If there were any doubts remaining about the condition of Eric Karlsson’s Achilles tendon, they were answered last night during the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Montreal Canadians and our beloved Ottawa Senators.
In true Norris Trophy winning fashion, Karlsson opened the Senators scoring with a nifty give-and-go with Kyle Turris. Picking up the puck at mid-ice, Karlsson sped across the Habs blue line with such grace and speed that he forced his would-be defenders to back off, allowing him the space he needed to put the Sens ahead 1-0. A scene Sens fans had grown accustomed to seeing before what many thought might be a season ending injury for Karlsson.
Karlsson’s magical ways, reminiscent of the great Bobby Orr, are known to all, or at least that’s what we thought. Clearly as Bob Cole pointed out, that was not the case with Montreal last night. The Canadiens—navel gazers—are fixated on their own defensive star PK Subban and have apparently forgotten who IS the defending Norris Trophy winner!
Sens fans know because we have been cursing gently under our breath while he’s been out. Praying silently at night in our dreams and in our hearts for the return of our hero, the slight, wiry Eric Karlsson. The man who can take the puck off your stick without even touching you. The man who defies logic and who leads as much with his determination as he does with his skill. The man who will undoubtedly replace Daniel Alfredsson as Sens captain when he retires.
Now that Karlsson has returned to the Sens lineup in seemly perfect condition, clearly the Hockey Gods heard our prayers.
James O’Grady
Senators’ Season Ticket Holder
Comments
Be the first to comment