Avs and Sens -- Oh, the possibilities

By Josie Lemieux Sports Central Columnist

When you live a bad experience, you are supposed to learn from it. Just ask the Colorado Avalanche players, who stumbled before the Minnesota Wild in the first-round of the Stanley Cup finals last season.

The Ottawa Senators got into a full action-packed semifinal against the New Jersey Devils. However, one single goal ended the dream of maybe having a Stanley Cup in Canada for the first time since the Montreal Canadiens won it in 1993.

After a disastrous financial situation (nothing unusual for a Canadian hockey club), the Senators won the league championship (best overall team) and the semifinal is one close call they can't simply forget.

After audacious team-building exercises in Quebec (such as mountain-climbing 1,000 feet), the Senators are going with the same options than last year, but are well-equipped.

Let's give ourselves a break regarding the absence of Martin Havlat, who does not want to sign (okay, Martin, don't sign, but stay at home and be quiet).

The team won all their preseason games and the defensive offense is back with Marian Hossa, Daniel Alfredsson, Radek Bonk, and Todd White. Jason Spezza is expected to play on the first two lines. Getting past defensemen Wade Redden and 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara is a tough job, and Chris Phillips will push for more ice time.

Coach Jacques Martin is respected by his players and new team owner Eugene Melnyk likes to use his money for hockey purposes.

The advantage over the Avs resides in the name of experienced goaltender Patrick Lalime, who got a 2.16 GAA last, season, fifth lowest in the NHL. He has good mental skills and techniques and also moves around without a problem.

"It should be an excellent start," said Martin. "The team-building was a good experience for the players and I think they enjoyed the challenge." Let's just hope they'll enjoy the ice as much as the mountain-climbing.

And what did the Avs do during summer? Use their golf clubs. Meanwhile, GM Pierre Lacroix made it again and got Paul Kariya and Teamu Selanne at a fraction of their salary. Mix them with veterans Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic, add Alex Tanguay and Milan Hejduk. You've got an incredible combination.

Fans can't wait, but they are still not accepting new coach Tony Granato with arms wide-open, even if he finished the season with a 32-11-4-4 sheet in regular season. Selanne and Kariya's enthusiasm to win the Cup should also boost the team even more.

Don't forget the defense: Rob Blake, Adam Foote, and Derek Morris. Where's the problem? In the goal crease.

Will David Aebischer be able to fill the enormous blank left by Patrick Roy? As season starts, Aebi never talks to his posts and does not consider himself as a replacement. He's been there for four years, and now it is the time to gain major experience.

He will be backed up by Phil Sauve, who has no NHL experience at all. Depending on Aebischer's performance, Lacroix should make another calculated chess move around March 2004 with the playoffs close at hand.

Roy enjoys his retirement more than ever and he was recently asked to comment on Aebischer's new role. "I'm very confident he's going to do a good job," Roy said.

"He has to be himself. The worst thing he could do is put extra pressure on himself to be like the guy who was there before. Just go out there and enjoy it. A lot of times, there's going to be criticism, and he's going to have to deal with that, but I'm sure he's going to do a good job."

Indeed, hockey fever is finally back. Canadian and American fans are ready to cheer.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.