Ottawa Senators fans know this feeling all too well — the slow exhale of a game that was right there, slipping away in the extra innings of a playoff night. Game 2 in Raleigh delivered exactly that kind of heartbreak, as Jordan Martinook potted the winner with 6:51 left in double overtime to hand the Hurricanes a 3-2 victory and a commanding 2-0 series lead.
A Performance That Deserved Better
If there's any silver lining to take back to the nation's capital, it's this: the Senators played well enough to win. Goaltender Linus Ullmark was nothing short of brilliant, facing a barrage from a Carolina squad that came out flying in their own building. Time and again, Ullmark kept Ottawa in the game, turning aside chances that would have buried a lesser team.
For long stretches, it looked like the Sens had figured something out. They pushed back, generated chances of their own, and tied the game to force overtime — then did it again to force a second. The character was there. The execution, for most of the night, was there. The bounces just weren't.
The Cruel Math of Playoff Hockey
Martinook's winner came in the kind of moment that defines playoff series — a scramble, a puck that finds the right stick at the worst possible time. One goal after nearly 80 minutes of hockey. That's the cruelty of this format, and the Senators are now living it.
Down 2-0 in a best-of-seven is a tough spot, but it's not a death sentence. The Senators return home to Canadian Tire Centre, where Ottawa fans have shown up in force all season. If there's a place to claw back into a series, it's in front of that crowd.
What Needs to Change
The Sens will need to tighten up on the defensive side — Carolina's offensive depth is real, and even with Ullmark playing at a high level, giving the Hurricanes extended pressure periods is a recipe for more double-OT heartbreak. Ottawa's forwards will also need to convert more of their chances; generating opportunities isn't the problem, but finishing has to improve.
The next two games are at home. Ottawa has been a difficult venue for opponents this year, and the Senators know how to raise their game when the building is rocking. A split at Canadian Tire Centre keeps the series alive. Two wins would flip the script entirely.
The Road Back Starts at Home
Sens fans, here's the truth: this is a deep hole, but the team showed in Game 2 that they can compete with Carolina. Ullmark is playing playoff hockey, the skaters battled for over 80 minutes, and the character in that locker room is not in question.
Game 3 is in Ottawa. Time to make some noise.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
