Playoffs: Who Wins? Senators or Canadiens

MONTREAL (AP) -- Daniel Alfredsson has tormented the Canadiens since he began his Ottawa Senators career in 1995, but he has never faced Montreal in the playoffs.

The 40-year-old Alfredsson will finally get that chance Thursday night when the Senators and Canadiens face off in the postseason for the first time in Game 1 of the first-round matchup.

''It's going to be a great series because of the cities being so close to each other,'' Alfredsson said Wednesday. ''Ottawa is a pretty new franchise compared to Montreal.

''Before we had the team, people were either Toronto or Montreal fans, so we have a lot of Montreal fans in Ottawa and we're converting them one step at a time. Winning this series would probably go a long way to helping that.''

A long, tight series of one-goal games is expected from the two quick-skating teams.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/canadie...234511927.html

Anderson Makes 48 Saves in Senators' 4-2 Win

MONTREAL (AP) -- Fifty shots is usually enough to win a hockey game.

Not when Craig Anderson is guarding the goal.

Anderson made 48 saves, many of them spectacular, and the Ottawa Senators staged a third-period comeback to beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in the opening game of the first playoff series between the geographic rivals.

The Canadiens set team playoff records with 27 shots in the second period and 50 overall. Wasn't enough: Anderson outplayed Montreal goalie Carey Price, who stopped 27 shots at the other end.

''What can you say? Andy's our MVP,'' said defenseman Marc Methot, who scored the winning goal. ''He's a machine back there. He just keeps going and going. We're lucky to have him in the net.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/anderson-makes-48-saves-senators-021615389--nhl.html

Senators Pound Canadiens 6-1, take 2-1 Series Lead

OTTAWA (AP) -- After getting his first NHL hat trick, Jean-Gabriel Pageau was left with a bloody smile after the Senators' Game 3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.

The 20-year-old rookie lost a tooth in a fight-filled, emotional 6-1 win.

The teams combined for 236 penalty minutes and nine players were given a game misconduct.

The Senators have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and Game 4 is Tuesday night in Ottawa.

Pageau, with his first career playoff goal, gave the Senators a 2-1 lead early in the second as he slipped between defensemen P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov to beat Carey Price over the shoulder.

Pageau is not likely to forget the goal as he was hit in the mouth by Subban on the goal and lost a tooth. Players could be seen looking for the tooth on the ensuing goal celebration.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/senators-pound-canadiens-6-1-023012183--nhl.html

I can give you 6 reasons why you shouldn't insult the other teams coach during a playoff series.

Montreal found that out the hard way.

I am really pulling for the Sens here, would love to see the Habs knocked out first round and the Sens are my second favorite team.

Yes Habs have been outshooting them but Anderson is standing on his head and the guys in front are getting pucks past Price. Do that in the two games in Ottawa and we that'll be all she wrote.