Game 5: Rangers Fall to Sens in OT

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Jesper Fast opens scoring in Game 5 (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

It was exciting, it was disappointing, but overall, at the end, it was a loss. Game 5 brought out every emotion – joy, elation, exasperation and finally disappointment. Not just for us fans, but for the team as well.

The first period got off to a great start with the Rangers coming out of the box and scoring two goals for a 2-0 lead. Jesper Fast scored the first goal off a beauty of a cross feed from Hayes, right in front of Anderson.

Just 1:06 later, Holden scored to make it 2-0.

Ottawa, knowing that they had to step up or face another significant loss, cut the lead in half when Stone scored less than a minute later.

Ottawa Leads the Second

Ottawa wasn’t to be outdone, stepping up their game in the second period. They managed to take the lead for a short period of time with goals from Mike Hoffman and Tom Pyatt before Ryan McDonagh showed up with a timely goal to tie the game at 3-3.

He also doled out a beautiful hip check to Stalberg, the former Rangers’ 4th liner.

Crumbling in the Third

The third period was a lot of back and forth, with both teams trying to outdo the other and score that go-ahead goal. It didn’t come until 12:48 into the third when Vesey tapped it past the goal line into Andersen’s glove. Originally waved off as a no-goal, it was overturned as the camera clearly showed it going over the line before Andersen gloved it up.

Unfortunately, Big Game Brass, as Derick Brassard is known (not so affectionately anymore), scored the tying goal with 1:26 left to go in the third. With a pileup in the crease, it banked off Tanner Glass’ foot then Brendan Smith’s and just past Lundqvist’s reach.

Overtime was a mix of emotions with Grabner scoring, then having it waved off as a high-stick goal. Turris put the OT winner past Hank not too long after.

Both teams fought hard, Ottawa just ended up fighting harder and got the OT goal they needed to seal the win. It also seems that the Rangers have finally taken into account that while they may be old buddies, that has no place in the playoffs. Brassard was jumped by Girardi and Staal at different times in the game for messing with Zuccarello (yes, I know they’re best buds), and Hank respectively, when he took extra swipes.

It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over, Folks

A lot of people on social media are giving Glass flak, Girardi flak, and Lundqvist flak, but the truth is sometimes this is just the way the chips fall. It’s very easy to get down and start saying they’ve lost, but the reality is, they haven’t lost until they’ve lost 4.

Right now, they’re down 3-2, but it’s not the first time they’ve ever been down and not out. Believe in them, have faith, and show up on Tuesday to root for them if you can, even if it’s in front of your television set. Don’t quit on them, because I believe we’ll see that they haven’t quit yet either. Send positive energy that our team will live to see Game 7, and move onto the ECF.

By Christina Drury

Christina is an avid hockey fan and a great writer.

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