PREVIEW
The Ottawa Senators finished the regular season with a 45-34-3 record, good for 93 points and the third seed in the Atlantic Division. In the first round, they took down the second seed Montreal Canadiens in six games. The Senators are led by veteran sniper Bobby Ryan, who notched four goals and four assists in Round 1. Their defensive corps is talented and deep, featuring team captain Erik Karlsson and young star Kord Pankewicz. In net, Robin Lehner had an excellent first round, allowing only thirteen goals to the dangerous Canadiens offense. This team may lack the superstar talent of a team like the Lightning, but they are not to be overlooked.
Forwards
Hoffman(81)-Turris(87)-Ryan(89)
MacArthur(81)-Zibanejad(87)-Stone(80)
Chiasson(81)-Helm(85)-Condra(81)
Greening(81)-Smith(82)-Higgins(80)
Defensemen
Pankewicz(87)-Karlsson(90)
Wiercioch(85)-Ceci(84)
Cowen(83)-Stuart(81)
Goalies
Lehner(87)
Edmonds(82)
SERIES
Fourth liner Chris Higgins opened the scoring for Ottawa at home, and Erik Condra gave the Senators a two goal lead entering the third period. There, it all fell apart for them, as Sean Couturier got us one back, and power play markers from Jakub Voracek and Andre Burakovsky got us the win. Disaster struck in Game 2, as Jack Campbell was pulled early after giving up three goals to Darren Helm, Zach Smith and Bobby Ryan. Oliver Ekman-Larsson got us one back, but two more Senators goals came in the third, as Erik Karlsson and Ryan's second tied the series at 1-1.
Campbell continued to struggle in Game 3. Filip Forsberg and Voracek got us going early, but our goalie allowed a quick goal to Higgins. In the third period, Ryan scored again to tie it, and then Clarke MacArthur got the winner in overtime. Things looked bleak as Mike Hoffman opened the scoring for Ottawa, but captain Claude Giroux tied it in the second period. In the third, the offense came alive, as Andre Burakovsky scored twice, Ekman-Larsson scored an insurance goal, and we tied the series at 2-2.
Back in Ottawa, the offense continued to roll, as Brendan Perlini, Nicolas Meloche and Voracek all scored in the first period. MacArthur got one back for the Senators, but Giroux scored again for another 4-1 win.
Game 6 in Philadelphia was up for grabs through the first two periods, as Voracek and Brendan Lemieux scored for us, while MacArhur and Darren Helm scored for them. On home ice, we collapsed in the third period, giving up goals to Kyle Turris and Mark Stone, as Ottawa forced Game 7.
Back in Canada's capital, we fell down by three early, as MacArthur, Ryan and Kord Pankewicz all scored. But there was still more drama to come, as Ty Rattie, Giroux and Ekman-Larsson tied it. In the end, Erik Condra crushed our hopes with a late goal, as Pankewicz added an empty-netter to seal it. The second round was our downfall, as Ottawa advances to the Conference Finals.
Series MVP: Clarke MacArthur, Ottawa Senators
Honorable Mention: Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers
ANAYLSIS
It's upsetting to go out as early as we did, but as the old cliche goes, we were beaten by a much better team. This was a close series throughout, and our offense was spectacular, with lots of guys scoring pivotal goals in the clutch. Our defense and goaltending just let us down, as Ottawa really shouldn't be scoring 21 goals against us. One shockingly during both rounds was that of Ty Rattie, who scored only one goal and was a -3. He's struggled since being acquired at the trade deadline, and his future with the team is already murky. We need to find a consistent third scoring option on the first line, and a move may have to be made in the offseason. For now, it really hurts to be eliminated, and I'm sure all of our players are disappointed at this result. Best of luck to the Senators, who advance to face the New York Islanders.
-Henry
The Ottawa Senators finished the regular season with a 45-34-3 record, good for 93 points and the third seed in the Atlantic Division. In the first round, they took down the second seed Montreal Canadiens in six games. The Senators are led by veteran sniper Bobby Ryan, who notched four goals and four assists in Round 1. Their defensive corps is talented and deep, featuring team captain Erik Karlsson and young star Kord Pankewicz. In net, Robin Lehner had an excellent first round, allowing only thirteen goals to the dangerous Canadiens offense. This team may lack the superstar talent of a team like the Lightning, but they are not to be overlooked.
Forwards
Hoffman(81)-Turris(87)-Ryan(89)
MacArthur(81)-Zibanejad(87)-Stone(80)
Chiasson(81)-Helm(85)-Condra(81)
Greening(81)-Smith(82)-Higgins(80)
Defensemen
Pankewicz(87)-Karlsson(90)
Wiercioch(85)-Ceci(84)
Cowen(83)-Stuart(81)
Goalies
Lehner(87)
Edmonds(82)
SERIES
Fourth liner Chris Higgins opened the scoring for Ottawa at home, and Erik Condra gave the Senators a two goal lead entering the third period. There, it all fell apart for them, as Sean Couturier got us one back, and power play markers from Jakub Voracek and Andre Burakovsky got us the win. Disaster struck in Game 2, as Jack Campbell was pulled early after giving up three goals to Darren Helm, Zach Smith and Bobby Ryan. Oliver Ekman-Larsson got us one back, but two more Senators goals came in the third, as Erik Karlsson and Ryan's second tied the series at 1-1.
Campbell continued to struggle in Game 3. Filip Forsberg and Voracek got us going early, but our goalie allowed a quick goal to Higgins. In the third period, Ryan scored again to tie it, and then Clarke MacArthur got the winner in overtime. Things looked bleak as Mike Hoffman opened the scoring for Ottawa, but captain Claude Giroux tied it in the second period. In the third, the offense came alive, as Andre Burakovsky scored twice, Ekman-Larsson scored an insurance goal, and we tied the series at 2-2.
Back in Ottawa, the offense continued to roll, as Brendan Perlini, Nicolas Meloche and Voracek all scored in the first period. MacArthur got one back for the Senators, but Giroux scored again for another 4-1 win.
Game 6 in Philadelphia was up for grabs through the first two periods, as Voracek and Brendan Lemieux scored for us, while MacArhur and Darren Helm scored for them. On home ice, we collapsed in the third period, giving up goals to Kyle Turris and Mark Stone, as Ottawa forced Game 7.
Back in Canada's capital, we fell down by three early, as MacArthur, Ryan and Kord Pankewicz all scored. But there was still more drama to come, as Ty Rattie, Giroux and Ekman-Larsson tied it. In the end, Erik Condra crushed our hopes with a late goal, as Pankewicz added an empty-netter to seal it. The second round was our downfall, as Ottawa advances to the Conference Finals.
Series MVP: Clarke MacArthur, Ottawa Senators
Honorable Mention: Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers
ANAYLSIS
It's upsetting to go out as early as we did, but as the old cliche goes, we were beaten by a much better team. This was a close series throughout, and our offense was spectacular, with lots of guys scoring pivotal goals in the clutch. Our defense and goaltending just let us down, as Ottawa really shouldn't be scoring 21 goals against us. One shockingly during both rounds was that of Ty Rattie, who scored only one goal and was a -3. He's struggled since being acquired at the trade deadline, and his future with the team is already murky. We need to find a consistent third scoring option on the first line, and a move may have to be made in the offseason. For now, it really hurts to be eliminated, and I'm sure all of our players are disappointed at this result. Best of luck to the Senators, who advance to face the New York Islanders.
-Henry
Comments