S7 - Episode 25: Raging Into Game 7!

We hope you've got some spare time for this because you're going to need it.

Once again this week, with play-off fever raging in the capital, a game 7 looming and the return to Studio 11 of Stooli, we've produced another mammoth show for you. This year's play-offs have been over flowing with crazy story lines and the Sens-Rangers series is right there with the best of them. This week's results find the teams all tied at 3 games apiece:

NYR 2 - Sens 3 OT

Sens 2 - NYR 0

NYR 3 - Sens 2

The pesky Sens, the team no one but the Sens Army believed in, are 1 game from advancing to round 2 of the play-offs. To watch this series unfold has been a nail-biting wonder with every imaginable twist thrown in for good measure. Injuries, spectacular goaltending, massive hits, suspensions, bad blood, super-human efforts have all played a part in getting us to this point. But alas, so has our old nemesis: reprehensible officiating. Its so unfortunate that the NHL has become so tainted by this plague but there's simply no denying it; the games are being adversely effected by incompetent reffing. Its not a stretch to say that this year's play-offs already have been the most poorly officiated in recent history. It may not shock you to learn that we spend an inordinate amount of time on this subject this week and how it has played such a huge part in this series. Hey, you've been warned.

Of course, we also touch on some of the other hot button topics this week. The return of the Golden One, Craig Anderson's stellar play, the decision to play rookies Stone and Silfverberg in crucial games, Maclean's benching of Spezza, 9mm and Alfie, Alfie's meltdown, Chris Neil's and Zenon Konopka's surprising and undeniable influence on this series are but a few of the legion of discussions tossed around.

Want some more? Ok, we got you covered. The continuing struggles of Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek, two guys who have drastically under performed so far in this series, get a good going over and it ain't pretty. The Sens have managed to get this far without a significant contribution from either but how long can that last? We take an unflinching look at what we believe to be the cause of these no-shows. 

And it doesn't stop there. We do a little mental Frankensteining and wonder what would happen if you could jam this year's team into Sens teams of the past. The dreaming continues as we look at how potential big name free agents may now see Ottawa as a desirable location because of this remarkable season. Of course, we have thoughts on the Torres suspension and take another look at how the other leagues handle their dirty laundry.

We received several top notch emails this week that we think you'll love and of course, we have another poll question for you, along with last week's results.

Game 7 in the play-offs. A chance to knock off the #1 team on their own turf. We think we know just the pesky team to do it.

BELIEVE IT!

S7 - Episode 25: Raging Into Game 7!

S7 - Episode 24: An Epic Play-Off Show!

Once again this week we are without Stooli, as he continues to settle into his new role as a house trained father. So, one more time, we call upon David Ho and Kardinal to fill the void, so to speak. And, as always, they do a fine job. Fine? No that's not enough. AWESOME is more like it, as this show has to be one of the longest we've ever done. Its truly an epic!

So what, you may ask, did we spend so much time nattering about this week? Gee, I don't know, maybe THE FREAKIN' PLAY-OFFs!!!??? As of show time, the series sits at 2-1 for the Rangers:

Sens 2 - Rangers 4

Sens 3 - Rangers 2 OT

Rangers 1 - Sens 0

After what appeared to be a somewhat hesitant and jittery start in game 1, the boys made a statement like no other Sens team has ever made. Matt Carkner took one for the team and cemented his place in Sens' lore with 1 punch (ok, maybe 8 punches) by sending a message to the Rangers and the whole league. We give you our thoughts on that whole incident and the fallout. You'll also get to hear about Shredder and Crazy Canuck's excellent adventures in NYC. 

However, as thrilled as we were with this new "family" taking care of business, and each other, they also lost Captain Alfie to yet another cheap shot to the head. This huge loss cannot be over stated as the team struggles to find offence, namely from its remaining point leaders Spezza and Michalek. Game 3 was a perfect example of that as the team was unable to get one past Lundquist in a thrilling game that saw play-off excitement return to Scotia Bank Place. The Ottawa fans deserve to take a huge bow as they made the city proud with their brilliant display of passion for this team.

Some of the more specific Sens topics we also touch on are what the Sens need to do to get the edge in this series, how to generate more for the big guys, unexpected performances from certain role players, and how this whole experience is such a gigantic stepping stone towards the future for the franchise.

But, like everyone else, we just can't talk play-off hockey this year without addressing all the insanity that's been taking place all around the league. The NHL and its policies regarding discipline and officiating have never been under more scrutiny and they are failing horribly. Or are they? Sure, the credibility of the game is taking a hit but the coffers are overflowing. We take a look at this paradox, how we got here and where it may be leading us.

We also have a few great e-mails from loyal Groundhogs, a voice mail from Pittsburgh, we announce the next SU get-together and we have the results of last week's poll question.

As you take in this episode, please find time to say a few Hail Alfies and pray that he has one last miraculous recovery in him.

Believe it!

S7 - Episode 24: An Epic Play-Off Show!

S7 - Episode 23: Stooli Multiplied!

We have a brand new groundhog among us! Stooli is now the proud father of a baby girl named Aubrey and he and Mommy couldn't be happier. Neither could we. A huge congrats to the lucky parents. No word yet on when she gets her first tattoo but it probably won't be long.

Oh yeah! The play-offs have started. That little detail probably shouldn't be overlooked either. The Sens kick off their post-season Thursday against the Rangers, just like we predicted last episode (ahem, errrrr...um, yeah). Ok, maybe we didn't quite call it that way but after a 3 game slide to end the season, this improbable match-up is now reality. How did it happen? Like this:

Canes 2 - Sens 1

Bruins 3 - Sens 1

Sens 2 - Devils 4

Not a very impressive end to the season but not totally unexpected either. After the Sens locked up their play-off spot, a bit of a let down shouldn't shock us. So, is it a bad thing to now be up against the Eastern Conference winners rather than the cup champs? We give you our thoughts, with the help of past guest hosts David Ho and Kardinal filling in for Stooli, on how Ottawa matches up with Torts' gang and what their chances are of pulling off the upset.

Now, its not all roses, this play-off thing. CBC has once again blessed us with the broadcast crew of Bob Cole and Glen Healy, both despised by most Sens fans. This, no doubt, will give us plenty to bitch about in the coming shows. To help us get through this, we introduce the Sens/CBC Drinking Game. If you get through the 1st period without falling down, we salute you and your liver.

We also take a look at some of the other 1st round series, Kardinal brings us an interesting story on which teams give you the most bang for the buck, Ho does some math and we all have one final giggle at the expense of the Laffs and their bag-of-wind GM after what may have been the most ridiculous press conference ever.

Some awfully nice e-mails, a check in from Jersey, another SU get together is announced and what may have been Shredder's best line in 7 years put a cherry on the top of this podcast cake. The best part is you can have it AND eat it too!

GO SENS GO! WE SMELL AN UPSET!

S7 - Episode 23: Stooli Multiplied!

S7 - Episode 22: Sens Underground Turns 200!

It took seven years, untold number of beers and a trip to the finals, followed by a collapse and then a rebuild, but we did it! The Sens Underground is 200 episodes old. Its been a long time and a lot of nights sitting behind the ole' mics but we've loved every minute of it. We can only hope that you folks got half the entertainment out of it that we did. And to help celebrate, we invite yet another groundhog to co-host tonight. Kardinal, he of the forums, grabs the fourth mic tonight and does a great job in this landmark episode. Big thanks to him.

Ok, enough back-patting. There's only one real topic that matters this week: THE SENS MAKE THE PLAY-OFFS! THE SENS MAKE THE PLAY-OFFS!! With two big wins this weekend, the boys in red, black and white completed their miraculous run back to the post-season:

Sens 4 - Flyers 3 (SO)

Sens 5 - Isles 1

Normally, the win over the Flyers would be the more impressive of the two but considering the win over the Isles was the clincher, done without Alfie (flu) and Spezza (procreation), you have to give it up for them for stepping up and getting the job done. As a matter of fact, a huge congrats needs to go out to Murray for a masterful job re-building the team so quickly and to the Stache for making these guys a team again. There is no shortage of love in Studio 11 tonight and rightfully so. 

We dare take a look ahead to what will most likely be a run-in with the Bruins in the first round and discuss what the Sens will have to do to slay this black and yellow dragon. Many other topics made it across the table tonight including the likelihood of Z-Bad and Silfverberg joining the team for the play-offs, Karlsson's run for the record book, how the Sens should approach the balance of the regular season and whether or not they will be embraced as "Canada's team" in the post-season. We also take a look at the stupidity of the upcoming CBA fight, the greatness that should be the Pitts-Philly series and the brutality that is the Montreal Canadiens. Oh, and the leafs suck.

Some e-mails, a few voice mails from Jersey, some awesome Scottish ales and many giggles complete #200. Thanks for coming along with us all these nights . We'll be around as long as the Sens are.

S7 - Episode 22: Sens Underground Turns 200!

S7 - Episode 21: It's Official, Spring Is Here.

It's a tradition like no other: No, not The Masters coming up next week, but the laffs have been eliminated from the play-offs yet again! Did any of us really not know this was coming? You'd have to be the dumbest of the dumb... or a laff fan. They never cease to amaze us in their ability to find ways to suck. This year might be their masterpiece, and you leafers have that tie-abusing czar himself, Brian Burke to thank. That's one heck of a re-build you have going there. You're, what? 3 or 4 years into it and you're where? Well done, well done. As you can expect, we have a few things to say at their expense this week.

However, we say these things with swollen tongues as we live-up to a promise we made earlier this year when we said we'd try out ghost peppers live on the show. We do it (although veeeeeeerrrrryyy carefully) and live to tell the story. The things we do for you people.

Once we get done with taking out the trash, we look at the week that was for the Sens:

Devils 1 - Sens 0

Sens 1 - Habs 5

Pens 4 - Sens 8

Sens 6 - Jets 4

Yeah, I think we all saw that coming, right? Lose, yet again, in stunning fashion, to the worst team in the East then slaughter the hottest team in the league. Top that off with one of the most exciting games of the year in Winnipeg and you have some hockey to talk about folks! They're a unpredictable bunch these Sens, but they sure can be fun.

Once we're done with the game, we take a look at some other topics, including the Duncan Keith suspension and why it made no sense. That topic leads us to the recent suspensions in the NFL and how they expose the NHL as soooo bush league. We also discuss what looks to be a promising sign in Quebec City, read some e-mails and also re-visit a few more old segments from our past.

Show 199: Complete. Next week is the big one!

S7 - Episode 21: It's Official, Spring Is Here.