The Ottawa Senators were one in all the National Hockey League’s best teams down the stretch, winning six of their final eight games to book a spot within the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight 12 months. But on April 2, ahead of a game against the eventual Atlantic Division-champion Buffalo Sabres, the Sens had lost three in a row.
As team captain Brady Tkachuk shared with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, backup goaltender James Reimer gave an inspirational speech to his teammates before the lean.
“He just said that he has every ounce of religion and belief in each guy on this room,” Tkachuk said, as shared by Friedman in his latest 32 Thoughts column on Saturday.
“Doesn’t matter what happens with this game, I actually have every ounce of religion and belief on this group, that we will win tonight. We will get the job done. And I do know everybody in that room was just taking a look at him. I could really see the joy and the energy grow inside a man and see that they will give absolutely one hundred pc of what they’ve.”
Clearly, the speech worked, as Ottawa beat Buffalo 4-1 that night before happening to choose up no less than a degree in six of their final seven tilts.
The late-season run was enough to get the Senators into the playoffs, but because the second wildcard team. Thus, they’re locked right into a first-round matchup against the Eastern Conference-winning Carolina Hurricanes.
It’s a particularly difficult prospect, however the Sens were one in all the NHL’s stronger teams after the Olympic break, they usually definitely have a likelihood to drag off the upset.
While Reimer won’t be an element on the ice — no less than in Game 1, as Linus Ullmark is getting the beginning — it’s clear he’s been influential behind the scenes.
The series is ready to kick off on the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina in a matter of minutes, with puck drop set for just past 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Sens can keep their late-campaign momentum going against a powerhouse Canes team in Round 1.
The Ottawa Senators were one in all the National Hockey League’s best teams down the stretch, winning six of their final eight games to book a spot within the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight 12 months. But on April 2, ahead of a game against the eventual Atlantic Division-champion Buffalo Sabres, the Sens had lost three in a row.