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Top Five ‘What-Ifs’ in Ottawa Senators History

ByJoe Hanniman|
BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 4: Dominik Hasek #39 of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Buffalo Sabres on February 4, 2006 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 2-1 in a shootout. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 4: Dominik Hasek #39 of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Buffalo Sabres on February 4, 2006 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 2-1 in a shootout. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 25: Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators gives up the game-winning goal to Chris Kunitz #14 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second overtime in Game Seven to win the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 25, 2017, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Ottawa Senators with a score of 3 to 2. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 25: Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators gives up the game-winning goal to Chris Kunitz #14 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second overtime in Game Seven to win the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 25, 2017, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Ottawa Senators with a score of 3 to 2. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

#3: Game Seven

Game seven, when everything is on the line. One win and you advance, one loss and your season is over. The Ottawa Senators have participated in 6 playoff series’ that have reached the fabled game seven plateau. Ottawa has managed to win a grand total of zero. This is what happened last time the Ottawa Senators played a game seven. 2017 NHL playoffs, Eastern Conference finals, double overtime, ticket to the Stanley Cup finals on the table.

I apologize for putting Ottawa Senators fans through that moment again. I did warn you at the beginning of this piece. I strongly considered titling this slide “What-if Chris Kunitz Didn’t Exist?” but decided against it. The reason that this is included in a list of top ‘what-ifs’ in Ottawa Senators history is because of a moment at the 0:15 second mark of that video.

If you watch the video back, you will see that a dangerous blueline pass from Sheary to Schultz was very nearly picked off by Viktor Stalberg. It was the end of a long shift, so I am not sure if he would have certainly busted in on a breakaway and sent the Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup finals. For the sake of this list, he would have.

I decided to make #3 Game Seven, instead of just this one game because there is undoubtedly many moments that might have shifted the Senators onto the other side of history in other game sevens. If any of these previous game sevens had gone the Senators’ way, maybe this team has a Stanley Cup ring by now.

What-if the Ottawa Senators could win a game seven?

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