Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Senators’ coach MacLean: ‘Catch-up hockey is losing hockey’

MacLean

The Ottawa Senators have yet to play with the lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Yes, it’s been two games.

But consider the Senators are now trailing the best-of-seven series by a 2-0 count, following Friday’s loss on the road.

It’s a safe bet that grabbing the lead in Game 3 would go a long way in giving the Senators a chance at victory and, more importantly, a chance at getting back in the series against the heavily-favored Penguins.

Sidney Crosby’s first of three goals Friday gave the Penguins an early lead.

For a second straight game in this series, Pittsburgh was able to grab a lead in the first four minutes of play.

“We’re not ready to match it, obviously,” Senators’ coach Paul MacLean told NHL.com.

“Catch-up hockey is losing hockey, and we’re behind 1-0 early in both games and now you’re playing catch-up the whole way and it takes energy and leads to frustration. We just have to make sure we’re ready from the start.”