NEW YORK — For two years, fans of the Ottawa Senators have looked forward to seeing their team in a playoff game again. Now they’d like to erase the memory of Game 1 versus the New York Rangers about as quickly as it happened.
Considering how many things went wrong for Ottawa in this Broadway bust — giving up four straight goals, incapable of executing on the power play — the good news for the Senators is they still have a shot at gaining a split on the road.
Game 2 is Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
A third-period goal by Brad Richards gave the Blueshirts a four-spot and killed any thoughts of one of Ottawa’s familiar comebacks, although late goals by captain Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Condra cut the gap in half.
A flash of life for a team desperate for anything positive. Something to build on.
For a long portion of a tentative second period, the Rangers looked like they might try to nurse home a 1-0 lead, which they have been known to do. The Senators pressed, tested Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and had an opportunity to tie the game when Ryan McDonagh took a tripping penalty on Erik Karlsson.
Turning point? You bet.
The Rangers killed the penalty with ease, gained energy from a job well done, and very soon thereafter had a 2-0 lead from a goal-scorer’s goal by Marian Gaborik, with a display of quick hands and patience in alone.
A smart coaching decision to call a timeout was a factor in the Rangers turnaround. The momentum fuelled a third Rangers goal, on the power play in the final minute of the second period, putting Ottawa into a deep hole for the start of the third.
As the Senators practise Friday, they will take some consolation from outshooting New York in the opener and generating several decent scoring opportunities, snuffed out by King Henrik.
The Senators spoke of trying to survive the first 10 minutes of MSG-induced energy as the “Let’s go Rangers” chants rained down from the rafters of the old building before the first puck was dropped.
Once it did, though, the game quickly settled into a pretty even back-and-forth flow. Using their size to advantage, the Rangers pounded the Senators at will, but hardly dominated a first period in which the visitors outshot the hosts 13-8.
Local hero Ryan Callahan did get the Rangers the lead they wanted, grabbing a rebound and sliding the puck under the left pad of Senators goaltender Craig Anderson, as the Garden erupted. They love their captain for goals and grit. When he decked Senators winger Jesse Winchester with a Broadway hit, Callahan ignited a “Cally!” chant from the faithful, one of many that the raucous bunch here have at their disposal.
The Rangers weren’t going to take the Senators lightly, after a season in which Ottawa held the 3-1 series advantage, although coaches and players from both camps dismissed that regular season business as meaningless.
A certain No. 1 seed from Vancouver has already felt the sting of a No. 8 seed in playoff groupings that scream parity.
“You make it (the playoffs) and then you throw the seeds out,” said Rangers head coach John Tortorella. “You’re going to play a good team, no matter who it is. We’re not worried about numbers (one versus eight) we’re going to worry about playing the right way.”
Exactly what he meant by the “right way,” Tortorella refused to divulge, but Senators centre Jason Spezza says it means doing all the little things right. Playing tight, smart hockey.
The Senators were just as anxious to get this series going, maybe too anxious in some cases. Ottawa’s defence had some issues in its own end and rookie defenceman Jared Cowen and veteran Filip Kuba were both minus-2 after two periods. Kuba also took two minor penalties.
In the run to Game 1, a lot was being made of the number of playoff newbies on both rosters, but the veterans on the teams didn’t feel it was a big deal. Alfredsson believes there can be advantages to having players experience their first post-season.
“I think you need a mix,” Alfredsson said. “The enthusiasm that comes from not having been in the playoffs before, it’s valuable. No question. I think the excitement that comes from it, you kind of step up your game. Being a new guy in the playoffs, it takes pressure off because its up to us older guys to lead the way and they can just play their game.”
They’ll need a bit more game on Saturday.