Last time out, I predicted that there was no way that the Anaheim Ducks would win a game at Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators. With Ottawa’s offence seemingly back in gear after Game 3, and star defenceman Chris Pronger suspended for the game, I think I can be forgiven for my error. Then again, what I failed to consider was just how atrocious a goaltender Ray Emery can be when it matters.

It has been the running theme so far in the Finals – can Ottawa score enough goals to overcome the liability that resides between the posts? On three occasions, the answer has been “no.” Unfortunately for Ottawa, they are heading back to Anaheim – and a likely 4-1 series loss – for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Once again, the Senators came out of the blocks quickly. The entire first period consisted of long stretches with the puck in Anaheim’s defensive zone, as wave after wave of attackers in red swarmed around Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s net. For most of the first period, Giguere was equal to each attack. The Senators tried everything they could think of – one-timers in the slot, blasts from the blueline, bad-angle shots – but Giguere showed flashes of his 2003 form in turning aside each effort.

Despite his heroics, Ottawa deserved a goal out of that period and they got one with just 0.3 seconds remaining. Just as in Game 3, the Ducks impeded their own efforts with a constant parade into the penalty box. With Ryan Getzlaf in the box for goaltender interference (admittedly, Emery seemed to have dived on incidental contact), Peter Schaefer circled around the net and shoveled a hopeful pass into the slot. Daniel Alfredsson was there to one-time it past the stick side of Giguere to send the city of Ottawa into rapture.

It was to be short-lived though, as Anaheim dominated the second period like their opponents had in the preceding one. The attackers wore white instead of red, and Emery proved to be a far less daunting guardian at the gates. It took Anaheim half the time to breach his defences, and unlike Giguere – who had absolutely no chance on either goal he conceded – Emery cost his team with three absolutely dreadful goals conceded.

Todd Marchant’s excellent work saw him free on a 2-on-1 with Andy McDonald joining him. Marchant made the pass, and instead of staying on his feet, Emery dropped to the ice right away. McDonald easily rounded the goaltender and slid the puck into the empty net to tie the game.

Giving away the lead was bad enough, but it got worse for Ottawa in a hurry. Just a minute later, McDonald again beat Emery, this time a weak effort that found its way through the five-hole. While Ottawa did come back to tie, that was the goal that left the Senators playing catch-up for the rest of the game.

All credit to the Senators though, they did show some heart to tie the contest. Again, a variation of the big line came through for the home side. Jason Spezza started the play, getting the puck to Patrick Eaves on the sideboards. Dany Heatley came streaking in towards the far post, and had room due to some shockingly lazy back-checking from Getzlaf. Eaves still had to get it to him, which he accomplished with a nifty pass through the legs of Scott Niedermayer. Heatley was never missing from there, and it seemed that Ottawa had found a way back.

It wasn’t to be though, as their goaltender let them down again, with a little help from his defence this time. Teemu Selanne blazed down the right-hand side of the ice, beating one defender. Dustin Penner also beat his man, in almost a mirror image of Heatley’s goal. Giguere gave himself a chance though by staying on his feet and moving to his far post…in truth, he almost saved it. Emery, as has been his wont all series, again dropped to the ice far too early. Penner was left with the easiest of tap-ins, and that was that. The third period only saw six shots on goal for each team, and the Senators never managed to fashion much of a chance for an equalizer.

So, it’s on to sunny California and the utter inevitability of Game 5’s result. Hopefully the Senators give a good account of themselves and put up a better fight than the first two games there. However, they have absolutely no shot of winning with The Human Sieve in net…thus consigning the NHL to their third straight champion from a city that couldn’t possibly care less. Wonderful.