I said this on Twitter earlier and I’m sure I’ll take some heat for it, but if you watched tonight’s game and were concerned about draft positioning, you have forgotten what it’s about to be a fan.
Even though there wasn’t much on the line, this was one of those special hockey games and in my opinion, the game of the year for the Ottawa Senators.
Through forty minutes, the Sens were down and out. They could not muster up any offence against a stingy Tampa defence and it looked like yet another shutout on home ice. But then with a little under ten minutes to go in the hockey game, the Sens flicked the switch.
Erik Condra hit Ryan Shannon with a perfect pass and the UFA to be scored what had to be the nicest goal of the Sens season. In all alone Shannon showed terrific patience, caught Roloson over committing and with that the home side was on the board.
From that point, until the final buzzer, the Sens were absolutely relentless. They came in waves and a Tampa team that had dominated to that point, were suddenly on their heels.
Foligno got the tying goal on a fortunate bounce and in overtime Spezza sent the raucous crowd home happy, sliding the puck between Roloson’s pads.
Curtis McElhinney was a stand out for the second straight game and is making a strong case for a contract next season. Erik Karlsson, who has been much better down the stretch, was fantastic in the third period and overtime.
There is a whole lot to look forward to for fans of the Ottawa Senators.
The draft pick stuff will take care of itself. The Sens are almost certainly going to have a top 3 selection when it’s all said and done and are going to get a player that will contribute to this team moving forward.
In the meantime, it’s impossible not to appreciate the effort this team is putting forward on a nightly basis.
GO SENS GO!
Wasn’t all good news for the home side as defenceman Sergei Gonchar left the game with what the club is calling a concussion. No timetable for his return.
