The Hurricanes took a commanding lead early in the series. According to Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal fighting Brady Tkachuk on the first shift of game one had a big mental impact on the team. In game two, Martinook scored the double-overtime winner.
Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark was a standout despite the sweep. He made a spectacular glove save on Martinook during a penalty shot in game two. Ullmark also played back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday, helping the Senators earn four points.
He was incredible and stood on his head all night.
However, he faced criticism for resting in a key game against Tampa Bay Lightning, with Keith Tkachuk making sarcastic comments on a podcast. Brady Tkachuk defended his father, saying the comments were about Florida, not Ullmark. The series also saw injuries and controversy.
Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson left game three after a hit to the head by Taylor Hall. Coach Travis Green called it a clear headshot and criticized the lack of a five-minute penalty. The exact nature and timeline of Sanderson's injury remain unclear.
I was there and both at the time and after checking the clip I thought it was pretty clear that he was talking about Florida. I don't know how it was misinterpreted that way. I thought it was very clear that he was talking about Florida. Anything else is just people misinterpreting, and that's something you can't control.
In game four, Hurricanes defenseman Aleksandr Nikishin suffered a concussion after a hit by Tyler Kleven. His status for a potential return is unknown. In game four, Senators forward Ridly Greig punched Sean Walker in the face.
The NHL will hear Greig on Monday regarding a possible suspension. Aho commented that playoff hockey is emotional but common sense should prevail. Greig expressed regret, saying he needs to control his emotions better.
This comes up often. It's not something we have talked about or even thought about in terms of such a discussion taking place.
Despite trade rumors surrounding Brady Tkachuk, general manager Steve Staios denied them, saying it's not something they have discussed. Whether Tkachuk will be traded in the offseason remains uncertain.