FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-The Ottawa Senators needed a game like that. Maybe they didn’t dominate the Detroit Red Wings last night but it certainly felt like they were in control of the game for most of the night. Craig Anderson made a handful of big stops in the first period but after Erik Karlsson gave the Sens a one lead from an impossible angle, the Wings really didn’t generate much of anything. And Ottawa was pretty much on cruise control after the second goal by Tom Pyatt. The out of town scoreboard was helpful too. Thanks to losses by the Leafs and Lightning, the Senators are now one point away from locking up a spot and one point clear of the second wild card spot, which now belongs to the Leafs. Sets up another huge game on Thursday night in Boston.
-CLARKE MACARTHUR! Not sure about the rest of you but I spent a good portion of last night’s game in complete disbelief each time MacArthur hopped over the boards. While I still held out hope that he would return to the NHL one day and in the last couple weeks there were clear indications he was taking steps in that direction, I certainly didn’t expect to see it this season. Impressed that the organization was able to keep this under wraps. And then the guy goes out and takes a run at Niklas Kronwall on his first shift! In a season full of special moments, watching MacArthur come out for the three stars and hearing that ovation from the crowd has to be right up there. The raw emotion in his post-game interview shows you just how hard this guy worked to get back in the line up and how much the moment meant to him. Oh and by the way- he looked good out there too.
-Watching Erik Karlsson get carried off the ice in the third period, it was hard not to think the worst. That collision into the boards just inside the Ottawa blueline looked so awkward and it seemed like it could have been a range of potentially season-ending injuries. The roar from the crowd when he returned to the bench after a TV timeout (and hilariously in the middle of a Dion Phaneuf tribute) was equal to one you’d usually hear after a goal for the home side. Karlsson didn’t take another shift the rest of the game although he did coach the hell out of the defence. The fact that he was able to return to the bench seems to suggests it’s nothing serious though. Both he and Guy Boucher downplayed the incident after the game suggesting he could have played if they needed him. Now, on to more important things….give Erik Karlsson the damn Norris Trophy.
-Nothing flashy but Ben Harpur’s play in the last couple games has been really impressive. The organization has been raving about his progress this year to the point where they’ve suggested he may be the best all around defenceman in the American Hockey League. While he looks a little awkward at times, he gets around the ice well for a guy his size and he’s surprisingly comfortable with the puck on his stick. Also thought there was a good chance he was going to throw Dylan Larkin into the crowd during that late game scrum. Interested to see how Harpur looks in a few more games down the stretch.
-Guy Boucher is going to have to make some difficult line up decisions once everyone is healthy. Assuming that ever happens of course. With Clarke MacArthur back and Colin White available, the Senators suddenly have some pretty incredible depth at the forward position. Chris Kelly has managed to avoid healthy scratch status for the entire season but it’s tough to see where everyone fits with a full roster. Colin White was the odd man out last night (it would have been his 5th game in 7 days) but it would be nice to get him back in there for the game in his hometown on Thursday. Kelly, Dzingel and Wingels would be the obvious candidates to come out.
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