Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Atlantic Division Final: 2) Ottawa Senators VS. 4) New York Rangers

It's time for the second round of the playoffs, as the NHL's quest for the Stanley Cup continues. This series features the Atlantic Division's Ottawa Senators against the wild card New York Rangers.

Game 1: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and Craig Anderson for the Senators. New York got going in the second period with a Ryan McDonagh power play goal, powered by Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich. Ottawa tied it on a Ryan Dzingel power play goal, with assists provided by Alexandre Burrows and Kyle Turris. The Senators took the lead with an Erik Karlsson goal in the third period, via Mike Hoffman and Marc Methot. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Anderson (34 for 35 in saves), Karlsson, and Lundqvist (41 for 43 in saves). The Senators have a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and Craig Anderson for the Senators. New York began in the first period with a Michael Grabner shorthanded goal, his third of the postseason, set up by Jesper Fast. Ottawa tied it on a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal, his second of the playoffs, going in unassisted. The Rangers took the lead back in the second period with a Chris Kreider goal, passed from Mika Zibanejad and Ryan McDonagh. New York added on with a Derek Stepan shorthanded goal, his second of the postseason, with a lone assist by Rick Nash. The Senators got one back with a Marc Methot goal, helped along by Mike Hoffman and Ben Harpur. The Rangers replied with a Brady Skjei goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by McDonagh and Zibanejad. Ottawa pulled back with a Mark Stone goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Dion Phaneuf and Fredrik Claesson. New York chipped back with a Skjei goal, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Brendan Smith. The Senators countered with a Pageau goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, made possible by Zack Smith and Phaneuf. Ottawa tied it on a Pageau goal, completing his hat trick on his fourth of the playoffs, via Kyle Turris and Erik Karlsson. The Senators won 6-5 with a Pageau goal in double overtime, his fourth of the game and fifth of the postseason, with a lone helper from Alexandre Burrows. The three stars were awarded to Pageau, Phaneuf, and Skjei, while McDonagh and Zibanejad get the honorable mentions. The Senators travel with a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Craig Anderson for the Senators and Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers. New York led off in the first period with a Mats Zuccarello goal, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of Mika Zibanejad and Dan Girardi. The Rangers added on with a Michael Grabner goal, his fourth of the playoffs, via Zuccarello. New york extended the lead as Rick Nash scored his third of the postseason, thanks to Derek Stepan and Jimmy Vesey. The Rangers padded the lead with an Oscar Lindberg goal, helped along by J.T. Miller and Tanner Glass. Ottawa got on the board with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal, his sixth of the playoffs, assisted by Bobby Ryan and Cody Ceci. This only made it 4-1, the eventual final, with the three stars given to Zuccarello, Lundqvist (26 for 27 in saves), and Grabner. The Senators still lead the series 2-1.

Game 4: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Craig Anderson for the Senators and Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers. New York started in the first period with a Nick Holden goal, assisted by Kevin Hayes. The Rangers added on in the second period with an Oscar Lindberg goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Michael Grabner and Tanner Glass. New York extended the lead as Lindberg scored his second of the game and third of the playoffs, thanks to J.T. Miller and Glass. The Rangers padded the lead on a Chris Kreider power play goal in the third period, his second of the postseason, powered by Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan. Ottawa got on the board with a Kyle Turris goal, his second of the playoffs, via Zack Smith and Ben Harpur. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars being Lindberg, Glass, and Lundqvist (22 for 23 in saves). The series is tied at 2 heading back to Canada.

Game 5: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and Craig Anderson for the Senators. New York opened in the first period with a Jesper Fast goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Brendan Smith and Kevin Hayes. The Rangers added on with a Nick Holden goal, his second of the playoffs, via Jimmy Vesey. Ottawa got on the board with a Mark Stone goal, his third of the postseason, passed from Chris Wideman and Zack Smith. The Senators tied it on a Mike Hoffman goal in the second period, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Clarke MacArthur and Erik Karlsson. Ottawa took the lead with a Tom Pyatt goal, assisted by Smith. New York retied it on a Ryan McDonagh goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Michael Grabner and Fast. The Rangers pulled ahead as Vesey scored, thanks to Brady Skjei and Derek Stepan. The Senators tied it again with a Derick Brassard goal, his third of the playoffs, helped along by MacArthur and Karlsson. Ottawa won 5-4 in overtime with a Kyle Turris goal, his third of the postseason, with helpers from Alexandre Burrows and Karlsson, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars were Karlsson, Smith, and MacArthur, while Fast and Vesey get the honorable mentions. The Senators leave home leading the series 3-2. 

Game 6: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Craig Anderson for the Senators and Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers. Ottawa struck first in the first period with a Mike Hoffman goal, his fourth of the postseason, assisted by Erik Karlsson and Clarke MacArthur. The Senators added on with a Mark Stone goal, his fourth of the playoffs, passed from MacArthur and Chris Wideman. New York got on the board in the second period with a Mika Zibanejad goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Mats Zuccarello and Nick Holden. Ottawa replied with a Karlsson goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Bobby Ryan and the goalie Anderson. The Rangers got one back with a Chris Kreider goal, his third of the postseason, via Zibanejad and Brendan Smith in the third period. The Senators iced it at 4-2 with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau empty net goal, his seventh of the playoffs, set up by Stone. The three stars were Karlsson, Stone, and Zibanejad, while MacArthur gets an honorable mention. The Senators advance to the Eastern Conference Final on a 4-2 series win.

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