Andrew DiMillo

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Carolina now 11-1 in the playoffs. A solid team top to bottom.

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Now that my Sens & Raps are eliminated, it’s officially Jays time!
Ya the bats have struggled a bit. Would anything less be expected w/o Springer, Barger, Kirk, and yes, Santander? Pitching has been so-so. That’s w/o Bieber, Ponce, Yimi, Berrios & Trey til recently… no panic yet

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

It’s one thing to do the right things and not see results. It’s another to bobble every pass, fumble every puck, not be able to get strength on any pucks… and not contribute at all to your team’s offense for 4 games… pretty dreadful

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Brady Tkachuk’s issues have been well-documented. They are what they are - and if he does truly eventually want out, then sooner rather than later.

The bigger concern may be that Tim Stutzle is either scared of the moment or can’t handle playoff pressure. Cause he’s been BAD.

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

One other thing: as inconsistent as he may be, Drake Batherson needs to stay on this team. He at least has hands that work

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

I suppose a positive to extract from this dreadful series: Linus Ullmark knows how to stop pucks at a high level. It would be nice if it could happen throughout the season too - or at least in tandem with a reliable backup.

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Thomas Chabot at the blue line is a tough watch. Then again, this whole Ottawa team can’t keep a puck on their damn sticks to save their lives.

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Stankoven has now scored in 5 straight games vs. Ottawa. Ridiculous.

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Let’s throw Amadio in there too. Absolutely atrocious decisions with the puck

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Cozens and Timmy haven’t been good at all, but you can tell they’re out there trying to make plays… Pinto looks disinterested and disengaged. Brady looks far less interested than he needs to be. Now Sanderson is done and time not on their side…

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Shane Pinto looks like he’s scared of his own shadow out there. Horrible.

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Player totals this season:

Stutzle - 83 pts (2nd highest output of career)
Tkachuk - 59 pts in 60 gms (2nd highest pts/g in career)
Cozens - 59 pts (2nd best season, career high 13 PPG and 29 PPP)
Batherson, Pinto, Greig, Zub, Spence & Amadio also with career highs in pts

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

… CONT’d
- Ullmark needs to stay confident - when he plays with swagger, he’s still quite good
- I think the Sens’ 3rd and 4th lines could be a huge difference - Pinto/Amadio/Cousins + Foegele/Eller/Zetterlund are extremely effective in checking roles and play with good speed

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Meanwhile for the Sens:
- very tough to play against - high possession time, high O zone time, aggressive forecheck
- backend has been solid but is banged up - Sanderson & Chabot will play but aren’t healthy, and Kleven looks like he won’t be back for G1
TBC…

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Also key to note - CAR was 2nd in goals and shots and goal, with the 4th ranked PP. Seven (!) 20+ goal scorers - Aho, Ehlers, Svechnikov, Jarvis, Blake, Stankoven, J. Staal - and would have had an 8th, but Gostisbehere missed 30 games

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Ottawa to take on Carolina in Round 1. Gotta believe the Canes’ biggest weakness is between the pipes. Bussi has had a great season but is mostly unproven. Andersen doesn’t strike a ton of fear. They’re very good defensively, however, allowing the fewest SOG per game in the NHL

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Pretty remarkable that Ottawa could enter the playoffs with a very solid D corps:
Sanderson - Zub
Chabot - Thomson
Kleven - Spence
Matinpalo

If Kleven is not ready, someone will need to shift to their off side. Still pretty confident with the group

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

Ottawa sits 5th in the entire league in regulation wins, 10th in +/- and 10th in the overall standings. Considering injuries, below average goaltending and 4 months of terrible PK - is this team poised to make a playoff run?

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

BOS: 96 pts, 3 G
OTT: 92 pts, 4 G
*PHI: 92 pts, 4 G
CBJ: 90 pts, 4 G
NYI: 89 pts, 4 G
DET: 89 pts, 4 G

OTT needs to stay tied/ahead of DET + 2 others in the list.

Recent:
OTT: 8-1-1 in L10 at home
BOS: L4 straight
DET: L3 straight
NYI: L4 straight
CBJ: 7 gms w/o a reg win

[Andrew DiMillo @DiMillonator]

That was the best Brady Tkachuk has looked all season!