Here’s what we know: We are headed back to Pittsburgh.
Don Brennan, Errol McGihon and Le Droit sports editor Marc Brassard will jump into a rented SUV Thursday morning to head back to Steeltown. The deer will be safe. We’re driving during the day.
If you think we’re the only ones behind the wheel we’re not. The guys across the street and Roy MacGregor of the Globe will be in another vehicle. Driving to Pittsburgh can provide better connections than flying.
What position will the Senators be in?
Tied 2-2 or down 3-1?
Hard to say. The Penguins are a champion calibre team. They can handle adversity. They’ve proved it in the past. They did it to get here. I’m not sure they’re exactly facing any here. They lost a game. It took five periods.
In my eyes, the Senators have to play better in this series.
They’ve never led. They are playing with fire here and they don’t have the firepower the Penguins have. There has been no respect shown to Tomas Vokoun, but he’s a heck of a goalie with a strong track record.
You cannot expect _ or want _ Craig Anderson to make 50 saves every night. He needs some support. The Senators were only 30 seconds away from disaster, 30 seconds away from everybody holding off on making any plans from going back to Pittsburgh.
The Senators have booked the trip with the win Sunday. If they can win Wednesday they can make it worth their while. Otherwise they’ll be back on the brink and fighting for another chance to come home Sunday.
Big test. We’ll check in with you from Pittsburgh.
It’s a long road ahead getting there but we’ll find out if there’s a long road ahead for the Senators.

I posted this earlier. Thought I should put it here. No it’s not a blog. It’s news.

PITTSBURGH – It wasn’t just the earthquake shifting the ground around Ottawa.

There’s a strong possibility Senators’ centre Jason Spezza could return to the lineup for Game 3 of the club’s playoff series Sunday night at Scotiabank Place against the Penguins.

Coach Paul MacLean told reporters Spezza is continuing to skate in Ottawa as he recovers from back surgery. A decision on whether he’ll play or not will be made after Sunday’s morning skate. This is the first time that MacLean hasn’t completely dismissed Spezza’s return.

A source told the Sun Spezza is targeting a Sunday return, but has to get clearance from the doctors.

“He continues to skate on a daily basis and makes progress,” said MacLean Friday. “We’ll go through practice (Saturday) and the pre-game skate and we’ll see where it is. If he’s available to us, it’s Jason Spezza, we’re going to have him in the lineup.”

The Senators will have an optional skate Saturday and Spezza will skate with that group.

“I know I’m going to be there to watch it,” said MacLean. “I might not be on the ice, but we’ll make a decision from there. I don’t know about all the medical hurdles but I’ll know more about that (Saturday).”

Spezza hasn’t suited up since Jan. 27.

The Senators are in Pittsburgh Friday for Game 2 of their conference semi-final series against the Penguins. Pittsburgh leads the series 1-0.

PITTSBURGH _ I had an okay first round.

Right: Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Ottawa and New York Rangers.
Wrong: San Jose, Detroit and Boston.
Better than .500 but still bad. I never ever should have taken the Leafs.
I thought the Canucks would be under the radar and win.
Brings us to Round 2

Chicago vs. Detroit: Tough test for the Hawks, but they’ve got Toews, Kane and Hossa. Plus a strong defence. Hawks in 6.

Kings vs. Sharks: Boy San Jose was impressive in the first round and the Kings got it done. I will say Sharks show they’ve got it. San Jose in 6

Rangers vs. Bruins: The Bruins sent the Leafs packing in style. They do it the hard way. Boston will win this in seven.

Penguins vs. Senators: Nobody is giving the Senators a chance. It will take great goaltending by Craig Anderson. Senators in six.

Come on gang get in here and give me your picks. Let me know how you did in the first round.

Sorry to see the Leafs go.

Okay, that is a little over the top.
Just finished packing for Montreal for Game 5.
Taking the train later today. I must tell Don Brennan to make some sandwiches _ much better than anything you can get on the train.
We’re taking hall of fame writer Roy MacGregor along for the ride. I hope he has his AMEX card. We’ll give hm lunch. He can get the drinks.
Anyway, where were we?
Quite the comeback Tuesday night.
The Senators have a horseshoe in their dressing room. Yesterday they had one … Forget it.
They can smell victory now. They can smell victory because Michel Therrien hasn’t been able to figure out what to do next. They smell victory because they have scored timely goals. They smell victory because they have found ways to win.
The No. 2 seed Montreal is on the verge of elimination.
The Senators are choking the life out of the Habs but this isn’t a choke job because the Habs have had one heck of a season. Young teams learn. This will be a learning lesson if they lose this series.
This series is not over. Not by a longshot.
Lots of work for the Senators to do.

Best game I’ve seen here in awhile.
The Senators were physical. They were strong. They answered back and they took the Montreal Canadiens off their game. The Habs can’t possibly play like this or want to play like this.
That’s not to Montreal’s benefit.
The Senators can push the Habs to the brink of elimination in Game 4 Tuesday with the same kind of effort. Capitalize on the momemtum.
The Senators have always had issues with killer instinct. They’ve got to show it here. They’ve got Michel Therrien outcoaching himself and rattled.
No question.