Karlsson remains focused on task at hand
Series clincher ‘hardest to win’
It has taken Erik Karlsson eight long years to get here, further down the playoff road than he’s ever been, so it would only be natural for him to sneak a peek at what lies ahead.
But the Senators captain insists he’s not day dreaming at all about the possibility of playing in his first conference final.
“It’s an easy thought to have, probably, being in the position you’re in,” Karlsson said in the visitor’s dressing room at Madison Square Garden on Monday, about 32 hours before Ottawa attempts to finish off the New York Rangers in a best-of-seven series it leads 3-2. “But it’s a thought you’re going to have to push out.
“I think we’re far from where we want to be. And this is going to be the hardest game to win for us. We want to do a good job, whether we win or lose (Tuesday). We want to play the game the way we think we have to play to be successful.”
The Senators have the Rangers on the brink largely because of Karlsson, who added another chapter to his storybook season on Saturday.
Just when you wondered what more he could do in his third campaign wearing the ‘C’, Karlsson returned from a nagging injury that knocked him out of Game 4 to heroically rally the Senators to victory in Game 5.
He had three assists in 31:09 of ice time, including yet another spectacular pass, this one past three Rangers sticks to Clarke MacArthur.
It resulted in the Derick Brassard goal that sent the game into overtime.
“I’m not surprised,” said MacArthur. “It was obviously a great play, but he makes those plays on a nightly basis.”
Taking care of business on Tuesday would provide an extra couple of rest and recovery days for Karlsson, whose only other trip to the conference semifinals was a 4-1 series loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013. He could use it. Despite sitting out one full period, he’s averaging 28:57 minutes of work per game, higher than any player still in the playoffs.
“To get that one more win that we want is probably going to take a little bit more than what we’ve had in the past,” said Karlsson, who is sporting a new look with a moustache with the ends turned up.
“We know that and we’re going to be prepared for that.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to start the game the way we want.
“Whether they score or not, we can’t change the things that we think we do successfully.”