Sens centre Mike Fisher greets fans as he walks from the Senators dressing room to the ice before Game 3. Fisher says his team received a boost from its passionate fans on Saturday. Photo: A. Ringuette/Freestyle Photography/OSHC

by Todd Anderson

The Ottawa Senators are back. After dropping the first two games of the Stanley Cup final against the Anaheim Ducks, the Sens responded with an energetic effort in Game 3 last night on home ice and won 5-3. Tomorrow, they look to tie the series at 2-2 in Game 4 at Scotiabank Place.

"We're obviously excited," Senators centre Mike Fisher says. "We knew we'd get a boost being back home in front of our fans. Before the game we could hear them going nuts.

"We were confident. We knew we could put out a good effort and beat this team. Another win and we're right back in it. We're on our way. We know how we can beat this team now. That kind of gives us a little boost, obviously."

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson was proud to see how his team responded to the adversity in Game 3. Ottawa fought back from three one-goal deficits in the win.

"Every line played real well (last night)," Alfredsson says. "I think as a team we needed to have a good effort and we got some big shifts from Fisher's line, Kelly's line, with Neil and those guys. It was nice to see."

Fisher says a key ingredient to the success his team experienced in Game 3 was the momentum it gained by cycling the puck deep in the Anaheim zone.

"We're a puck-possession team. It seemed like the first couple of games we were chasing too much. (Last night) we played a little more with the puck and made smarter plays in the corner where we could get it. I thought we cycled and battled and got pucks to the net and played with a lot more edge and, obviously, we were more competitive."

Senators head coach Bryan Murray wants to see the same effort tomorrow.

"Monday night we have to play another hockey game here and try to get this thing in a position where when we go back to Anaheim, and we can compete real seriously for a series lead. But we have to worry only about one game. I thought our guys would come out and play and climb the hill (last night). It's one step."