Ottawa Senators must focus on system, not Subban slash
If Sens focus on revenge or justice in Game 2, series could be over quick
The Ottawa Senators need to seek much more than justice or revenge in Game 2 as they try to avoid a 2-0 series deficit to the Montreal Canadiens.
They need to re-discover the quick and defensively sound play that dug Ottawa from their mid-season hole.
- Mark Stone's injury, no suspension for P.K. Subban spark fan reaction
- Mark Stone suffers fractured wrist from P.K. Subban slash
- P.K. Subban says referees made right call for slash on Stone
The slash by P.K. Subban on Mark Stone did more than take Ottawa's rookie out of the game, at least for a time.
It also created a frenetic and disorganized second period where Montreal, despite giving up two power-play goals during a major penalty, came out with a one-goal lead.
The Habs held onto that lead and now hold a 1-0 lead in the series.
You can spend day and night debating the Subban slash, including the intent, the injury and how it will affect the series.
As with most incidents in the playoffs, the slash should not define the series unless the Senators make it the focus. An Ottawa win in Game 2 would steal home-ice advantage from Montreal and send the teams back to Ottawa just as they did two years ago — tied 1-1.
Their defence let them down, though, and a short-handed goal by Lars Eller on a bad giveaway encapsulated the messy second period for Ottawa.
While head coach Dave Cameron and general manager Bryan Murray have put much of the media focus on the Subban-Stone storyline, the talk in the locker room has to be on a return to the team's successful, aggressive system.
The Senators gave the puck away 10 times in Game 1, something the Habs thrive on, which ultimately led to odd-man rushes against the Senators. After pushing hard early and creating a number of Montreal giveaways, Ottawa took their foot off the pedal as the game wore on.
"It was a lot of things that we feel we can clean up and it wasn't our best game by any means," goalie Andrew Hammond said on Thursday.
There is tape to keep and there's tape to watch, learn and toss.
Sens forecheck must return to form
If Ottawa plans to make this rivalry a competitive series, with or without Stone, their forecheck and defensive zone coverage must be sharper.
"It's not easy. We've got a full playoff series against this team … We can't let (the slash) distract us, though, we can't let it be the big headline in our dressing room."
P.K. Subban will play Game 2, while Stone is questionable for the rest of the series. The Habs could also welcome back leading scorer Max Pacioretty, who has been out with an upper-body injury.
It doesn't matter if Stone surprises everyone and dresses Friday, Cameron should remind his team about the importance of their attacking system.
As he said Thursday, the "best way to get even is to win the hockey game."