Senators' storybook season still has a happy ending

By foxsports
Published

There was no Stanley Cup at the end of the road for the 2014-15 Ottawa Senators, no on-ice celebration. Instead, there was just a loss in the first round to end their 2015 playoff run and standing ovation from a disappointed yet appreciative crowd to send Ottawa off the ice for the final time.

But these Senators still have a lot to be proud of and a lot to be happy with after this season. Chris Johnston of SportsNet summarized Ottawa's finale beautifully in his post-game piece:

And thus Ottawa's season ends without the hardware all NHL teams desire but with the satisfaction still of a job well done.

(h/t SportsNet)

Photo by Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014-15 Senators were something special. Something different.

Before them no one in NHL history had ever qualified for the playoffs after being 14 points out -- in February, no less -- and the fact they did it while using a third-string goaltender and with general manager Bryan Murray and assistant coach Mark Reeds both battling cancer is almost beyond words.

Real life collided with the joy of playing a sport for a living and yet this group found a way to persevere and thrive.

Had the bounces gone just a bit differently, they may have pulled off an upset of Montreal. The aggregate score was 12-12 in the series and Carey Price needed to heroically stop 43 shots to avoid a seventh game.