Devin McCourty Jersey . The Padres recalled
shortstop Everth Cabrera and second baseman Alexi Amarista from Triple-A Tucson,
and both were in the lineup for Thursday nights game against the NL West-leading
Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres have the worst record in the NL, 14-24. http://www.officialnewenglandpatriotsgear.com/vince-wilfork-jersey
. Rondo scored. The Heat answered. Then again. And again. Eventually, Rondo
missed, one of the rare times he didnt deliver on an unforgettable night. Irving Fryar Jersey . —Worth Repeating,
whose owners include New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and two other
horses were scratched from their respective Breeders Cup races on Friday at
Santa Anita. Andre Tippett Jersey . A person familiar with
Clevelands decision said Wednesday night that the Cavs have exercised the option
on Scotts contract for the 2013-14 season.SAN ANTONIO —Spurs guard
Manu Ginobili is back in the starting lineup for Game 5 against the Oklahoma
City Thunder on Monday night. Ginobili replaces Danny Green, who is shooting
just 8 of 28 in the Western Conference finals. Its the first start for Ginobili
since March 23 and just his eighthh all season. Chandler Jones Jersey. . Spurs coach Gregg
Popovich wouldnt discuss any lineup changes before the game. But the move is a
big shake-up for the Spurs after they dropped Games 3 and 4 in Oklahoma City
following a 20-game winning streak. Ginobili is averaging 13.1 points in the
playoffs. ’ ’ ’
|
Home
6 posts, 2 voices
shanggu
469 posts
