Three things we learned: Trending Senators make history

Derick Brassard talks about the play of Erik Karlsson in Game 6 and the how the Ottawa Senators were able to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Ottawa Senators advanced to the Eastern Conference final on the strength of Erik Karlsson – who else? – an insurance goal from Jean-Gabriel Pageau – him again – and some improved play from their netminder.

Put it all together and the Senators are now Canada’s golden standard over the last two decades.

Here are three things we learned on Tuesday.

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Karlsson scores, Sens win

Every hockey fan knows how important Erik Karlsson is to the Senators, particularly offensively.

The captain was a point-per-game player while suiting up in all 82 contests last year and followed that up with 71 points in what may have been his best all-around season.

He was on his usual point-a-night pace heading into Game 6, when he set up Mike Hoffman to open the scoring and then netted the winner in the second period.

A road playoff goal from Karlsson has been a good omen for the Senators in the past and it proved to be once again.

The Sens were 4-0 away from Kanata when their all-star defenceman found the back of the net.

You can add another to the win column.

Pageau joins the record book

OK, so the goal wasn’t as memorable as any of the ones he scored in that epic Game 2 overtime win. You know, that night when he scored four times, including the tying and winning markers.

However, Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s empty-netter with seven seconds left eliminated any doubt the Senators would be moving on to the final four.

It also vaulted Pageau to a tie atop top the Sens record book for goals in a series. He equalled the six goals Martin Havlat recorded in the 2006 Eastern Conference quarterfinal.

Anderson battens down the hatches

Despite Ottawa’s success, it’s been a rough series for goaltender Craig Anderson and the team’s defensive corps.

Although the Senators were on the winning end of three of the first five games, Anderson was on the hook for 17 goals during that span. Sixteen of those goals were surrendered between Game 2 and 5 and that included an early exit in Game 4.

But Anderson returned to his stellar self by making 23 saves in the clinching victory.

More importantly, he bucked a terrible trend that could have become a dubious distinction.

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