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History, head games gang up on Senators

By JOHN ROMANO
Published April 25, 2006

TAMPA - As you might imagine, it has gotten a bit crowded. Here, in the heads of the Senators, there is scarcely room for a happy thought.

Not with all the spiders and snakes. The broken glass and barbed wire. Not with all the ugly memories of postseasons past, and perhaps future.

True, the Senators have lost only one game, but how much confidence? Yes, the Senators still are the favorites, but how deeply do they believe that? Granted, the Senators have plenty of incentive, but how much pressure?

These are turning out to be the questions of the series, and we know that because the Lightning keeps suggesting it is so.

Somehow, the team with the Stanley Cup banner hanging from the rafters has put the burden of victory on the other guys. And it's up to the Senators to carry the load.

"History matters," Lightning alternate captain Tim Taylor said. "It weighs on you."

Oh, I know this stuff happens in most every postseason series. Coaches and players try to manipulate the details to create pressure, doubts or friction, depending on their own needs.

But in the case of the Senators, who have been among the NHL's biggest teases the past nine seasons, the Lightning actually has decent fodder. The Senators are one of five teams to have made the playoffs every season since 1996-97, which puts them in exclusive company.

Except for this:

The other four have made at least one Stanley Cup final. And they've combined to win six NHL championships. Ottawa is the lone slacker. No Stanley Cup, no Eastern Conference championship, no parade. You've heard of playoff beards? The Senators have never gotten past a stubble.

Will this be anything like 1999, when second seed Ottawa was swept by No.7 Buffalo in the first round?

Could it resemble 2001, when the Senators were No.2 and swept by Toronto in the first round?

Is it possible it might look like 2003, when No.1 Ottawa was a victory away from the Stanley Cup final and lost Game 7 at home to New Jersey?

The past, you might say, has nothing to do with today's game. But if it is true we learn from our past mistakes, wouldn't you think we might also fret about our recent travails?

"When you've had a good team for that many years, the pressure will mount," Lightning center Brad Richards said. "There's only so many teams that can win, so it's not like they're bad players. But they're like everyone else - they want to win this thing."

For the most part, the Lightning has stuck to the basic premise that Ottawa's pressure comes from being the conference's No.1 seed.

But that doesn't mean other buttons can't be pushed. Such as a well-timed Marty St. Louis hit. Or Taylor snatching the Game 1 puck before the Senators could present it to goaltender Ray Emery for his first playoff victory. Or whatever insult, accusation or taunt that can be hurled, including a history of being a playoff lightweight.

"It's about getting any little edge, planting any little seed," left wing Chris Dingman said. "There's always talking going on out there. You see it every game, guys chirping at each other. The bottom line is are you going to let it affect you? Some guys do. Other guys are smart and just tune it out."

One victory. That's all it has taken. One victory in Ottawa's arena, and the Lightning has changed the dynamics of this showdown. Now it is a five-game series, with three of them scheduled at the St. Pete Times Forum.

One victory. That was enough. One victory and you have to wonder if the Senators see the Lightning differently. Is Tampa Bay the No.8 seed that sneaked into the postseason, or the sleeping giant starting to rouse?

One victory (or one loss as the case may be) and Ottawa's past has come into play. And it will only get worse the longer the series goes.

Soon, you may hear that Ottawa has never won in four attempts at a Game 7. Or that this franchise has gone 3-8 in elimination games. An outfit that has won a playoff series four times in 12 opportunities.

Coach John Tortorella hasn't broached the subject of Ottawa's past, but it may not be necessary. If the Lightning keeps the pressure on today, the Senators won't need anyone to remind them of yesterday.

"This isn't gamesmanship ... that's not what I'm trying to portray here," Tortorella said. "I don't want to disrespect Ottawa.

"It's just a fact of life. When you're that good and you've had that type of season and you're the No.1 seed, there is a different type of pressure. We have our type of pressure, they have their type of pressure. We'll let them deal with their type of pressure."

Maybe it won't mean a thing. The Senators, after all, came from behind in the third period to win Game1. They came from behind to take the lead in the second period of Game2. They have talent, they have shown patience and, before it's all over, maybe they will have proven their resilience.

Should Ottawa win one of the next two games in Tampa Bay, the onus could shift to the Lightning.

And should the Senators lose?

Let's just say, they'll have a lot to think about.

[Last modified April 25, 2006, 01:07:12]