Saturday Night in Ottawa over most of the years of the past has been a pretty special night for hockey in the National capital, the Sens normally in the midst of playoff drive always found that matching up against their cross province rivals the Maple Leafs brought out the best of them and of the game.
This year of course, it is but the fanciful wish of Sens owner Eugene Melnyk that the idea of playoff hockey in Ottawa will come true, and if the Leafs and their fans are true to themselves as well they'll realize that they're most likely on the the outside looking in as well.
Yet despite that stark dose of reality staring them in the face, the two squads once again provided for a traditional Ottawa-Toronto match up, complete with the traditional hard edged play and energetic intentions of the participants.
In the end, Saturday night's show was but a preview tape for the number of GM's tuning in to see which of the two team's talents may best fit into their own playoff ambitions, making their notes and getting ready to hit the speed dial to Bryan Murray's office before next weeks trading deadline.
Saturday night the scouts in the building and the GM's waiting for the reports were provided with a solid evaluation camp for their decision making moments of next week. With any number of players soon to be up for offer, Saturday provided a good opportunity to make a pitch for a chance to play some playoff hockey and maybe, just maybe grab a hold of the Stanley Cup.
It's doubtful that they will make that journey where they are now, Saturday a good number of them provided the requisite resume tape, one that should the Hockey Gods smile favourably may just turn into Stanley Cup success by June.
Globe and Mail-- Kubina the hero in Leafs' win
National Post-- Maple Leafs continue to shine in extra time
National Post-- Ontario hockey rivalry no longer the battle of old
Ottawa Citizen-- Familiar story for Sens
Ottawa Sun-- Clouston takes shot on goal
Toronto Sun-- Leafs put on display
Toronto Star-- Surging Leafs sink Senators
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Picture above from Toronto Star website
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