The battle for Ontario rages still

Just when you thought it was safe to go out, another battle is looming.

Just beside this writing is a picture of Senators goalie Craig Anderson, a veteran of many skirmishes, battled and sometimes bloodied.
If coach DJ Smith elects to put him in net tonight, he will no doubt be a reminder of epic battles between these two hockey teams.

Now the Ottawa Senators are going in a different direction than The Toronto Maple Leafs. On the rebuild they go, drafting young prospects, unloading expensive vets for promising youth, and finishing as low in the overall standings as they can. But when it comes to  playing Toronto, they can rekindle their blood lust very quickly, and revert back to primal urges, and put on war paint and hunt the high salary cap giants, as well as any team.

Their core is getting better, headed by Thomas Chabot, a great young defense man and Brady Tkachuk up front, with memories of father Keith Tkachuk coursing thru his veins.

Chabot & Tkachuk

And then there are traded players ,Connor Brown and Cody Ceci, who's allegiance has been swapped like a Star Trek cross beaming thingy.  Almost gone is the memory of Darcy Tucker challenging the entire Ottawa team to come out onto the ice to take him on in mortal combat.
 Come to that,I can remember the music to Mortal Combat being played during these tussles.

Back in the 90's, these two teams faced each other annualy for the right to pursue Lord Stanley's Mug.


Who can forget Patrick Lalime, or Fightin'Ray Emery, or even Dominik Hasek.  Well I'd like to forget Hasek, but remember Lalime,cause we creamed him.

Such epic battles , and especially in the playoffs with Jacques Martin coaching. We never lost, not with Cujo in net, or Potvin, or Belfour.

Tonight we watch for another battle royal but expect just another skirmish.