It’s been one year. 12 months. 365 days.
But if you close your eyes, I bet you can go back to that exact moment. And if you think a little bit harder, you can probably recall the incredible six week ride that came before it. The remarkable individual performances, the unlikely heroes, the inspiring off-ice stories that rallied a team and its fan base in ways we never thought possible.
I know I can.
May 25th, 2017. Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Senators had been written off as underdogs the entire post-season but it was clear to anyone that watch them, that there was something special about this team. Guy Boucher called it a soul. And that soul was on full display in the post-season.
In the first round, they matched up against the Boston Bruins. Nobody was picking the Senators. Despite a depleted Bruin blueline, the experts gave the edge to the Bruins and their top line. And after Game 1, it looked like the experts were right. But thanks to an unlikely 3rd period rally in Game 2, Bobby Ryan’s OT heroics in Game 3, Craig Anderson standing on his head in Game 4 and Clarke MacArthur driving in the final nail, the Senators marched on.
It was the same story against the Rangers.
Ottawa was the underdog and once again, they just kept finding a way. Erik Karlsson scored from an impossible angle in Game 1, the legend of Pageau grew four times bigger in Game 2, Derick Brassard tied it late and Kyle Turris was the hero in Game 5 and then Erik Karlsson and Craig Anderson locked it down at MSG.
The Senators rolled on.
In the Conference Finals, it was assumed that the Cinderella Senators had met their match in the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Well, until the puck dropped anyway. It was clear from the start that the Senators were going to give the Penguins everything they could handle. The teams would back and forth all series long.
Bobby Ryan was the hero in Game 1.
In Game 3, the Senators ran them out of the rink.
And in Game 6, Mike Hoffman and the crowd at the CTC carried the Senators through to a deciding Game 7.
Game 7. The two most terrifying words in professional sports and for Senators fans, words that will likely send a shiver up your spine.
Much like the previous six games, the Senators and Penguins went toe to toe in the deciding game.
Chris Kunitz would break the ice for the Penguins about half way through the second period. The lead would last all of 20 seconds as Mark Stone pulled the Senators even. At the 11:44 mark of the third, Justin Schultz would give the Penguins their second lead, only to see Ryan Dzingel tie the game again less than three minutes later.
Fittingly, this series would be decided in overtime. 20 minutes wasn’t enough. The teams would exchange chances in the first OT session, with the Penguins getting the better opportunities. Craig Anderson stood tall though and a second overtime was needed.
Just over five minutes into the second OT, Penguins forward Conor Sheary attempted a cross-ice pass to Justin Schultz.
Viktor Stalberg read it perfectly though, knocking the puck down out of mid-air. And with Stalberg’s speed, it was essentially a breakaway from his own blueline. Stalberg picked his spot early, just over the right pad of Matt Murray. The Penguins goalie got a piece of it but it wasn’t enough.
Game over. The Senators marched on to the Stanley Cup Finals. And we all know the rest of the story. Pekka Rinne struggled badly in that series and Craig Anderson was a rock at the other end of the rink. Mark Stone finally found his groove and Erik Karlsson continued his heroic play, ultimately bringing home the Conn Smythe trophy.
And for the first time since 1993, the Stanley Cup returned to Canada and fittingly, to the Nation’s Capital.
At least that’s how I remember it.
