FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Uh did that actually happen? I’ve watched the highlights ten times already today and I still can’t believe that was real life. Even in the chaos of the post-overtime winner celebration, I had to remind myself that I wasn’t dreaming. Honestly, that would have been a pretty far-fetched dream. Being a sports fan is all about those moments that stick in your memory for weeks, months, years. This fan base will never forget where they were on April 29, 2017.
-When Jean Gabriel Pageau scored that playoff hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 season, he became an instant hero in this city. It felt like a once in a lifetime performance. Yesterday, he found a way to one-up himself. Four goals in a game, including a game-tying goal with a little over a minute to play and then the game-winner in double overtime. Legendary. There’s just no other way to describe it.
-You would have a hard time convincing me there’s a better playoff crowd anywhere in the league than the one that packed the Canadian Tire Centre yesterday afternoon. The energy in that building was unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of and played a big part in willing this team to victory in Game 2. Even when the game was 5-3 with a little under four minutes to play, the crowd was still buzzing, trying to give the Senators a late push. The eruption from the CTC faithful on the tying goal and the overtime winner is still ringing in my ears a day later.
-Pageau ends up grabbing all the headlines in this one but this was just a bizarre game, from start to finish. The Rangers had three separate two goal leads but the Senators just refused to go away. Every time Ottawa seemed to grabbing the momentum in the game, the Rangers would score what appeared to be a back-breaking goal. Give the Senators credit though, they never stopped pushing and were rewarded for it in the end.
-Bit of a scare in this one as Clarke MacArthur left during the game and did not return. Guy Boucher stressed that it’s an upper body injury that was also bothering him in Game 1. Obviously with MacArthur’s past there was some concern it might be concussion related but Boucher was clear that is not the case. The Coach met with the media this afternoon and said MacArthur is making the trip to New York and could be available on Tuesday night.
Boucher’s Post-Game Comments
Boxscore
Advanced Stats
Playoff Bracket
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