Burrows ‘hopeful’ for Game 3
The Ottawa Senators didn’t hit the ice on Thursday so a more definitive update on the status of winger Alex Burrows will have to wait until Friday.
Burrows didn’t look good leaving the ice with his left leg in the air on Wednesday night, after getting tangled up with Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Ian Cole in Ottawa’s 5-1 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final.
That doesn’t mean Burrows has been ruled out for Game 4, set for Friday at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Coach Guy Boucher sounded somewhat optimistic about Burrows suiting up.
“Still waiting,” Boucher said Thursday. “I know (Wednesday) after the game, it didn’t seem as bad as it could. So I’ll wait to get something more specific. Still hopeful for (Friday).”
Burrows, acquired at the trade deadline from the Vancouver Canucks, hasn’t scored in 15 games but has four assists.
Boucher indicated he’s been pleased with what he’s seen since Burrows joined the team back in January.
“He’s been instrumental for us since he got here, not just with what he does on the ice, but also on the bench and off-ice, his personality and his leadership,” Boucher said in French.
If Burrows is unavailable, the club has no shortage of depth.
With the return of winger Viktor Stalberg from an undisclosed injury for Game 3, veteran forward Tommy Wingels was a healthy scratch.
CLOSING TIME?
The Senators have held a 2-1 series lead nine times in their playoff history and they’ve gone on to close out the opponent in eight of those matchups.
According to Elias Sports, the winner of Game 3 when a series is tied 1-1 is 205-99, including a 3-2 record this year.
Here is Ottawa’s history after going up 2-1 in a playoff series:
1998 Round 1 vs. New Jersey: Won 4-2
2002 Round 1 vs. Philadelphia: Won 4-2
2002 Round 2 vs. Toronto: Lost 4-3
2003 Round 1 vs. Islanders: Won 4-1
2003 Round 2 vs. Philadelphia: Won 4-2
2006 Round 1 vs. Tampa: Won 4-1
2007 Round 1 vs. Pittsburgh: Won 4-1
2007 Round 2 vs. New Jersey: Won 4-1
2013 Round 1 vs. Montreal: Won 4-1