In Game 1, the Ottawa Senators may have been guilty of giving their opponents a little bit too much respect.  That has to change tonight.

The Senators play Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Semi-final at the Consol Energy Center and will be looking to earn a much needed split in the Steel City.  With a win tonight the Sens can take back home ice advantage before returning to Scotiabank Place this weekend.  Game 3 goes on Sunday night in Ottawa.

The National Hockey League has announced the nominees for the Jack Adams Award and Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean is one of the three finalists.

MacLean has done a terrific job this season, leading his team to a playoff spot despite a ridiculous run of injuries that threatened to derail his team's season.  Joel Quennnville in Chicago and Bruce Boudreau in Anaheim are the other finalists.

Game two of the Eastern Conference Semi-final goes tomorrow night in Pittsburgh with the Ottawa Senators looking to grab a split in the Steel City before the scene shifts to Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

There were rumblings of Jason Spezza making a return in time for that game but Head Coach Paul MacLean all but dismissed that possibility during his media availability on Wednesday, saying that the team’s top centre would not be available for the second game of the series.  MacLean suggested that Spezza has significant work to do before returning to the line up.

It certainly wasn’t the start the Ottawa Senators were hoping for on Tuesday night but likely one that fans were at least prepared for.

The powerful Pittsburgh Penguins team, which looked extremely beatable at times, dominated the special teams battle and cruised to an easy 4-1 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-final.  Plenty of positives for the Senators to take away from this one, but in the playoffs, a loss is a loss. Game 2 goes on Friday night.

After knocking off the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference in just five games, the Ottawa Senators now get a shot at the top dog.

The Senators play Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semi-final series tonight against the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins.  And while most of the experts don’t give the Sens a fighting chance against Crosby and company, Paul MacLean’s team is used to defying what the experts say.  It all starts at the Consol Energy Center tonight.

(UPDATE 1:13 PM)- Despite a second straight day on the ice with the rest of the team, Sens Coach Paul MacLean announced this afternoon that injured centre Jason Spezza will not be traveling with the team to Pittsburgh.  The plan is for him to stay behind and work out with the other Black Aces.  MacLean would not completely rule out a Game 2 return.

After Paul MacLean did his best to temper expectations a little bit yesterday, Jason Spezza has officially returned to Sens practice this morning.

The Head Coach suggested yesterday that he doesn't expect Spezza back to start the second round but today is obviously another huge step in his recovery.   Spezza wore a grey jersey along with healthy scratches Jim O'Brien, Peter Regin and Guillaume Latendresse.

It is official- The Ottawa Senators will take on the high flying Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins finished of the New York Islanders in six games and now stand in the way of the Senators and a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. With players like Crosby, Malkin, Iginla, the Penguins are going to give Ottawa everything they can handle in Round 2.

As the Ottawa Senators get some much needed rest and await their second round opponent, I wanted to pass along a cool initiative started and led by Sens fans.

If you haven't heard, Sens Money on the Board (or #SensMotB) is the latest twitter craze sweeping its way through Sens Army. The premise is simple- fans make pledges based on things that will happen in Ottawa Senators hockey games.