In late May, when hockey’s annual war of attrition had reduced 16 NHL playoff teams to four Stanley Cup contenders, the Ottawa Senators stood tall.
They went toe-to-toe, like Ali-Frazier back in the day, throughout a seven-game Eastern Conference final against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ultimately, the Senators died a hero, falling in double overtime in Game 7 against the eventual Cup champions. A single goal kept them out of the Cup final.
Four months later, it is as though the Cinderella run never happened. Compared to the 30 other hopeful NHL franchises (hello, Vegas), you can’t find the Senators on a radar screen.