Ducks/Wings & Sabres/Sens ... has momentum shifted in either series ... from the standpoint of the players?

Question

if you say that the Sabres have momentum, you better have a decent reason. and it's gonna have to be a whopper.

i know that the cheerleaders will say that there team has it. but i want to make the question a little more intelligent. i.e. how do you think the Sens players feel? do they think that momentum has shifted?

Wings players?

(sorry, but i was getting sick of reading dumb questions)

the question is not if YOU think that momentum has shifted

it's about the people who actually affect the game. the players. do you think the PLAYERs think the momentum has shifted. i know i'm asking you to speculate. for some of you, this is impossible. i guess i'm looking for answers from some of the few people on here who actually give intelligent answers.

do you honestly think that Sens players are worried?

what about Detroit players? ok, i can MAYBE understand that wings players feel frustrated. but they're professionals. i don't think they feel totally owned. they've won w/ Pronger in the game too.

you don't have to agree w/ me, but for the love of all that is good, please have a decent reason for your answer!!!!

all right. NOW we're starting to get some better answers. thank you.

Answer 1

i believe any player on all 4 teams will tell u there team has momentum going into the next game.as a player if u dont believe u are going to win the next game y bother showing up. some of what im talking about is w the sabres there momentum going into game four was solid goaltending. they knew miller was giveing them the chance. i guess momentum to me is positive thinking.

Answer 2

Concerning the Sabres-Senators series, your question is one day premature. Today, I don't think the momentum has shifted enough for Sens players to actually be worrying. Ask me after tomorrow afternoon's game in Buffalo, assuming a Sabres win, and I'll have a very different answer for you.

As I don't expect you to repeat the same question even if Buffalo does prevail, I'll elaborate. Ottawa is a team that historically has not responded well to pressure. Their roster is virtually identical to the team that caved under pressure to Buffalo just one year ago in the conference semi-finals. Sens players don't dare voice it but I feel sure they're nervous about the fact they won both of their previous series in these playoffs 4-1, thus never facing the pressure of do-or-die dramatics. If Buffalo wins tomorrow and pushes them to a game six, I fully expect to see the Sens show some serious signs of strain -- and the Sabres will capitalize on that. Trust me, these thoughts are in the backs of the players' minds. Whether we see it on the ice will be determined by the results of tomorrow's game.

Sabres players have already demonstrated that their mindsets have changed since game five. They are much looser now in practice and even their words suggest they're feeling less pressure and more drive and determination. People forget how much of competitive sports is psychological. Rather than take a negative "do or die" approach, the Sabres seem to be taking a "let's have fun playing the game we love" approach. Will it work? The answer should be much more clear tomorrow.

The Wings-Ducks series is another matter. I honestly don't think either team has momentum right now, at least not in the classic sense. The series is all square at two games apiece and neither team has been able to mount a streak of any kind. I thought Detroit might be able to generate some momentum following that vicious hit on Holmstrom in a game which they dominated. But last night indicated otherwise.

I had a feeling this series would go the full seven because both teams have a nice blend of skill and toughness, youth and experience. They match up really well and are proving it on the ice. I can't get into the players' heads but my sense is that there has been no momentum to shift for either team. Both Wings and Ducks players should be feeling pretty confident right now as neither team has shown a real edge over the other. Good series!

Answer 3

For the Ducks/Wings I don't think there really has been a shift of momentum...the series is tied 2-2, it's kind of difficult to say to what team wants it more...many people are believing that the Wings will win the Cup, so maybe the Ducks' players are trying to change that?

As for the Sabres/Sens...the Sens have no reason to be worried at this point...the series is 3-1..the Sabres got it together for Game 4 and they were able to win it and it was a game that Ryan Miller *definitely* deserved...did you watch the last 3 minutes when the Sens were on back to back powerplays? Non stop shots to the net and he blocked them all. The Sabres might have realized that if they lose one more game then they're out of the playoffs...maybe that changed their game plan and maybe they're willing to step back up to the plate. If the Sabres win tomorrow then the Sens should be slightly worried. The Sens are on the hot streak and I think they have the momentum, now we just have to see how long that lasts

Answer 4

Sabres/Sens...Not the players, but the fans and media in Buffalo do for some reason...When Buffalo won the other night the Buffalo radio commentator actual proclaimed the the Sabres where back in the series. Kind of wierd seeing that the Sabres are still down 3-1.

I don't think players from either series truely believes that momentum has shifted. The Wings/Ducks series has shown that neither team has momentum. Example Game 3 Detroit and the Ducks D make JS Giguare look like a rookie, Game 4 the Ducks and Detroit's D make Hasek look like a rookie. Anything is possible in that series, and I'm a die hard wings fan. I wouldn't count either of those teams out of it until the final whistle signaling the end of the series. I don't think players from either team think they have momentum there.

Answer 5

I'll start with ducks/wings, no the momentum hasn't changed cause it was never set each team has won every other game, you have to win at lease two in a row to say a team has momentum and that hasn't happened yet

sabs/sens again no, winning one after you went down 3 in a row isn't a momentum change, that's an off night for the sens, and history will show you don't come back from a 3-0 deficit in the play offs, you might get a momentum swing that will take it to 7 games but statistically your doomed

Answer 6

Everyone is saying ... " Oooo Now that Pronger is back, Detroit is Screwed. I seem to remember game 1 and a Significant game 3 that Pronger WAS playing, and what happened ? SMACKDOWN ! No, like Babcock said, "In this series, there is no Momentum carried over from game to game." ANd he is Completely right. Detroit will brush off the loss (even though i felt they played MUCH better offensively, if it wasn't for Giguere ducks were toast) and be Glad they have Home ice advantage again, and be Ready to win at home.

I think the sabres can pull off a win at home tonight, but i think the sens are gunna capitalize and finish the job in game 6. The sens players in my opinion dont feel like they have lost control, They are just a little nervous now. After game 3 they were confident, now they are nervous. If they lose again tonight, the Nervousness is going to turn into Desperation because it makes game 6 their last home game to finish it off. Then they start to panic because if they cant finish it in 6, they are going back to the one place they never thought they would be going to, Game 7 in Buffalo.
Gunna be a great East/West Finals.

! GO RED WINGS GO !

Answer 7

Well the sens I don't see a momentum change.... They are a very talented team and I just don't see one game getting to them. They still have them at the brink of elimination...The Wings and the Ducks are just hard to tell... It's been a high scoring series. Detroit didn't play all that well. Bert turned the puck over right away for a goal which did cause momentum for the Ducks. But as the series looks. I don't see a momentum change. They both are talented teams and it's really all on who plays harder and the coaching is going to decide a lot of the remaining games... Plus both teams are going to come out and play as hard as they can to take game 5 and then have the edge... Detroit should have won but they couldn't convert on 2, 5 on 3 power plays.... It was a great game by the Ducks though and they deserved to win that game. But like I said both teams are going to come out with everything they have to get the advantage...

Answer 8

I think that if your a ducks fan then u will be pretty happy because i am and the Ducks just beat Detriot without their number 1 player in Chris Pronger. If the ducks can beat detriot without Pronger then what will happen now thta he is back.

As for the Sabres they were down and weren't expected to come back and give the sens much of a fight. I think that the sabres have a great chance of coming back and winning this series as long as they stay tough.

Answer 9

No.
Sabres will rally but I don't think it will be enough..which is a real shame. This time of year we are looking at four good clubs and ya hate to see any of them do like Buffalo has been doing.
As for the Wings and Ducks.....everyone knew that the Ducks would rally back.......after the suspension and after the spanking they took at home in the game before..........thats a 2 all series.....momentum is not an issue........Come on to Detroit...........
GO REDWINGS!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

There is no steady momentum in the Ducks/Wings series. The way it is swinging back and forth, anything could happen. The Sabres can kiss their season good-bye, though. Even if momentum swings in their direction, the odds of it swinging for four straight games are so slight that they are more likely to get struck by lightning.

Real lightning, of course. Not the team. :-P