NHL playoffs 2017: Updated bracket after Senators beat Bruins

The Ottawa Senators have beaten the Boston Bruins to advance to the second round. Here’s an updated Stanley Cup playoffs bracket.

The Ottawa Senators have officially advanced to the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs.

With a 3-2 overtime win over the Boston Bruins, the Sens have avoided a first round exit. Clarke MacArthur, who has overcome a lot to get back on the ice, got the series winning power play goal in overtime. Here’s an updated Stanley Cup bracket.

In the second round, Ottawa will square off against the first wild card seed, the New York Rangers. They eliminated the Atlantic Division champion Montreal Canadiens in six games. This should be an interesting series. New York has the speed advantage and Henrik Lundqvist is playing like a Conn Smythe contender.

On the other hand, Ottawa’s trap has given teams fits. They’ll need to dominate in the neutral zone and not allow the Rangers to get clean zone entries. Senators goaltender Craig Anderson has been playing very well, which is a good sign.

For the Bruins, it’s a frustrating exit. They fought tooth and nail to get into the playoffs and proceeded to lose two of their best defensemen. Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo are guys Boston couldn’t replace effectively. Charlie McAvoy was a huge bright spot, looking excellent despite making his NHL debut in the postseason. Tuukka Rask deserved a far better fate, keeping the Bruins in the series despite the blue line losses.

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Both teams should be proud of the way they played. Boston gave Ottawa a great challenge despite the odds being stacked against them. Also, the Senators got their best players going. Bobby Ryan and Erik Karlsson are playing at an outstanding level, which is encouraging for them.