Senators' first road win of series pushes them to conference finals
The Ottawa Senators are headed to the Eastern Conference finals. Ottawa jumped out to a quick lead Tuesday night and held on to beat the New York Rangers, 4-2. Ottawa's win clinched the best-of-seven series in six games.
Mike Hoffman gave the Senators a 1-0 lead just 4:27 into the game. Erik Karlsson blasted a shot from near the blue line, and Hoffman, in the slot, got his stick on the puck to beat New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Mark Stone's wrist shot from the left face-off circle about 10 minutes later gave Ottawa a 2-0 advantage.
It took Chris Kreider even less time into the third period, 53 seconds, to make it a one-goal game, but the Rangers never able to fully erase the early deficit.
The Senators' lead went back and forth from one to two with offsetting goals from Mika Zibanejad and Erik Karlsson in the second period. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored an empty-net goal with seven seconds left to seal it, 4-2.
Craig Anderson made 37 saves on the night. He also recorded an assist on Karlsson's second-period goal. The assist made Anderson the second goalie in Senators history to register one. He joins Ray Emery, who did it three times. Anderson wasn't done making history, though. The win Tuesday was the 18th he's earned all-time in the playoffs. That mark ties Emery for second in Senators' history.
Ottawa will face either the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Washington Capitals, who play game 7 at the Verizon Center on Wednesday.
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TONIGHT’S THREE STARS
3. Mark Stone (OTT) Stone recorded Ottawa's second goal of the night in the Senators' 4-2 win Tuesday. It was his fourth of the 2017 playoffs. He also recorded an assist.
2. Erik Karlsson (OTT) Karlsson scored the Senators' game- and series-winning goal Tuesday. He also recorded his 11th assist this postseason.
1. Craig Anderson (OTT) Anderson played a vital role for the Senators Tuesday. He made 37 saves and recorded an assist.