Senators Bank a Win in Game One

SensChirp April 28, 2017 1,754
Senators Bank a Win in Game One

FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS

-At the start of a series, you never really know what to expect. We can try to predict how teams will match up but until the games start, it’s mostly guess work. Safe to say nobody was expecting a first period quite like that. The Senators were all over the Rangers in that opening twenty and if not for like five spectacular saves by Lundqvist, this game was over in the first period. That was as offensively dangerous as the Senators have looked all playoffs. Really impressive start to the game and while they slowed down a bit over the final forty, that was a good effort most of the way. Great way to start the series.

-Small but mighty isn’t a flattering expression for a playoff crowd in the city of Ottawa but it seems to fit for last night’s Game 1 gathering. In the lead up to the series opener, it was clear there was going to be a few empty seats for this one and by the time puck dropped, you probably could have put another two or three thousand in there. But full credit to those that showed up. Despite the empty seats, the atmosphere in the CTC was incredible from start to finish. And following that Karlsson goal, it was as loud as the building has been all year. The standing ovation through the final TV timeout was amazing. Also, did the Senators bus in some seat-fillers mid-game? Because the rink seemed full by the third period.

-While Lundqvist stole the show at one end of the rink, Craig Anderson was also rock solid for his team.  His saves may not have been as spectacular as Lundqvist’s but he made a number of key stops throughout the game, finishing with 34 saves on the night.  Even in that first period when the Senators were generating chances at a frantic pace, Andy made a couple of really sharp saves to keep the game scoreless. We knew Lundqvist was going to be a story heading into this series which makes it all that more important that Anderson continues to play well for Ottawa.

-Yes, he did that on purpose. While Erik Karlsson downplayed the goal a little bit in his post-game interviews, that’s absolutely what he was trying to do on that third period game winner. Maybe not off his head but still. And while it seemed to hit something else just prior the bank off Hank, it’s a clear case of “good things happen when you put the puck on (or towards) the net”. The way Lundqvist was playing last night, you knew it was going to take a special play to beat him. Karlsson made that special play.  He seems to be making a few of those a night these days.

-The brighter the spotlight gets on this Ottawa team, the more you’re going to hear people complain about Ottawa’s “boring” style.  In fact, multiple Rangers fans said it to me last night. Don’t listen to it. It’s not sitting back it’s selective aggression. And when they dial up the pressure, they can create offence as well as anyone. They just prefer to pick their spots, is all.  Anybody who’s watched Ottawa’s seven playoff games to this point and thought it was boring hockey is watching a completely different game than I am.

-Bonus Thought- On a personal note, that as much fun as I’ve had at a playoff game in quite some time. Obviously it helped that they finally won one with me in attendance but thanks to some pretty incredible seats, I was in a perfect spot for both Ottawa goals.  I was sitting six rows behind the New York net in the second period and when I saw Dzingel corral that loose puck, I jumped up before he even got the shot off. The top of the mesh rippled a fraction of a second later and it was just the best possible view of that goal. And then thanks to a well-timed call from an old friend and a couple conveniently placed empty seats, I was able to switch to the other end of the rink for the third. It just so happened that Alex Burrows’ parents were sitting in the row in front of us too. When that Karlsson shot banked in, I think I saw it go in even before Karlsson did. Next thing I know, I’m hugging Mr. Burrows. I may be feeling it a little bit this morning but nothing cures a hangover quite like a playoff win.

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