FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-I don’t know if he’s the Calder favourite but he’s getting damn close. For more than a month now it seems like one of the five thoughts is about something amazing Mark Stone did in the game before. And last night, for a second straight game with their season on the line, Mark Stone picked up this team and led them to victory. I actually have to remind myself that he’s a rookie on a regular basis because he plays with the poise and control of a ten year veteran. I made the comparison earlier in the season and his performance in these big games only adds to it- there is some Daniel Alfredsson in this guy. And again, he’s in his rookie season. I don’t know what his ceiling is but man, am I excited to find out. The Senators should looking for a long term deal with Stone this summer.
-Such an incredibly smart play by Patrick Wiercioch on that overtime winner. Not only did he do all the work to get the puck into the zone in the first place, but he followed that up with a good pass to Mark Stone and then went and got himself open. Once he had the shooting lane, Wiercioch delayed his shot for just long enough for the traffic to arrive in front of Ben Bishop. Wiercioch got all of it and poor Bishop never had a chance.
-For a brief moment, it looked like the Senators were finally going to get some love from the out of town scoreboard for once. But a 2-0 Detroit Red Wings lead became a 3-2 Bruins victory in the blink of an eye. The previously unbeatable Petr Mrazek suddenly couldn’t stop a damn thing, giving up three in a the third period. Disappointing obviously but if there’s good news in that result it’s that the Red Wings now become a target too. Ottawa sits three points back of both the Wings and the Bruins, although they have a game in hand on Boston.
-Reality is this magical ride the Senators have taken us on is starting to run out of race track. With only five games left and the team’s they are chasing playing well, time is running out in a hurry. And honestly, I’m so sick of watching bad results come up on the out of town scoreboard that I’m done concerning myself with what other teams so. Let’s just get to 98 points and see who’s left standing.
-How amazing is this hockey team? I mean, I know the end goal is to make the playoffs but the ride they’ve taken us on in the last month and a bit is better than most fan bases get in their two weeks in the playoffs. The Senators have been playing must-win games for weeks now and continue to find amazing ways to get it done. This run is right up there with the most fun I’ve had as a fan of the Ottawa Senators.
