Sens’ hopes rest on Karlsson foot
Whether he returns for Game 5 is key
The Senators decided they needed to save Erik Karlsson f or Game 5 when he was clearly hurting Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
The more immediate question now: Can he help the Senators save their season?
And the bigger question: Is he healthy enough to do that?
The Senators have seen what the picture looks like without Karlsson. It isn’t pretty.
By all accounts, Karlsson — who didn’t return for the third period of Ottawa’s 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 4 — is going to suit up for the pivotal Game 5 on Saturday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre. But you have to wonder just how much he’s hurting.
Although Senators coach Guy Boucher told reporters at the club’s hotel in Manhattan on Friday during English interviews that Karlsson would play, he wasn’t quite as definitive when speaking in French.
“Unless the trainers tell me otherwise, I will assume Karlsson will be there,” Boucher said.
Okay, then we’ll assume Karlsson will play.
TV images showed Karlsson in agony on the bench after a collision with Rangers forward Chris Kreider late in the second period. Karlsson left the ice holding his left skate in the air and wasn’t seen again for the final 20 minutes in a game that was already lost with the Blueshirts leading 3-0 at the time.
The rule of thumb in the playoffs is to be cautious about what you hear about injuries and the roster isn’t settled until the league issues it moments before puck drop on its website. There are those who wonder if Karlsson will actually play in Game 5 but at this point, all signs are pointing in that direction.
The betting money is he will play — and that says a lot about Karlsson.
Through most of these playoffs, Karlsson has taken his game to another level. He is having his foot frozen before every game and, make no mistake, this is a painful injury if you talk to people who have been through it before.
Former Philadelphia Flyers forward Dave Poulin, who is working as an analyst on TSN’s broadcasts of Senators hockey, played with three cracks in his foot during the East final against the Montreal Canadiens in 1989. Before every game of that series, he had his foot frozen by the medical staff.
“I have no idea if his injury is anything close to what I went through or if it’s in the same area. Trust me, when it’s in the boot, you’re locked in and you’re fine,” Poulin said Friday.
“I was on crutches the day between games. The toughest part is getting in the boot and then the hard part is when getting it whacked.”
This is a new series now. The Senators had the chance to push the Rangers to the brink of elimination with a victory in New York and couldn’t get it done.
Now they have another opportunity at home. There will be a sigh of relief throughout Ottawa as long as Karlsson skates on to the ice wearing his No. 65 jersey and the faithful are completely satisfied he will play.