Senators lose double-OT thriller, must find ways to capitalize on chances

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes played an all-time classic game on Monday night, but the only reward the Senators got was the sharp pain of defeat.

The Hurricanes won the game 3-2 after two overtimes stuffed with playoff shenanigans and now lead the series 2-0 as it moves to Ottawa.

“This one’s going to sting,” Senators head coach Travis Green said afterward.

Jordan Martinook was the hero in the second OT period when he made good on a scoring chance after missing on a penalty shot in the first overtime.

That penalty shot came immediately after the Hurricanes thought they had scored the winner, only for the goal by Mark Jankowski to be taken off the board following an offside review.

Senators fans won’t be happy with that type of poetic justice. 

There were so many twists and turns that Senators owner Michael Andlauer and general manager Steve Staios left after Jankowski scored. They initially thought the game was over, only to return for the second overtime.

Now, the Senators find themselves down 2-0 in the series after one of the most bittersweet defeats this franchise has ever had, and one of the best playoff games they’ve ever seen.

It had everything, from furious comebacks, unbelievable saves and multiple close calls that hit the post.

The Hurricanes even put a meditation video up on the jumbotron in the overtime intermission to relieve fans of their anxieties.

It was that type of game, with nails flying off fans' fingers.

“Felt like they controlled the first half of the game and felt like we controlled the last half," Green said. "Man, in overtime, I don’t know. It felt like we had a lot of looks to score."

Green's message after Monday's morning skate was "bring it tonight," with some cursing for emphasis. His team did everything, but Frederik Andersen and his lucky goal posts (three hit in total) kept getting in the way.

It was the first double overtime for the Senators since Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, a loss that, in some ways, set the club on the rebuild path it spent most of the last decade on.

Amid the chaos, Linus Ullmark had the best game of his Senators career.

“It could have been easily 3-0, 4-0 there but he kept us in and we were able to tie it up,” said Senators forward Drake Batherson.

Here’s a montage of his saves:

Ullmark made 43 saves, with 1.8 goals saved above expected. Through two games of the post-season, he has the best expected goals saved above expected of any goaltender in the playoffs.

He’s been the Senators' best player through two games, which is typically a recipe for success in the playoffs.

Although it wasn't the flashiest, Ullmark's biggest clutch save came on Martinook's penalty shot.

With under four minutes to play in the first overtime, Jordan Staal led the Hurricanes on a rush into the Senators' end. As the Hurricanes set up in the offensive zone, Martinook was hooked by Senators forward Warren Foegele, creating a delayed penalty. Jankowski then scored but the game was not over. A review for offside determined Staal had possession but not control when he crossed the blue line. Thanks to Rule 38.7, the penalty was allowed to stay and the officials surprised everyone in the building when they announced a penalty shot for Martinook.

It was Ullmark’s finest hour.

Despite such a heart-wrenching defeat, if Ullmark continues to play at a Vezina-calibre level, the Senators are right in the fight in spite of the 2-0 deficit.

Another reason for a glimmer of hope is that Tyler Kleven skated with the team in the morning as a full participant and is likely to return for Game 3. Pair that (not literally) with Artem Zub, who was a game-time decision on Monday, and there is a world where the Senators' injury report reduces and the team’s chance of winning increases.

If one or both defencemen return, the Senators could start imposing more of their will on the series.

Nevertheless, the blue line was valiant in Game 2, with Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Jordan Spence and Nikolas Matinpalo all playing well over 30 minutes.

Matinpalo was a revelation in 31 minutes, which was the most of his NHL career.

“This guy that wasn't in the lineup not too long ago, (now) playing in the top pair (well),” said Green of the 27-year-old Finn.

If and when Zub and Kleven return, the emergence of Matinpalo improves the overall level of the Senators' backend.

But with the Hurricanes healthy, the Senators defence showed its wear in overtime while Carolina continued to roll out three pairs consistently, which is something to watch moving forward in this series.

The Senators do have some experience from last spring to consider as they prepare to head home for Game 3. The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Senators in overtime in Games 2 and 3 in last year's playoffs to go up 3-0 in the series, but the Senators then won twice to force a Game 6.

Ottawa has shown fight all year long, including on Monday, and that mindset should continue no matter how the rest of the series unfolds. At the same time, it just might be too much to overcome to get out of a 2-0 hole against the best team in the Eastern Conference this season. 

There are no moral victories in the playoffs, but the Senators should still believe despite the heartache.