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Facing elimination, Sens need Ryan, Turris to step up

Ottawa Senators v Toronto Maple Leafs

Bobby Ryan

NHLI via Getty Images

Ottawa needed a 21-3-3 run to make the playoffs and throughout that stretch, most of the praise for the Senators’ turnaround was focused on goaltender Andrew Hammond. He certainly was a big part of the their success, but he wasn’t the sole cause of that incredible run. Others stepped up for Ottawa as well during that stretch and the Senators similarly need to provide current starting goaltender Craig Anderson with more support going forward if they going to pull off a second unlikely comeback.

“We’ve kind of been a one line scoring team over the past five or six games. We need some help,” Senators forward Erik Condra said, per the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch.

Rookie Mark Stone has three points in the playoffs, Clarke MacArthur has found the back of the net twice, and Mika Zibanejad has a goal and an assist. That covers the full range of Ottawa forwards with at least two points in the first round.

Kyle Turris, who had 35 points in 36 contests after the All-Star break, has been held off the scoresheet for two straight games. Then there’s Bobby Ryan; a 28-year-old forward with four 30-plus goal seasons on his resume and the owner of a seven-year, $50.75 million contract that kicks in next season. He doesn’t have a point yet in this series.

"(Ryan) had some poise tonight, so it was good to see,” Senators coach Dave Cameron said in defense of his player, per the team’s website.

Still, Ottawa needs more out of Ryan. The Senators have tied their future closely to him with that contract. With that in mind, he’ll be one of the key players looked at to be the hero in Game 4.

Follow @RyanDadoun