Senators vs. Rangers: Game 2 prediction

The Senators brought it to the Rangers in Game 1 in a 2-1 win, and will look to continue their success to take a 2-0 lead in the series in Game 2.

The Ottawa Senators seemed like a team after the first round that was about to lay down and die as they got ready to play the New York Rangers in the second round. They proved Thursday night that they weren’t going down without a fight.

Ottawa got off to a hot start in Game 1, registering 21 shots on Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist in the first period alone. They utilized the simple strategy of “if you shoot enough, a couple are bound to go in,” as they launched 43 shots on Lundqvist, scoring on two of them.

The Senators finally got the scoring they needed from defenseman Erik Karlsson, their leading point scorer in the regular season. Karlsson tallied the game-winner, his first goal of this postseason for Ottawa, with just four minutes left in the third period to take the 2-1 win at home.

Obviously Lundqvist showed up in Ottawa ready to play, but his teammates were nowhere to be found. The team registered 35 shots on goal, with just one making it past Senators goalie Craig Anderson. Anderson continued his solid stretch in net for Ottawa, after carrying the team to a first round win over the Bruins.

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Prediction: Rangers 2, Ottawa 1

Lundqvist was the only shining light for an otherwise dark Game 1 for the Rangers, and I think he’s showed up for this series ready to advance to the next round. Meanwhile, he’ll need his teammates to get back to their offensive pace that led them past the Canadiens in the first round, specifically starting with Mats Zuccarello. I think New York should be fine, as a solid road team, and I think they bounce back for the win to even the series.