To contextualize the Ottawa Senators’ miracle playoff run consider the following: The Calgary Flames could wind up being the second-most unlikely post-season participant this spring.
That’s saying something.
Ottawa has managed to surpass Calgary as the NHL’s comeback kings during a mind-bending two-month stretch that’s catapulted the team from lottery talk to a potential unlucky first-round draw for a division winner. Forget the “Hamburglar,” Ottawa has been like a cat burglar, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. In keeping with the feline theme, here are the nine lives—in chronological order—Ottawa has used up in pursuit of a playoff berth that once looked impossible to obtain.
Feb 26, Ottawa 1 at Los Angeles 0: In just his fifth game of the season, unheralded rookie goalie Andrew Hammond makes 35 saves to shutout a Kings team also desperately in need of points on home ice.
March 6, Buffalo 2 at Ottawa 3: Facing a Sabres club with nothing better to do than puncture dreams, Ottawa falls behind 2-0 after 20 minutes. Erik Karlsson snaps his team out of its slumber with a goal just 26 seconds into the middle frame and Ottawa squeaks out a 3-2 win with two goals in the third period.
March 8, Calgary 4 at Ottawa 5 (shootout): Ottawa hadn’t yet developed its cardiac reputation, but Calgary’s was already well entrenched. The Flames, after falling behind 4-0 through 40 minutes, score four times in the third to square the affair. It takes a six-round shootout and Karlsson’s game-deciding goal to save the Sens from severe embarrassment and, more importantly, losing a valuable point.
March 12, Ottawa 5 at Montreal 2: With the hockey world just starting to pay real attention to them, the Sens visit Atlantic Division-leading Montreal and fall behind 2-0 before the game is nine minutes old. Instead of getting blown out, Ottawa buckles down on the road and takes over the game.
March 19, Boston 4 at Ottawa 6: This game-of-year candidate was absolutely nuts. Ottawa scored 19 seconds into the first period, Boston tied it 30 seconds later, each team held a first-period lead, the Sens blew two one-goal advantages in the second and Bobby Ryan scored with 8:32 remaining in the final frame to put Ottawa up for good.
March 31, Ottawa 2 at Detroit 1 (shootout): Having dropped three consecutive games, the Sens are done for if they lose again. Ottawa peppers Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek to no avail, until Clarke MacArthur finally sneaks a shot through with just 4:02 left in regulation. Detroit scores on its first two shootout attempts, but each time, the Sens answer with a goal. Hammond then shuts the door and Mark Stone wins the one-on-one competition in the fourth round.
April 2, Tampa Bay 1 at Ottawa 2 (OT): Each team scores in the first, then the goals stop. With the game knotted halfway through the third, Sens defenceman Eric Gryba takes the dreaded delay of game penalty. Ottawa kills it off and, with the allotted five-minute overtime down to 17 seconds, Patrick Wiercioch nets the winner.
April 4, Washington 3 at Ottawa 4 (OT): MacArthur and Mika Zibanejad score power play markers just 53 seconds apart to give the Sens a 3-0 lead before the game is 10 minutes old. However, the Caps hang around and tie things up with less than five minutes to go in the third. This time it’s Kyle Turris’ turn to play overtime hero and the Sens still have life.
April 7, Pittsburgh 3 at Ottawa 4 (OT): Facing a Penguins club that’s also fighting for its playoff life, the Sens watch Sidney Crosby score 10 seconds into the game and fall behind 3-0 after one period. Stone scores 34 seconds into the third to make it a one-goal game and, with 1:58 left on the clock, Mike Hoffman floats the tying goal over Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove. Ottawa then blows a golden power play chance late in regulation and early overtime, but who cares when you have Stone on your team? The super rookie converts a pass from Karlsson to complete the comeback and keep the Senators moving in their logic-defying pursuit of a playoff spot.
