Bobby Ryan has flicked the switch and he’s hoping that it stays on this time.
“I’ve never had a season test my resolve and my patience so much,” the Senators winger said after Wednesday’s 2-1 Game 1 loss to the Boston Bruins. “I told myself on Monday morning that I had a opportunity for a fresh start. For a chance to forget that regular season and hopefully come with a (good) playoff stretch.
“I had that on my mind all week. I want to put myself into positions, and I did so tonight by moving my feet. So that’s gong to be the focus going forward for me. Moving my feet. You get chances like that.”
No Senator has been trashed and bashed by the fan base this season more often than Ryan, the $7.25 million per year winger accused of not earning his keep. But in the second period against the Bruins, those same people might have been calling for him to get a raise.
What prompted the first chants of “Bobby” was the highlight reel goal he scored to break the ice. He burst into the Bruins zone, bumped Adam McQuaid off the puck, drove hard to the net then cut between Tuukka Rask and Zdeno Chara. He missed when he tried to fire a shot, but the puck followed him, and with a second chance from a tough angle, Ryan sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Later, when asked what he saw on the play, Ryan replied “about a 15 foot reach”. And he didn’t mean his own.
“Chara took away everything,” said Ryan. “I’ve been playing against him for awhile and I knew he was eventually going to swipe at it. so I put it under his triangle and tried to shoot it right away. I missed that opportunity and just tried to stick with it.
“I thought about passing but then decided I must as well flick this and hope for the best. Lucky goal, but we’ll take it.”
Ryan was at his dangling best while putting six shots, and setting up linemates for more, through two periods. At one point his performance prompted NHL.com’s Chris Stevenson to tweet: “I think the Senators dressed three #9s tonight. He’s everywhere.”
The fans thought so too. During a play stoppage later in the second, another impromptu “Bobby” started up.
“You can hear it and it’s awesome,” Ryan said of the chanting. “Especially after the year I had. They’ve stuck by me … for the most part. They’ve been incredible to me. I’ve never had a bad interaction with a fan in person, in public. For them to reward me tonight, it’s an incredible feeling. Hopefully I get to hear it a couple of more because we’re doing good things.”
Ryan started on the fourth line but wound up with Derick Brassard and Clarke MacArthur on a unit coach Guy Boucher put together in his mind over the summer. Now that MacArthur’s healthy, it can be effective in the playoffs, especially if Ryan keeps flyin.’
“I’ve tried to flick that switch four or five times this year,” said Ryan, who was at Canadian Tire Centre on Monday, practicing by himself while the rest of the team had the day off. “And for whatever reason, I couldn’t put it together. The switch worked this time, so hopefully it stays on.”
WHAT WORKED: Who knew that 1-3-1 could add up to zero? At least it did in the second period, when the Senators defensive system completely shut down the Bruins, preventing them from getting a single shot on goal while recording 12 themselves … The fewest number of shots the Senators had previously held an opponent to in the playoffs was two … The Senators had one of their best starts this season, but Tuuka Rask stood tall, starting with back to back saves off MacArthur and Mark Stone in the first minute. Of the first six shots he faced, Rask had to be very good on five of them … The referees put their whistles away, like good refs will do in the playoffs, before finally having to call Stone for a tripping penalty in the defensive zone … Stone’s second tripping penalty of the opening period negated Ottawa’s first power play after just 16 seconds. With that brief man-advantage, the Senators made four passes but took no shots.
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BETWEEN PERIODS: Like a local gas station owner who is suddenly charging $1.20 a litre, Rask committed his own bit of larceny when he robbed Ryan on back-to-back blue paint chances in the 14th minute … In a hometown battle with only a couple of seconds left in the first period, Cody Ceci saved a goal by outmuscling Ryan Spooner for a loose puck at the edge of the crease … Tom Pyatt made two great defensive plays near his own net in the first two minutes of the second period to keep the game scoreless … Chara has never looked happier in the visiting dressing room at Canadian Tire Centre than he did after the morning skate. With all his smiling and laughing, he conjured up memories of The Friendly Giant … The already injury plagued Bruins defence lost another when Mark Borowiecki hammered Colin Miller in the neutral zone. Miller left with an apparent knee injury.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU WONDER: Chara lost a skate blade in the second period. leaving him stranded in the corner of the ice until he waved for the ref to blow the whistle. Probably thinking “you can do that?” was Mark Borowiecki, who struggled to get off the ice under similar circumstances earlier this season … Rather humorous that both the Senators and the Habs are using the “All In” as their playoff slogans. It will be even funnier if the two teams meet in the next round, when one of them will ultimately be all out … Because you’re not already paying enough to enjoy the playoff experience, good old Huge Melnyk has bumped parking up an average of $5-10 per lot. That’s not cool … Biggest hit of the night had to be Stone on Dominic Moore, in front of the Senators net midway through the third period.
FURTHER INSIGHT: When it was suggested Erik Karlssson was labouring at the morning skate, Boucher set the record straight. “He just needed to readjust his taping,” said Boucher. “He’s 150 per cent ready.” … Before making his NHL debut, 19-year old Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy was asked how one prepares to debut during the Stanley Cup playoffs. “I wish there was kind of like a book, with some key word or special routine to get you ready, but there isn’t,” said McAvoy. “Everybody has a different approach. I’m just trying to stay calm and cool and realize I’m here for a reason.” … McAvoy played a strong game and was entrusted with 24:11 of ice time, more than any player on either side not named Chara … When Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was asked about giving McAvoy 20-year old winger David Pastrnak as a roommate, he said: “It’s hard not to like Pasta, so I think that will work out fine.”
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