If you ask Ottawa's coach, Bryan Murray, if he is bothered with being the underdog in this series ? No, would be the answer. He could also shoot back and say '' weren't we in the last series ? '' We all know the result of that one.Because of the regular season scheduling, these two teams did not play against each other this season. Ottawa needed fifteen games to get to round 4, Anaheim took an extra one. Let's take a look at their numbers so far in the playoffs.
On face-offs, the Ottawa Senators have a slight edge, winning 495 out of 941 , for a percentage of 52.6% , the Ducks, also won 495, but faced 991 face-offs, for 49.9%.
In the scoring and trailing first category,both almost have identical records.Ottawa has not lost a game when scoring first, and has a 4-3 record when trailing. The Ducks are 8-1 when scoring the first goal, and the same record as Ottawa when trailing.
5 vs 5, Ottawa has scored 29 of them and allowed 22, for a +7. Anaheim has scored 24 and allowed 20, for a +4. A slight advantage for Ottawa.
The powerplay, Ottawa overall is at 20% , with a whopping 31.2% on the road. Anaheim is at 15.3%, 17% at home. Advantage Ottawa.
The penalty killing, Ottawa is at 88.6% overall, at 92.5% on the road. Anaheim is at 86.8% and 90.9% at home. Again a slight advantage to Ottawa.
I will take Ottawa in 6, for a reason, that is the speed factor. In all of the series that the Senators have played, they have played against teams with good speed, while the Ducks faced less quicker teams. I feel, as the series moves on, Ottawa's speed will play a factor.
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