You know what the best thing about the NHL playoffs is? The return of good hockey. No more bumbling stalemates between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs with both teams coasting at half speed, trying to preserve their 1-1 tie for overtime where they’ll both be awarded a point they truly do not deserve. Finally we can watch hockey where the best team wins — not the team who screws up the least.

The Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh series was one of the more entertaining matchups the first round had to offer. Ottawa was eventually over-matched by the high-powered Penguins and their one-man scoring machine who wears number 87, but the series provided compelling, physical, high-scoring hockey which is exactly what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman needs to sell this game to Americans. This was the brand of hockey that can raise the profile of our nation’s favourite sport south of the border.

This is also the brand of hockey that could raise the profile of an Ottawa Senators team that overcame a lot more adversity than they were ever given credit for. Despite a year that saw the cards completely stacked up against them, Ottawa finished fifth in the East and, with some tinkering over the off season, should be in position for a deep run in the Eastern conference playoffs next season.

They started the season under the black cloud of the Dany Heatley trade — a circumstance of unbelievable athlete selfishness. Heatley demanded a trade less than a year after signing a six-year, $45 million contract extension with the Senators and coming off of his worst statistical season since he was a rookie. That didn’t do wonders for Heatley’s trade value.

Then, Senators GM Bryan Murray was ready to pull the trigger on a good deal with the Edmonton Oilers, only to have Heatley veto the move at the eleventh hour, sending Murray back to the drawing board. The Oilers had offered Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid in return — three players that would have nicely complimented the Senators’ current talent.

Instead, Murray would end up shipping Heatley to the San Jose Sharks for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick in this June’s NHL entry draft. Cheechoo was an enormous bust, scoring just five times in 61 games with Ottawa, after which he was demoted to the minors. Meanwhile, Michalek showed promise, scoring 22 goals in 66 games before tearing a ligament in his knee, which ended his season.

Penner scored 32 goals and 63 points for the Oilers this year. Cheechoo and Michalek combined for 27 goals and 48 points. ‘Nuff said.

The Senators season didn’t get much better from there. The team made a splash in the free agent market, signing sniper Alexei Kovalev to a two year, $10 million contract. The 37-year-old Russian was counted on to provide the offensive output the team would be missing with the departure of Heatley, but he faltered, scoring just 18 goals and 49 points in 77 games. There’s no questioning Kovalev’s talent — before coming to Ottawa, he scored more than 100 goals in his four seasons with Montreal — but his play was uninspired and sluggish at best this season, and, like Michalek, he was injured for the playoffs.

Behind the bench, Cory Clouston achieved a rare milestone for the Senators — he lasted a full season as head coach. No easy feat, considering the death row of coaches that came before him: Craig Hartsburg (48 games), Bryan Murray (18 games) and John Paddock (64 games). When Clouston was brought in from the Senators farm team to replace Hartsburg midway through last season, he was seen by many as a place holder — a temporary replacement to tend the stables until the end of the season. However, he was brought back this year and has been a relative success. He took the Senators back to the playoffs after a one-year absence, lit a fire under Mike Fisher who had the best season of his ten-year career and turned the defensive pair of Anton Volchenkov and Chris Phillips into an elite NHL shutdown duo.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Senators season without a goaltending controversy. Pascal Leclaire was brought in late last season to assume the starting role, however his 09/10 season was derailed by injuries and inconsistent play. Cue backup Brian Elliott who stepped in and stole the number one spot, winning 29 of the 55 regular season games he started. Of course, Elliott’s wheels fell off at the worst possible time, as the young net minder allowed 14 goals in four playoff games, opening the door for Leclaire to reclaim his starting role. Leclaire was better, posting a 2.85 goals against average and .920 save percentage in three playoff games before the Senators were eliminated by the Penguins.

Considering the mountain of challenges they had to overcome in a tough 09/10 season, the Senators did pretty well for themselves with 94 points and a first round playoff series that saw them take the defending Stanley Cup champions — and favourites to repeat — to six games.

Next year is looking good too. The team has two good, young goaltenders, a physical edge (See: Neil, Chris or Sutton, Andy) and scoring in Fisher, Kovalev, Michalek, Jason Spezza and team captain Daniel Alfredsson. If the team can resign Volchenkov, the defence will be in good shape with him, Phillips, Chris Campoli and promising youngster Erik Karlsson. Not to mention Clouston who has proven he can coach at the NHL level. If Ottawa adds a piece or two via free agency in the summer, the team might not be far off from a deep playoff run — which is more than most other Canadian teams can say.