FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Okay. So make that two slaps in the face. This wasn’t quite as bad as Game 3 but it was close. For a second consecutive game, the New York Rangers were in complete control from the opening puck drop. They dictated the pace and the Senators really couldn’t do much to push back. There’s really no sugar-coating the last two games at Madison Square Garden- the Ottawa Senators were completely dominated. They finally showed a bit of a pulse towards the end of the game but it was too little too late. With that said, good on the guys that showed some emotion late in the game.
-The biggest concern about these last two games is that a good portion of this team, including some top players, look like they’re running on fumes. Like the tank is just about empty. Mounting injuries play a huge part in that obviously but so does consistently giving up the first goal. They’re chasing the game far too often and it has them looking pretty tired. Hopefully home ice can give them a bit of a lift. Last night, I saw a lot of people calling for more practice time, which I find sort of silly. We know 5-6 forwards are playing through injuries and we know Karlsson is banged up. Do some fans/media really think the answer is an additional 40 minute skate between games? I could see the case for additional practice time earlier in the year but these guys know what they have to do at this point.
-At the start of this season, Ben Harpur wasn’t even on my radar in terms of being a potential NHLer. The strides he’s taken as a prospect this year are truly impressive and he deserves a ton of credit for forcing his way into the playoff line up. But I’ve seen enough for this year. His inability to get a shot through from just inside the Ranger blueline was a killer and his decision to stand there and watch while Kyle Turris took a punch from Tanner Glass was inexcusable. Harpur has a good chance to be an NHL regular in the future but he should not play again in this series. Bring Claesson in tomorrow. Or Borowiecki if he miraculously heals in the next day.
-The funny thing about hockey is how different things can appear even with the same two teams playing. These last two games have been completely unrecognizable when compared to Game 1 and 2 back in Ottawa. The difference has been night and day. There wasn’t much talk about it heading into this match-up but after watching the first four games, it’s pretty clear that home ice matters in this series. Ottawa got out to an early lead in their rink and New York responded in their barn. Best of three now and the Senators have two home games.
-Speaking of which, if I had told you back in January that come playoff time, the Ottawa Senators would be home ice advantage in a best of three situation and a chance to go to the Eastern Conference Finals, you all would have jumped at the opportunity. But not before laughing at the very possibility of such a scenario. But that’s exactly what the Senators are facing now as they return home to the Canadian Tire Centre. Down but certainly not out. You’re going to hear and read a lot of negativity and skepticism in the next 30 hours. Again, people will count out the Ottawa Senators. And again, this team will have a chance to prove those people wrong.
Boucher’s Post-Game Comments
Boxscore
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Playoff Bracket
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