The Ottawa Senators currently trail their first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0. It’s been an eventful first three games, with unlikely overtime heroes emerging, intense physicality and questionable officiating at times. Despite the Senators being on the verge of a sweep (which not many fans and pundits thought was a possibility), one could argue that they’ve played quite well and that the series should be closer as a result.
Two of the games have gone to overtime, they’ve controlled the run of play at times, and without some big saves from Anthony Stolarz, the narrative heading into Game 4 could be completely different. This begs the question: What will it be if the Maple Leafs do finish off the sweep Saturday night? Will the season be viewed as a success or as a failure?
Is Making the Playoffs Good Enough?
This is the Senators’ first trip to the postseason in eight years, and with their young core, hopefully the first of many to come in the ensuing years. The fanbase and organization have waited for this moment for a long time and have gone through plenty of turmoil since their last appearance. Just making it back is a huge accomplishment in itself, and while the Senators are a good team, they are not yet in that grouping of legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Meanwhile, they are playing a much more experienced team in the Maple Leafs who have gone through their growing pains and appear to be much more composed. Still, the Senators have looked like the better team at times.
The series hasn’t been an egregious mismatch from a territorial standpoint, but it might be from a talent and maturity one. That’s something that the Senators might be able to benefit from in the future.
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Maybe eventually they can break through and plant a seed of doubt in the Maple Leafs’ minds, but if they don’t, does the achievement of making the playoffs get rendered moot?
The Positives of the Season
There have been plenty of positive aspects of this season regardless for the Senators.
For the first time in a while, they have been a team that displays an identity of being hardworking, defensive-minded and detail-oriented. Their underlying numbers improved considerably from years prior, and they were much better at holding leads late in games.
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