SmokingChicken

Dickson, TN • United States •

Game Three/SC's Top RFAs

So tonight will pretty much decide this series. Ottawa are on the ropes and Alfredsson, Heatley and Spezza continue to struggle against Anaheim's checking line, the Niedermayer-Pronger unit, and JS Giguere. But they return home to the Scotiabank Place with (hopefully) rabid fans who weren't even remote thoughts the last time the Senators won the Cup(except for that one 99 year old guy). The Senators know the task in front of them is far from easy, but they also know that with a win tonight this series will be far from over. But can they crack the defensive enigma of JS Giguere?
The Ducks meanwhile are loose, confident, and oozing with momentum despite the two days off. Their devoted fans will watch with great anticipation from the Honda Center as Chris Kunitz(cleared to play [hand]) Ducks look to do to the Senators what they couldn't do to the Devils four years ago- put the series away for good. As the pressure mounts on the Ducks, will they continue to play calm, collected, and confident hockey, or will they wilt under the offensive attack of the Senators like the Sabres did?

I look at it this way- both teams know what they have to do. Both teams come out and play their game. And good goaltending will always beat good offensive talent, just like good pitching will always beat good hitting.

Ducks 4, Senators 2
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Now for my top RFAs. This list is a ranking of who is most likely to get the largest number of offer sheets. This is based on the team's cap situation, the player's performance this season, and what needs teams might not be able to fill on the UFA market.

1. Tomas Vanek, Buffalo
2. Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh
3. Ray Emery, Ottawa
4. Marek Svatos, Colorado
5. Joni Pitkanen, Philadelphia
6. Zach Parisie, New Jersey
7. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Minnesota
8. Derek Roy, Buffalo
9. Barrett Jackman, St. Louis
10. Colby Armstrong, Pittsburgh
11. Mike Ribiero, Dallas
12. Lee Stempniak, St. Louis
13. Michael Ryder, Montreal
14. Chris Higgins, Montreal
15. Jason Bacashihua, St. Louis
16. Nathan Horton, Florida
17. Keith Ballard, Phoenix
18. Tomas Plekanec, Montreal
19. Jussi Jokinen, Dallas
20. Mikko Koivu, Minnesota
21. Nathan Paestch, Buffalo
22. Dustin Penner, Anaheim
23. Michel Oulette, Pittsburgh
24. Brandon Bochenski, Boston
25. Curtis Sanford, St. Louis
Some of those are probably debatable, but this is just one man's opinion. ;-) It also depends on who will file for arbitration.