The Ottawa Senators are very familiar with former New York Rangers legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist.
The Senators met Lundqvist and the Rangers in the playoffs in 2012 and 2017. The Senators' second round playoff series win against Lundqvist's Rangers in 2017 was the last playoff series the Senators won, and it was also one of the final times Lundqvist played in the playoffs.
With being in the Hockey Hall of Fame, the former 2012 Vezina Trophy winner knows a talented team when he sees it, and Lundqvist gave the Senators high praise even in defeat that could shock some people.
Lundqvist gives Senators high praise after falling 2-1 to the Rangers in New York City
The Senators suffered a rough 2-1 loss against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden behind Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin making 40 saves. Even in defeat, Lundqvist gave the Senators high regards that can show how good their potential is and that can motivate them.
Rangers great Henrik Lundqvist absolutely heaping praise on the Senators: "I haven't seen many NHL teams this season play with THAT level of intensity."
— Steve Warne (@SteveWarneMedia) November 2, 2024
"I haven't seen many NHL teams play with THAT level of intensity," Lundqvist said on the Rangers post game show.
For Lundqvist to say that about the Senators, it means a lot. Lundqvist can see how good the Senators can be this season even with falling to 5-5-0 on the season.
Brady Tkachuk has been phenomenal this season with recording a point in nine of the 10 games this season, and it tied with Tim Stutzle for the most points on the team with 14.
However, the Senators have gotten big play from outside of their duo. Even though Claude Giroux had his seven-game point streak snapped against the Rangers, Giroux is still has 11 points this season, and Drake Batherson has taken another big step this season. Linus Ullmark matched up well against Shesterkin by allowing in two goals and gave the Senators a chance to beat the Rangers.
The Rangers are one of the best teams in the NHL and will be in Stanley Cup talk conversation all season, and for the Senators to play a great game even in defeat against the Rangers that got high praise by a hall of fame goaltender, that says a lot on the rise of the Senators.
The Senators have a great chance to respond to Lundqvist's comments with concluding their first back-to-back of the season at home against the Seattle Kraken tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET.