The Ottawa Senators hope it serves as a wake-up call.

Put away 4-1 in Game 3 of their second-round series against the New York Rangers, the Senators came out flat, squandering an opportunity to push their series lead to 3-0.

"We knew. It was about living it. Now we have lived it. We got a good slap in the face," Senators coach Guy Boucher told Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "They wanted it so badly and we didn't match that. Period. Period. The whole team was off."

The Rangers carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission after outshooting the Senators 15-5 in the initial frame. The final 40 minutes were closer, with Ottawa ahead on the shot clock 22-15, but it was too little, too late for the Senators.

New York pushed its lead to 4-0 in the second period before Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau broke Henrik Lundqvist's shutout bid.

Senators captain Erik Karlsson and forward Mike Hoffman were a team-worst minus-three on the night. It marked the first time in the playoffs that Karlsson had been on the ice for more than one even-strength goal against.

Tuesday was the Senators' ninth game this postseason, and the first to be decided by more than one goal.

The series continues Thursday in New York.

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The New York Rangers desperately needed a win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 3 Tuesday night, and their big guns delivered it.

Back on Broadway, the Blueshirts came absolutely flying out of the blocks, the relentless attack spearheaded by linemates Mats Zuccarello and Mika Zibanejad.

Just 5:31 into the opening frame, Zibanejad took the play deep, circled the net, and found Zuccarello in the slot with a perfect setup. 1-0.

The duo wasn't done there. Rangers teammates and head coach Alain Vigneault often covet Zuccarello for his ability to do all the right things, which was blatantly evidenced when New York claimed a 2-0 lead.

With a slick entry at the blue line, Zuccarello meandered his way through the top of the zone, waiting for his trailing partner in crime.

With all four Senators defenders converged on No. 36 (not ideal positioning), Zuccarello somehow feathered a perfect pass through to a streaking Zibanejad.

Although Zibanejad fumbled the opportunity in the slot, with strong puck support, Zuccarello recovered the loose disc and quickly wrapped it around the boards to Michael Grabner (top of image).

Grabner beat a misplaced Craig Anderson to the puck, and promptly tucked home a wraparound for a two-goal advantage and the eventual game-winner in the 4-1 result.

The entire play can be seen here.

Zibanejad and Zuccarello lead the Rangers in playoff points with seven and six, respectively, through nine games. What's more, their dominant performance in Game 3 saw them control 56 percent of shot attempts at even strength - the second-highest mark among New York forwards.

Going down 3-0 simply wasn't an option for the Rangers, and the combination of Zuccarello and Zibanejad is the main reason New York suddenly has life.

(Images Courtesy: NHL.com)

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers desperately needed a win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 3 Tuesday night, and their big guns delivered it.

Back on Broadway, the Blueshirts came absolutely flying out of the blocks, the relentless attack spearheaded by linemates Mats Zuccarello and Mika Zibanejad.

Just 5:31 into the opening frame, Zibanejad took the play deep, circled the net, and found Zuccarello in the slot with a perfect setup. 1-0.

The duo wasn't done there. Rangers teammates and head coach Alain Vigneault often covet Zuccarello for his ability to do all the right things, which was blatantly evidenced when New York claimed a 2-0 lead.

With a slick entry at the blue line, Zuccarello meandered his way through the top of the zone, waiting for his trailing partner in crime.

With all four Senators defenders converged on No. 36 (not ideal positioning), Zuccarello somehow feathered a perfect pass through to a streaking Zibanejad.

Although Zibanejad fumbled the opportunity in the slot, with strong puck support, Zuccarello recovered the loose disc and quickly wrapped it around the boards to Michael Grabner (top of image).

Grabner beat a misplaced Craig Anderson to the puck, and promptly tucked home a wraparound for a two-goal advantage and the eventual game-winner in the 4-1 result.

The entire play can be seen here.

Zibanejad and Zuccarello lead the Rangers in playoff points with seven and six, respectively, through nine games. What's more, their dominant performance in Game 3 saw them control 56 percent of shot attempts at even strength - the second-highest mark among New York forwards.

Going down 3-0 simply wasn't an option for the Rangers, and the combination of Zuccarello and Zibanejad is the main reason New York suddenly has life.

(Images Courtesy: NHL.com)

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The Ottawa Senators may be down 4-1 in Game 3, but don't tell that to Bobby Ryan and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

The duo combined for a sweet tally Tuesday night when Ryan fed Pageau a dirty behind-the-back pass from behind the New York Rangers' cage.

Pageau finished off the play by putting his sixth of the playoffs past Henrik Lundqvist.

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The Ottawa Senators may be down 4-1 in Game 3, but don't tell that to Bobby Ryan and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

The duo combined for a sweet tally Tuesday night when Ryan fed Pageau a dirty behind-the-back pass from behind the New York Rangers' cage.

Pageau finished off the play by putting his sixth of the playoffs past Henrik Lundqvist.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators may have lost 4-1 in Game 3, but that doesn't change the fact that Bobby Ryan and Jean-Gabriel Pageau combined for a beautiful goal.

The duo were rewarded for their hard forecheck Tuesday night when Ryan fed Pageau a dirty behind-the-back pass from behind the New York Rangers' cage.

Pageau finished off the play by putting his sixth of the playoffs past Henrik Lundqvist.

It was the only goal the Sens could muster on the night, as the Rangers took the game and edged closer to squaring up the series.

Ottawa still holds a 2-1 advantage, with Game 4 going Thursday night in New York.

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The fate of the Anaheim Ducks' season will be heavily influenced by the performance of Connor McDavid. That goes without saying.

As if his remarkable footspeed, awe-inspiring hands, and cunning hockey IQ, aren't enough to deal with, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle believes his club is battling the refs when it comes to No. 97, too.

"To me, it seems like there is somewhat of a white-glove treatment for Mr. McDavid," Carlyle told reporters, according to Frank Seravalli of TSN. "The restrictions on anybody touching him seem to be a little bit higher than normal. It's fact. Simple. We review the tape numerous times.

"He does draw penalties because of his speed. But if you don't get close to him and you're not inside of him, you're going to watch him or you're going to try to impede his progress."

Through three games of the second-round series, McDavid has two points and has drawn a penalty in each contest.

Despite allowing him to score a highlight-reel goal, the Ducks got the best of McDavid in Game 3, as he was also on the ice for three goals against. They'll look to do the same Wednesday night in Game 4.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The fate of the Anaheim Ducks' season will be heavily influenced by the performance of Connor McDavid. That goes without saying.

As if his remarkable footspeed, awe-inspiring hands, and cunning hockey IQ, aren't enough to deal with, Ducks coach Randy Carlyle believes his club is battling the refs when it comes to No. 97, too.

"To me, it seems like there is somewhat of a white-glove treatment for Mr. McDavid," Carlyle told reporters, according to Frank Seravalli of TSN. "The restrictions on anybody touching him seem to be a little bit higher than normal. It's fact. Simple. We review the tape numerous times.

"He does draw penalties because of his speed. But if you don't get close to him and you're not inside of him, you're going to watch him or you're going to try to impede his progress."

Through three games of the second-round series, McDavid has two points and has drawn a penalty in each contest.

Despite allowing him to score a highlight-reel goal, the Ducks got the best of McDavid in Game 3, as he was also on the ice for three goals against. They'll look to do the same Wednesday night in Game 4.

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Could Martin Brodeur be as great a general manager as he was a goaltender?

The Buffalo Sabres won't get to find out for sure, as their attempt to speak with Brodeur about the team's open GM position was rebuffed, John Shannon told WGR 550.

Brodeur currently serves as assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues, a position he's held since May 2015. He moved into a management position with the club after finishing his playing days with the Blues during the 2014-15 season.

The search for the next GM in Buffalo has been a far-reaching effort, with reports indicating the Sabres have contacted Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Mike Futa, Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM Bill Zito, as well as Jason Botterill and Bill Guerin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, among other potential candidates.

The Sabres fired GM Tim Murray on April 20.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Could Martin Brodeur be as great a general manager as he was a goaltender?

The Buffalo Sabres won't get to find out for sure, as their attempt to speak with Brodeur about the team's open GM position was rebuffed, John Shannon told WGR 550.

Brodeur currently serves as assistant GM of the St. Louis Blues, a position he's held since May 2015. He moved into a management position with the club after finishing his playing days with the Blues during the 2014-15 season.

The search for the next GM in Buffalo has been a far-reaching effort, with reports indicating the Sabres have contacted Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Mike Futa, Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM Bill Zito, as well as Jason Botterill and Bill Guerin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, among other potential candidates.

The Sabres fired GM Tim Murray on April 20.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.