Big Hockey Game!

[Mike]

The vaunted Ottawa Senators (#4 in the NHL East) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (#5) in the home opener of a best-of-seven series. Some people say this will be the best matchup of the eastern playoffs (right now 8 teams in the east, 8 in the west).

The Penguins have an awesome goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who stunned Canada in the Juniors with great play. Egivny Malkin, a young Russian hotshot is a star. Veteran defenceman Sergei Gonchar had the hardest shot in the league for awhile. And, in a trade before the playoffs, the Penguins acquired 40-year old Gary Roberts, who works out all the time and who has beaten the Ottawa Senators in playoffs past.

In response, Ottawa's defence has the trusty Wade Redden, and Anton Volchenkov who will dive down to block many pucks (ouch!). Captain Alfredsson will lead this team as he has in the past. Hotshot Dany Heatley had the second highest number of goals in the league, and the sometimes crazy Jason Spezza is also a threat (he likes to suddenly spin and pass without looking, meaning that there are turnovers galore!) FInally, Ottawa's goalie Ray Emery is such a fighter he took on two guys in one fight, earning him the nickname "Sugar Ray" Emery after the former prizefighter.

And, of course, the 19-year phenomenon Sidney Crosby is highlighted for the Penguins. This guy earned the most points (goals+assists) in the league. He is slated to surpass the Great Wayne Gretzky's records. This is the superstar's first playoff series, and he doesn't understand the meaning of failure.

I'm not sure if the first game is widely available in the U.S., but for sure there is an afternoon game (3pm eastern) on NBC on Sat Apr 14.

Go Sens Go!