FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-The fans hoping to see the Senators “tank” down the stretch obviously didn’t have tickets for the Leafs/Sens game on Saturday night. It’s amazing how quickly you forget about the benefits of a high draft pick when you’re surrounded by 8,000 Leaf fans. A lot of the conversation heading into this one was focused on the bottom of the standings but I think we can all agree a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs is always appreciated. Especially in our barn.
-What made last night so amazing was that the Senators controlled this game from the moment the puck was dropped. The always obnoxious Toronto fans really didn’t even have time to sit down before they were down a goal. It was 2-0 before they could finish their first over-priced beer and the game was pretty much over by their first bathroom break. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to think about how much money Leaf fans spent to watch their team get embarrassed last night.
-For the record, I will be taking full credit for the goal scoring spree Curtis Lazar is about to go on. All year I’ve thought about tweeting a Lazar/Bill Muckalt comparison and last night I finally went for it. And it turned out to be exactly the boost Lazar was looking for as he scored about 15 seconds later. Seriously though, those two goals had to feel good for Lazar. He was never projected to be an offensive star at the NHL level but goals have been ridiculously hard to come by for Lazar in his first 115 games in the NHL. And it’s not like he hasn’t had chances. Burying a couple last night should be huge for his confidence.
-Just a low-key four point night for Erik Karlsson. No big deal. This wasn’t an overly flashy game for the league’s best defenceman but he was just completely controlling the pace of the game from the back end. He finished the game with four assists but he could have easily had six or seven. I’m not sure what Mike Babcock’s team usually does in the neutral zone but it was a track meet through the middle of the ice last night. So much space. Karlsson was able to either pass the puck up or skate it out at will.
-With those four points, Erik Karlsson now sits second in league scoring. Seriously. Think about that for a second. The fan base likes to pick at Karlsson’s game when things aren’t going well but the reality is he’s putting together one of the most incredible seasons of all-time for a defenceman. Karlsson now has 59 points through 53 games. He has 48 assists, four clear of second place in that category. Just give him the damn Norris Trophy already.
