Senators eliminate Rangers, advance to conference final
Ottawa heading to Eastern Conference final after eliminating New York in Game 6
NEW YORK — Captain Erik Karlsson scored and added an assist to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal on Tuesday.
The Senators have reached the Eastern Conference final for the third time in franchise history, making it that deep into the playoffs in 2003 and 2007.
“Our captain was the best player on the ice,” said Ottawa’s Derick Brassard. Ottawa won its best-of-seven series with New York 4-2, and awaits the winner of the Penguins-Capitals semifinal. Game 7 of that series is tonight at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C.
“We did something a lot of people didn’t expect,” Ottawa coach Guy Boucher said about beating the Rangers and advancing to the conference final. “It’s a big accomplishment.” Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone and JeanGabriel Pageau — into an empty net — also scored for the Senators. Craig Anderson stopped 37 shots.
Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider scored for New York. Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves.
For the second time in three years, the Rangers’ season ended on home ice. And for the 22nd straight year, the Rangers begin their summer without a Stanley Cup.
This might be the most painful defeat, as Lundqvist turned 35 earlier this season and there has been season-long speculation that general manager Jeff Gorton may attempt to either trade or buy out veteran defencemen Dan Girardi and Marc Staal in an attempt to get younger and free up salary cap space. According to CapFriendly.com, New York has 18 players signed to NHL contracts worth $63.8 million and has $9.2 million in available cap space. The Rangers have six restricted free agents (Zibanejad, Brandon Pirri, Jesper Fast, Matt Puempel, Oscar Lindberg and Adam Clendening) and two unrestricted free agents (Tanner Glass and Brendan Smith).
Hoffman deftly redirected Karlsson’s slap pass from the point 4:27 into the game to stop the Senators’ series-long trend of allowing the game-opening goal. Karlsson began the sequence that culminated with Hoffman’s fourth of the playoffs by blocking a Nick Holden shot before leading the rush up-ice.
Stone’s goal, his fourth of the playoffs, was challenged by New York head coach Alain Vigneault as the Rangers believed Kyle Turris was offside. A review upheld the ruling on the ice.
“I’m not going to lie, it feels pretty good,” Stone said about advancing.
Zibanejad, the ex-Senator, halved the lead with a snapshot past Anderson’s glove at 13:32 of the second period.
But, for all intents and purposes, Karlsson’s snapshot from the low slot at 15:53 ended the series. The goal was his second of the playoffs and his 13th point overall.
“I’m glad he’s on my team,” Boucher said about Karlsson.
Kreider’s third of the playoffs 53 seconds into the third cut the Senators’ lead to 3-2. New York continued to press in the third, but couldn’t score the tying goal despite outshooting Ottawa 15-5 in the period.