The year was 1997.
The expansion Ottawa Senators were in their fifth season in the National Hockey League and unlike the previous four, it was clear that this version of the Senators was different. With Jacques Martin behind the bench, they finally had structure and they played with a purpose.
Not a contender by any means but no-longer a bottom feeder. After four straight seasons in the basement of the Eastern Conference, the Senators suddenly found themselves in contention for a playoff spot.
But it was going to be close.
Led by a 24 year old Daniel Alfredsson, the suddenly dominant Alexei Yashin and at times brilliant goaltending from the duo of Ron Tugnutt and Damian Rhodes, the Senators would need a strong finish to book their spot.
Essentially five teams were in the mix for the final two playoff spots in the East. The Senators, the Canadiens, the Capitals, the Whalers and the Lightning were all within striking distance. With three games left in the season, they would likely need to win out.
On April 9th, they hosted the Hartford Whalers. The Senators would storm out of the gates that night, taking an early lead thanks to goals by Steve Duchesne and Andreas Dackell. Shawn McEachern would make it 3-0 before the Whalers forced their way back into the game. With the game tied 4-4 in the third, Randy Cunneyworth scored on the power play, giving the Senators a huge win and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Two nights later they were at the Joe Louis Arena to take on a stacked Detroit Red Wings team. A Red Wings team that would eventually go on to win the Stanley Cup that year. Everyone remembers the clinching game but it never happens without that gutsy effort in Detroit the night before.
Again the Senators stormed out to an early lead, stunning the soon-to-be Champs with an early goal by Denny Lambert and a second period tally by Alexei Yashin, his 35th of the season. Sergei Fedorov and future-Senator Martin Lapointe answered back for the Red Wings and suddenly, it felt like their chance at the post-season was slipping through their fingers.
Cue Wade Redden. With less than three minutes to go, the rookie defenceman beat Mike Vernon, giving the Sens a huge two points and setting up a “win and you’re in” game the next night. At home. Against Dominik Hasek and the Buffalo Sabres. All that stood between Ottawa and a spot in the playoffs was the best goalie of all time.
Ron Tugnutt got the start in goal that night. A packed house at the Corel Centre spent the majority of the night in a nervous frenzy. As the game wore on, it was clear that this was a first goal wins kind of night. The Senators had peppered Hasek for most of the night, out-shooting the Sabres by a 2-1 margin. But Hasek was on his game and it was going to take a perfect shot to beat him.
And then, with less than 5 minutes to go and the score still tied 0-0, that perfect shot came.
Yashin broke through the Sabres defence, beating Gary Galley to a loose puck and sending the one-day broadcaster spinning out of the play. Yashin sensed the open space and pulled up with Alexei Zhitnik in pursuit. Both Buffalo defenceman out of the play. And then, Yashin spotted him.
31 year old defenceman Steve Duchesne had jumped up into the play and found a soft spot in the Sabres defensive zone. The pass just barely made it through. Michael Peca might have even got a piece of it.
And then, it happened.
The Senators would hold on for a nail-biting 1-0 win that to this day stands out as one of the most memorable games in franchise history.
Talking about the goal after, Steve Duchesne said “After scoring that goal if I had run for mayor I would have had a chance. You know I never kissed a guy before but I kissed a bunch of Senators that night and it was so much fun, we jumped all over the place.”
Jacques Martin and his Ottawa Senators ended the regular season on an incredible 10-4-2 run, booking the first playoff spot in the history of the franchise.
