If you're an Ottawa Senators fan asking questions about prospects and future impact playerd, you probably start with former first-round draft pick Curtis Lazar.
Lazar, who some people expect will make the NHL roster out of training camp next season, has looked very strong at the Memorial Cup. His sound defensive play has long been the talk about what could make him potentially NHL ready in short-order, but he has occasionally showing scoring flair and brilliance.
On the latter point: his triple overtime goal last night for the Edmonton Oil Kings against Val d'Or ensured that his team would move on to the Memorial Cup final. And it was a beauty.
“My first thought was that I get to go to bed,… said Lazar.“But there was no better feeling. That’s the first overtime I’ve ever scored. I don’t know if I’ve even scored an overtime goal in minor hockey. But that’s my first junior hockey overtime goal. And it was the longest game in Memorial Cup history. So that’s all pretty cool.…
Thanks to Lazar, the Oil Kings now have a Sunday date against the undefeated Guelph Storm. We'll see if Curtis and the rest of Edmonton have one more miracle in them..