Sens ‘got lucky’ in double-OT Game 2 win

NEW YORK — Veteran Ottawa defenceman Dion Phaneuf wanted to be clear that he knows the Senators are fortunate to be in New York up two games on the Rangers.

“We like the position that we’re in, but we also know we got lucky with the outcome of the last game,” Phaneuf said after the Senators’ practice at Madison Square Garden Monday in preparation for tonight’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Rangers.

“We got outplayed. They played a better all-around game. We know we got away with one.”

Ottawa leads the best-of-seven series 2-0 after Saturday’s 6-5 double overtime win in which Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored four goals, including the game-winner 2:54 into the fifth period. The Senators were outshot 48-34 and out-attempted 83-79 in a Game 2 .

And until Pageau’s game-winner, the Senators never led.

For a team whose foundation is based in strong structure in the neutral and defensive zones, what transpired at Canadian Tire Centre Saturday was disconcerting.

“We were going all out trying to score a goal and that doesn’t suit us at all,” Senators head coach Guy Boucher said. “We lose our structure. So we just thought we needed to improve our mindset of ‘Yeah, we want to attack, but not attacking with four guys hoping that the damn thing goes in and forget the rest.’ ”

After the Game 2 loss, the Rangers flew back to New York and had Sunday off.

“This extra day off has been beneficial for our group. Both mentally and physically,” Alain Vigneault told reporters after the Rangers’ practice.