*Quest For The Cup*Ottawa Senators Dynasty

[GoldenJet]

Brief History of the Senators

2004–present: Bryan Murray era

After the playoff loss, owner Melnyk promised that changes were coming and they came quickly. In June 2004, Anaheim Ducks GM Bryan Murray of nearby Shawville, became head coach. That summer, the team also made substantial personnel changes, trading long-time players Patrick Lalime and Radek Bonk,and signing free agent goaltender Dominik Hasek. The team would not be able to show its new lineup for a year, as the 2004-2005 lockout intervened and most players playing in Europe or in the minors. In a final change, just before the 2005-06 season, the team traded long-time player Marian Hossa for Dany Heatley.

The media predicted the Senators to be Stanley Cup contenders in 2005-06, as they had a strong core of players returning, played in an up-tempo style fitting the new rule changes and Hasek was expected to provide top-notch goaltending. The team rushed out of the gate, winning 19 of the first 22 games, in the end winning 52 games and 113 points, placing first in the conference, and second overall. The newly-formed 'CASH' line of Alfredsson, Spezza and newly-acquired Dany Heatley established itself as one of the league's top offensive line. Hasek played well until he was injured during the 2006 Winter Olympics, forcing the team to enter the playoffs with rookie netminder Ray Emery as their starter. Without Hasek, the club bowed out in a second round loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
2006–07: Trip to the Stanley Cup Finals

In 2006-2007, the Senators reached the Stanley Cup Finals after qualifying for the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons. The Senators had a high turn-over of personnel and the disappointment of 2006 to overcome and started the season poorly. Trade rumours swirled around Daniel Alfredsson for most of the last months of 2006. The team lifted itself out of last place in the division to nearly catch the Buffalo Sabres by season's end, placing fourth in the Eastern Conference. The team finished with 105 points, their fourth straight 100 point season and sixth in the last eight. In the playoffs, Ottawa continued its good play. Led by the 'CASH' line, goaltender Ray Emery, and the strong defense of Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov, the club defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, the second-ranked New Jersey, and the top-ranked Buffalo Sabres to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

First Stanley Cup finals in the capital in 80 years

The 2006–07 Senators thus became the first Ottawa team to be in the Stanley Cup final since 1927 and the city was swept up in the excitement. Businesses along all of the main streets posted large hand-drawn 'Go Sens Go' signs, residents put up large displays in front of the their homes or decorated their cars.
A large Ottawa Senators flag was draped on the City Hall, along with a large video screen showing the games. A six-story likeness of Daniel Alfredsson was hung on the Corel building.

Rallies were held outside of City Hall, car rallies of decorated cars paraded through town and a section of downtown, dubbed the 'Sens Mile', was closed off to traffic during and after games for fans to congregate.

In the final, the Senators now faced the Anaheim Ducks, considered the favourite since the start of the season, a team the Senators had last played in 2006, and a team known for its strong defense. The Ducks won the first two games in Anaheim 2–1 and 1–0. Returning home, the Senators won game three 5–3, but lost game four 3–2. The Ducks won game five 6–2 in Anaheim to clinch the series. The Ducks had played outstanding defense, shutting down the 'CASH' line, forcing Murray to split up the line. The Ducks scored timely goals and Ducks' goaltender Giguere out-played Emery.

Ottawa Senators Line-Ups

Dany Heatley - Jason Spezza - Daniel Alfredsson

Cory Stillman - Mike Fisher - Martin Lapointe

Nick Foligno - Antoine Vermette - Chris Neil

Dean McAmmond - Chris Kelly - Shean Donovan

Defence

Andrej Meszaros - Mike Commodore

Wade Redden - Chris Phillips

Christoph Schubert - Anton Volchenkov

Goalies

Ray Emery - Martin Gerber

Captains


Daniel Alfredsson will be the Captain for his 7th year of captainship.


Wade Redden will play yet another season as one of the Senators Assistant Captains.


Jason Spezza will play his first season as one of the team's captains, Mike Fisher and Dany Heatley are also players who might share the letter.

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[SabresKings3623]

nice

[DStars15]

Looks good man, can't wait to see how the opener goes.

[GoldenJet]

kk, I have two updates ready but I'm going to play until October ends so I loads of updates for ya...

[star king3]

need a coach GM or Assistant GM?

[GoldenJet]

Maybe...later

ok I've got couple updates plus a new Senator.

[GoldenJet]

Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Player(s) to Watch

The 1st Line is the line to watch out for

1st Period

OTT Jason Spezza (Unassisted) 0:59 1-0 Senators

OTT Martin Lapointe (Mike Fisher, Cory Stillman) 9:06 2-0 Senators

TOR Nikolai Antropov (Alexei Ponikarovsky, Bates Bataglia) 11:13 2-1 Senators

2nd Period

OTT Jason Spezza (Dany Heatley) 12:17 3-1 Senators

OTT Martin Lapointe (Wade Redden) 13:08 4-1 Senators

OTT Martin Lapointe (Mike Fisher, Wade Redden) 15:25 5-1 Senators

3rd Period

No Scoring

3 Stars

3.
Wade Redden

2.
Jason Spezza

1.
Martin Lapointe

Image of The Game (Senators)


Heatley and Spezza celebrate Spezza's 2nd Period goal, which Heatley assisted at 12:17 into the Period.

Next Game

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[GoldenJet]

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Ottawa Senators

Player(s) To Watch

Mr.Captain has been held pointless laft game, look for him to make an impact in this game.

1st Period

OTT Mike Commodore (Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley) 14:52

TOR Kyle Wellwood (Mark Bell, Jeff O'Neill) 8:36

OTT Dany Heatley (Daniel Alfredsson, Andrej Meszaros) 13:24

2nd Period

TOR Jeff O'Neill (Mark Bell, Kyle Wellwood) 2:45

OTT Daniel Alfredsson (Andrej Meszaros) 9:54

OTT Dany Heatley (Unassisted) 12:05

OTT Martin Lapointe (Mike Fisher) 13:07

OTT Cory Stillman (Unassisted) 18:50

OTT Dany Heatley (Jason Spezza) 19:59

3rd Period

OTT Martin Lapointe (Unassisted) 4:51

3 Stars

3.
Daniel Alfredsson

2.
Jason Spezza

1.
Dany Heatley

Image Of The Game

Dany Healtey celebrates his hat-trick goal with Captain Daniel Alfredsson.