HE WON’T BACK DOWN
Karlsson plays through pain
Injuries are usually treated like a state secret in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
That’s why Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson caught everybody off guard after their first-round series against the Boston Bruins wrapped up on Sunday. Following Ottawa’s series-clinching overtime win in Game 6, the superstar defenceman revealed he’d been playing with two hairline fractures to his foot, suffered when he blocked a shot during a March 28 game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Though Karlsson’s honesty about the injury was unexpected, he understood that many were aware of the problem already and didn’t see any point in keeping it a secret. Plus, he said Tuesday as the Senators prepared to face the New York Rangers in Round 2, he’s doing just fine and the foot is virtually back to normal.
“I was tired of talking about it,” Karlsson said Monday at the Canadian Tire Centre. “It’s probably something that’s not going to affect me anymore moving forward. It’s something that’s done with. I just felt like getting it out of the way instead of having it keep lingering on.
“I’m not much for secrets.” Normally, you don’t hear that kind of detailed information about an injury until after a team is eliminated, so this was unusual to say the least. But the 26-yearold has worn extra foot protection in the post-season. Still, the Senators insist they aren’t concerned about the situation.
Of course, the immediate concern is that the Rangers will target the area every chance they get, because that’s all part of being in a playoff series and trying to get an edge wherever you can. But Senators defenceman Marc Methot, who nearly had his fingertip ripped off on a slash by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby during a game in March, doesn’t believe in that kind of strategy.
“I hear mixed reviews on all that hiding injuries stuff,” Methot said. “The NFL, they let everybody know the information, they don’t hide it. It’s hard to hide an injury in hockey as well. I think, for the most part, teams are aware of exactly what you’re dealing with.
“There’s cameras everywhere on the ice and it’s tough to hide. To Erik’s credit, in that situation, it’s his foot, I’m pretty sure it’s probably healed pretty good. He’s a straightforward guy and he’s got nothing to hide. In my opinion, it doesn’t make a huge difference. People don’t target that stuff.”
In the wake of general manager Pierre Dorion’s declaration Monday that on the eighth day God “created Erik Karlsson,” Senators head coach Guy Boucher was asked if he said a few prayers when Ottawa’s best player was first injured, given the team was fighting to secure a playoff spot at the time.
“It was a scare for us,” Boucher said. “First of all, we wanted to make the playoffs and he was injured. Once he was injured, the fear was it was going to get worse if something happened, and then that one game (against the Detroit Red Wings) where he hit it on the boards, and it was just bad luck.
“It seemed like it was getting worse, but it stayed where it was. At that point, we were all praying. We’re good now.”
Boucher said he had no issue with Karlsson speaking publicly about the injury.
“It’s over. That’s why he said it,” Boucher said. “If it wasn’t over, he wouldn’t have said anything. He’s perfectly healthy now.”
Let’s be honest: If it was bothering Karlsson, you didn’t notice it in his play. This guy is at another level and his performance has been the best of his career. He had six assists in Round 1, played huge minutes — including 40 in the double OT loss in Game 5 — and Boucher doesn’t want Karlsson to change any aspect of his game against the Rangers.
“He’s playing at his best right now and if we can keep him at his best, then it’s going to be quite an accomplishment on his part,” Boucher said. “He’s done it all year. There wasn’t any lulls, even when he was injured. Not just me — I think everybody has been impressed by him.
“His consistency has been probably been the most impressive for me. Hopefully we can keep going in that direction. To be able to rely on a player like that is not just inspiring for the players, it’s also for the coaching staff.”
The Senators have been able to rely on Karlsson every night, even if he hasn’t been at 100 per cent. Now that he’s healthy, the sky is the limit.
“He’s playing fantastic,” Methot said. “He’s doing what Erik Karlsson does, and that’s taking over games at times, being clutch for us at key moments in the games.
“That’s just what he does: He’s a great leader and he’s extremely competitive.”