‘Maybe next year’ doesn’t fly with Burrows

OTTAWA — The contributions of Alex Burrows in these playoffs go beyond anything the Ottawa Senators’ eldest playing statesman has or will do on the ice.

He has also provided an experienced voice of reason to his teammates.

“We’re going to take advantage of this opportunity because they don’t come that often,” Burrows said after Thursday’s morning skate. “It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, maybe next year we’ll be able to get it done.’ But next year might be a totally different story.”

Not one to get up and deliver a dressing room speech, Burrows has enforced that point over dinners and casual conversations with other Senators. In his first eight seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, he went to the playoffs six times — including twice as a Presidents’ Trophy winner. Yet the closest he came to winning the Stanley Cup was the 2011 final, which Vancouver lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

The following year was the Canucks’ second in a row of having more points than every other team in the regular season and they were bounced from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

“It’s like when you think you’ve got a good team and you’re still young, you wouldn’t mind having another chance next year or whatever, but next year might never come,” said Burrows. “I learned that the hard way in Vancouver. We felt that (because) we won two Presidents’ trophies, (you thought) maybe not this year against the Bruins, but we’ll win. And next thing you know, you’ve got injuries. There’s different reasons ... the team chemistry is not the same, there’s other teams that are planning to win, too, so it’s hard.

“You’ve got to take advantage of your opportunity when you get it.”

Burrows only had one assist in the six-game series against the Bruins, but he was a factor. He created a goal with his play along the boards and stopped Boston scoring chances with his backchecking and work in the defensive zone.

To him, that was as rewarding as putting the puck in the net himself.

“Oh for sure, I always believe, score or not score, as long as the team wins, I’m happy,” said the 36-year old. “Right now, that’s how it’s been.

“It’s been a lot of fun winning games, but we’re still not satisfied. We’ve only gone through one round. We’re still hungry for a lot more.”

— AP FILES Ottawa Senators forward Alex Burrows, top left, knows first-hand how fleeting playoff success can be from his days with the Canucks and has been a voice of reason for his new team, which opened the second round Thursday against the Rangers, since being...