The rosters are set. The battle lines have been drawn. Team Alfredsson and Team Chara are ready to go at it. Here are five storylines to watch this weekend in Ottawa.
1. Home-ice advantage for Team Alfredsson
There’s no question who the fans will be rooting for this weekend in Canada’s capital. Captain Daniel Alfredsson was able to grab all three Ottawa Senators available in the draft – Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. But will it make a difference? Last year we saw Eric Staal draft his ‘boys’, Cam Ward and Jeff Skinner, but Team Lidstrom came away victorious. Nonetheless, it will be fun to see all the Sens fans on board with one team.
2. Can anti-Senators (Team Chara) spoil party?
Team Alfredsson is loaded with Sens and Swedes. Team Chara has an opposite look and will draw the ire of Sens fans. Captain Zdeno Chara and Marian Hossa are former Senators who will probably hear the boo birds all weekend. Additionally, Sens fans made their distaste for the Maple Leafs heard during the draft on Thursday. Team Chara features three Leafs – Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul – and players from hated Boston and Montreal. Can they spoil the party in Ottawa?
3. Who will steal spotlight without big stars?
No Sidney Crosby. No Alex Ovechkin. Who will steal the spotlight this weekend with the sport’s two big superstars not participating? With his recent run, Evgeni Malkin is a pretty good candidate. Rocket Richard leader Steven Stamkos is another good one. No matter who it is, though, this weekend offers a good opportunity for an up-and-comer like Claude Giroux, John Tavares, or Jordan Eberle to steal some of the spotlight as well.
4. Tyler Seguin and Phil Kessel on same team
One thing coming from the fantasy draft that has been underplayed is that Tyler Seguin and Phil Kessel are both on Team Chara. As you know, Seguin and Kessel are forever linked for essentially being traded for one another. Whenever Boston and Toronto has met up in the last two years, the Seguin-Kessel storyline has been a subplot. It would be interesting if Claude Julien put them on the same line on Sunday.
5. How will Tim Thomas perform?
The biggest story in the NHL this week has been Tim Thomas’ decision to skip the Bruins’ Stanley Cup celebration at the White House with President Barack Obama. Thomas usually doesn’t get distracted by the spotlight, but it seems he is sick of hearing questions about it. How will he perform this weekend? The always-competitive Thomas picked up the victory last year in Raleigh.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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