Why did so many of you WANT this match up

[Gil Gunderson]

Didn’t want it because we’re inexperienced and I knew the season series was meaningless.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

You guys are cowards. This is part of sports.

You can't have the highs without the lows. The lows help define the highs.

We’ve had plenty of lows since 2017. We know all about them, don’t worry.

 

[IpsoPostFacto]

Went with "... do not regret".

I'm covered in Sens scar tissue. There's nothing a Leafs fan can say that will hurt me.

For me, the series was low risk, high reward.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

We’ve had plenty of lows since 2017. We know all about them, don’t worry.

I feel more like nothing of consequence has happened with this team since we lost Mark Stone. It's almost like we've been frozen in time as a fanbase from then until now.

Yeah, I guess we had a few games 2 years ago where we were kind of in the running for a playoff spot after the deadline, but I think there is a segment of fans who aren't conditioned to what sports actually are supposed to feel like. Both the winning and losing, because they only follow the Senators and basically haven't experienced anything for 5 or so years.

I don't understand the mentality of "see this feels bad, why did you want this?" as if any other outcome would protect us from eventually feeling awful. It's part of the deal with sports.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

You guys are cowards. This is part of sports.

You can't have the highs without the lows. The lows help define the highs.

I'm not saying I'd rather not make the playoffs.

I am wondering why people wanted the Leafs. I also understand that not everybody did.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

I'm not saying I'd rather not make the playoffs.

I am wondering why people wanted the Leafs. I also understand that not everybody did.

I think people wanted it because it was the most compelling matchup.

Our possible options were Washington, Toronto, Florida, or Tampa. You could argue that post-TDL with the additions Tampa made, Toronto is the worst of those four teams. All of those teams are very good teams. I could see how someone would look at how we matched up with Toronto in the regular season and want Toronto.

I don't get people who allow themselves to be scared over the lows of losing to Toronto. It sucks more than losing to Tampa because of all the baggage and the local Leafs fans, but people shouldn't be afraid of that. The Sun will come out tomorrow. Etc.

 

[darude]

TBH, I believed we matched up fairly well with them back at the end of March.

Ullmark was my big question mark at the time. He may still be but honestly, having seen all the goals going in, I dunno how much of the blame I can put on him.

Even if I had a crystal ball to before the playoffs and knew we would we lose this series (hopefully not get swept), I would've asked for this just to rekindle the Battle of Ontario. I associate it with Sens playoff hockey, and while they had our number it was still a hell of a time to be a fan of the team and was around the start of the team becoming great.

 

[Norris4Norris]

I'm not saying I'd rather not make the playoffs.

I am wondering why people wanted the Leafs. I also understand that not everybody did.

It's pretty simple.

The Panthers won the cup last year, the Lightning won twice before that and both teams looked really good in the regular season. They also have proven winners at goalie, both Vasilevskiy and Bob with Vezinas and cups to their names.

Toronto had none of the above. They were a perennial first round exit. Washington wasn't in the picture because we finished way ahead of the Habs who were choking down the stretch.

Comprendo?

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Well we’ve gone toe to toe with them. I think lightning and panthers would have steamrolled us.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Well we’ve gone toe to toe with them. I think lightning and panthers would have steamrolled us.

Thing with Tampa is that Vasi has looked very beatable in the last two playoffs and this one right now. He’s obviously very good, but there’s a bit of a playbook on him in NHL dressing rooms.

There’s also the thing about losing to Tampa being much more tolerable than Tampa.

I was hoping to God we’d catch Florida or Tampa would catch Toronto. I don’t care about playing in an “entertaining” series or spectacle.

 

[Tuna99]

This thread title feels like it was written by a spouse who 3 days in hates the vacation they are on

 

[headup]

Seeing what the Habs can do at their best last night has really bummed me out.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

I wanted this match-up and I don't regret it. I think we had the best chance against the leafs and we have two OT games to show for it. We have outshot and outchanced them throughout the series thus far. I expected us to have PK trouble against the Leafs, but I thought the other factors that favour us would outweigh the risks of their lethal PP and our middling PK. I did NOT expect us to do so poorly in faceoffs. We were a top 5 FO team league-wide this season.

You know, there are no “loser” points in the playoffs.

The Sens, were never going to measure up well, in the playoffs vs any of Leafs, Panthers or Lightning…… Washington would have been a little better for then Sens in terms of matching up….but did not enter into the playoffs expecting more than a 6 or 7 game series.

The last team I would have wanted was the Leafs, as they have a long history of playoff failures to draw upon, and they brought in a coach ….. a coach that was available when Staios decided to bring in Martin….. nevertheless a coach that was going to get the Leafs over a hump or two this time around in the playoffs…… does anyone not think from the Leafs perspective that they would, if given the choice, would have hand picked the Sens over any of the teams contending for the wildcard spot as the season wound down?


On another note…. A LOT of Sens fans were all gah gah over a meaningless mid season one of,hockey tournament…. The 4 Nations Cup… and the Sens Captain laid it all on the line for that stupid tournament…. And now we’re seeing the fallout from that tournament….. and the same will be true when the NHL gets back into the Olympics allowing star players to possibly jeopardise their NHL teams playoff success, with a mid season tournament.

Rant ended.

SIMMONS: Craig Berube is the new Pat Quinn, the new Pat Burns, with the Maple Leafs

Is coach Craig Berube the new Pat Burns, the new Pat Quinn? They appear to be that well coached with a 3-0 lead in the Battle of Ontario

torontosun.com

 

[Tuna99]

You know, there are no “loser” points in the playoffs.

The Sens, were never going to measure up well, in the playoffs vs any of Leafs, Panthers or Lightning…… Washington would have been a little better for then Sens in terms of matching up….but did not enter into the playoffs expecting more than a 6 or 7 game series.

The last team I would have wanted was the Leafs, as they have a long history of playoff failures to draw upon, and they brought in a coach ….. a coach that was available when Staios decided to bring in Martin….. nevertheless a coach that was going to get the Leafs over a hump or two this time around in the playoffs…… does anyone not think from the Leafs perspective that they would, if given the choice, would have hand picked the Sens over any of the teams contending for the wildcard spot as the season wound down?


On another note…. A LOT of Sens fans were all gah gah over a meaningless mid season one of,hockey tournament…. The 4 Nations Cup… and the Sens Captain laid it all on the line for that stupid tournament…. And now we’re seeing the fallout from that tournament….. and the same will be true when the NHL gets back into the Olympics allowing star players to possibly jeopardise their NHL teams playoff success, with a mid season tournament.

Rant ended.

It’s not over, check your spine, you’ve surrender before the battle is over

 

[NyQuil]

On another note…. A LOT of Sens fans were all gah gah over a meaningless mid season one of,hockey tournament…. The 4 Nations Cup… and the Sens Captain laid it all on the line for that stupid tournament…. And now we’re seeing the fallout from that tournament….. and the same will be true when the NHL gets back into the Olympics allowing star players to possibly jeopardise their NHL teams playoff success, with a mid season tournament.

Stupid Sens fans.

Enjoying life and what not.

 

[umma gumma]

What's heartbreaking is having a team that is capable of a deep run, and had done so, only to lose because Lalime tries to save the puck from a bad angle shot on his blocker side with his trapper.

I think being shut out in 3 out of 7 games was a bigger factor.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

It’s not over, check your spine, you’ve surrender before the battle is over

Oh, it’s over, you just don’t see it yet…..

 

[Tuna99]

Oh, it’s over, you just don’t see it yet…..

You’re a party pooper, I don’t like the the weak fans who quit before it’s over and critique the fans who are still cheering the team on. I’m having fun and I still believed and you’re wallowing in misery and feeling sorry for yourself.

This is the playoffs enjoy it

 

[JD1]

Being a sports fan is an emotional thing. There's really nothing rationale about it. Why do I choose to oo sit in a seat the is too small and drink 15 dollar beer. I don't just choose to do that, I pay a hefty price to do that.

It's about emotion. There's no bigger potential emotional experience for this fanbase than beating the Leafs. I think it rivals winning a cup

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I don't really care who we faced. Sooner or later, you've got to face all the big guns of the East either way.

 

[DueDiligence]

For real?

Did you honestly expect us to win? I still can't believe so many of you wanted the Leafs when it was clear it was the perfect match up for them: a young team that is ok but not great, not very big at all, and a goalie with a bad track record in the playoffs (and I think he's been fine, we are losing because we can't score)

So: do you regret hoping for the Leafs?

EDIT: to clarify, it isn't that I think we beat Washington. Its that losing to the Leafs is awful. This is 2001 all over again.

Losing to the Leafs isn't awful. The chance to beat them in the playoffs was certainly the best scenario. Leafs were the clear favorite so losing to them was the likely outcome.
And if they were playing Tampa or Florida the outcome would be any different?

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

They were all tough match ups.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Thing with Tampa is that Vasi has looked very beatable in the last two playoffs and this one right now. He’s obviously very good, but there’s a bit of a playbook on him in NHL dressing rooms.

There’s also the thing about losing to Tampa being much more tolerable than Tampa.

I was hoping to God we’d catch Florida or Tampa would catch Toronto. I don’t care about playing in an “entertaining” series or spectacle.

Well you haven’t really gotten an entertaining series here either.

Refereeing has totally neutered any physical play and serious bad blood. Both teams are playing very stingy tactical 5v5

 

[Blotto71]

My feeling is that Ottawa has to slay some demons before they can truly and completely arrive. Beating the Leafs is a piece of that - for the city and for Ullmark. I expect that the outcome of this series, win or lose, will provide some fuel for the summer and the team will be better next season for it.

 

[Tnuoc Alucard]

You’re a party pooper, I don’t like the the weak fans who quit before it’s over and critique the fans who are still cheering the team on. I’m having fun and I still believed and you’re wallowing in misery and feeling sorry for yourself.

This is the playoffs enjoy it

Sens are slight favourites on the betting market(s) for tonight’s game….as of now, the numbers will change before puck drop

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