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On the final day of Ottawas season, coach Paul MacLean stood before the assembled media and acknowledged the obvious: Almost everything that could go wrong did, and across-the-board improvements were imperative.I think in the National Hockey League you have to play well enough, long enough to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, MacLean said. We didnt do that. I think we have to change our approach. We have to get to that identity right away.For a group that returns nearly intact a€” save for two notable exceptions--it will be interesting to see if the Senators implement and execute a plan that leads to the Stanley Cup playoffs returning to the Canadian capital.Here are things to keep in mind before the Senators open Oct. 9 in Nashville.WHOS IN GOAL?: Essentially, Robin Lehner is Ottawas goaltender of the future. The goaltender of the present is a decidedly murkier topic. During training camp, MacLean stated Craig Anderson is the No. 1 goaltender, before adding Robin Lehner has played well enough and earned the right to challenge, to play in more games. Also complicating matters, Craig Anderson agreed to a three-year deal worth $12.6 million in August.METHOT MAN: Defenceman Marc Methot is in the last year of a four-year, $12 million contract. Both the player and the team have expressed interest in a long-term marriage. So that should be easy, right? Wrong. The Senators and Methots representation have engaged in a negotiation thats become nasty. Its not always pretty, Methot said at training camp. I would like to get something done.SHORT ON SCORING?: One of the bright spots for the Senators in 2013-14 included their 2.79 goals per game average (10th in the NHL). But that strength absorbed a significant blow in the off-season as top-line centre Jason Spezza was traded to Dallas, and right wing Ales Hemsky signed with the Stars. Spezza totalled 66 points in 75 games last season, while Hemsky finished with 43 points in 75 games with Edmonton and Ottawa. Replacing that production will be a collaborative effort.THE MIDDLEMAN: Along with the offensive production, the departure of Spezza leaves a substantial chasm at centre. Spezza won 54 per cent of the faceoffs he took last season and ranked second among Senators forwards with an average ice time of 18:12 per game. So the question is who replaces him? Kyle Turris will get the first chance, and hes looking forward to it. Its going to be a challenge that I think Im ready for, Turris said.LACK OF Defence: Ottawa was one of the weakest defensive teams in the NHL last season. Only the Islanders, Panthers and Oilers had a worse goals-against average than the Senators 3.15. That deficiency was compounded by a penalty kill success rate (80.9 per cent) that ranked 17th. Discount MLB Jerseys . Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. Clearance MLB Jerseys . -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. https://www.mlbjerseyschina.us/. Patty Mills scored 15 points, Tim Duncan had 10 points and 11 rebounds in limited minutes, and San Antonio trailed for only 11 seconds late in the first quarter of a 103-90 victory over Portland on Wednesday night. MLB Jerseys China .ca MLB Power Rankings, the third consecutive week that the As have held top spot and the third straight week that they have been one ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. Wholesale Nike MLB Jerseys . The post-season, Pierce said repeatedly, is no time to panic. And the Heat, apparently, are nothing to fear.With the Cleveland Cavaliers level with the Toronto Raptors after four games and the Golden State Warriors 2-1 down to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will go through to the NBA Finals? Alex Ferguson answers the questions. Whats happened?If you want an NBA Conference Finals set of pure craziness, then go no further than both the Golden State vs Oklahoma City and Cleveland vs Toronto series which will decide the winners of the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively.Both Golden State and Cleveland were meant to win their series pretty comfortably, with Cleveland especially anticipated to have no trouble with the Raptors whatsoever. The amount of US media that used the words its over when Cleveland pummelled the Raptors to go 2-0 up was astonishing. Since then its been one-way traffic, and not in the way of LeBron James and Co. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors goes up against Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder With Golden State and Oklahoma City, its been a weird series. Golden State had a comfortable lead in Game 1, blew it, and then lost the game on a controversial travelling call, where many believed Oklahoma Citys Russell Westbrook had taken too many steps.Golden State roared back to take Game 2 comfortably, and you thought the end was nigh for Kevin Durant, Westbrook and Co. Well, theyve beaten the Spurs already, you thought, give them their due until next time. Well, Oklahoma City werent quite ready to walk yet, smashing Golden State by 28 points in Game 3 and battering the Warriors on both ends of the glass - despite Steph Curry still dropping nearly 30 of his own.A quick shout-out must go to The Thunders Steven Adams, who took what looked like a legitimate kick to the groin from Draymond Green in Game 4. He played on. Cory Joseph of the Toronto Raptors shoots against James So what should we watch out for in the pivotal next games?It might sound stupid bearing in mind they are 2-1 up but Oklahoma City, who have a reputation of being NNBA chokers, have to win Game 4 on Tuesday night.ddddddddddddou might say but that means that the series is still tied, but if youre 2-1 up against Golden State and have beaten them more times than most teams beat them in the regular season, you have to be aggressive and go for the jugular in Game 4. Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Curry If Durant and Westbrook are consistent (Westbrook cant have the 16-point game he had in Game 2 or the awful start he had in Game 1), then its going to scare Golden State, for whom only Curry is really firing properly. The Thunder will try to annoy the volatile Green, who was awful in Game 3 but will be hell-bent on revenge. As for Golden State, they have to keep feeding the ball to Curry and Klay Thompson.Thompson has got to get back into it, after not-great back-to-back games, where he failed to hit the 20-point mark.In Cleveland, the Cavs cant look at it as two opportunities lost, because Toronto were actually a very good home team, losing only nine games in the Air Canada Centre all season long. But although James was his usual excellent self in both the away games, Kyrie Irving was dreadful in Game 3 and only rebounded slightly in Game 4. Joseph of the Toronto Raptors guards Kyrie Irving And the poorest of the lot has been Kevin Love who managed 13 total points in Toronto, and has been atrocious from three-point range - which was meant to be a strength of his. Love has to get his offensive game together to be a good enough foil for James and Irving for the Cavs to stop this series going to seven games, which is really the last thing they want after being 2-0 up.So whos going to win the pivotal games?I think Game 4 is going to be won by Oklahoma City which is going to put the Warriors within one game of elimination, and I think Cleveland take Game 5 at home on Wednesday night.And whos my tip to win the Conference Finals?(Deep Breath): Ill go Golden State in seven games and Cleveland in seven games. ' ' '