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Cherry Hill's Bobby Ryan hopes to spark Senators

The 30-year-old winger wants to put an injury-marred season behind him when Ottawa plays the Penguins in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After an unproductive and injury-marred season, Bobby Ryan is having a rebirth of sorts.

The Cherry Hill native has been one of the Ottawa's best playoff performers and has helped the surprising Senators advance to the Eastern Conference finals against heavily favored Pittsburgh.

The series starts Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

In 12 playoff games, Ryan has nine points (four goals, five assists). Marquee defenseman Erik Karlsson (13) is the only Senator with more playoff points this year.

"I feel more energized," Ryan, a 30-year-old winger, recently told the Ottawa Sun.

In the opening round, the Senators beat Boston in six games. They then upset the New York Rangers, also in six games. Ryan was a factor in both series, especially against the Bruins.

The playoffs "were an opportunity to put the season behind me. People are going to say what they're going to say and be on me for it for a long time," Ryan said of scoring just 25 points in 62 regular-season games. "That's what happens when you're paid what you're paid and you're expected to do things. I've got a chance to make my money in the playoffs. I'm going to try and do everything I can for us now."

Ryan, who is in the second season of a seven-year, 50.75 million contract, scored 30-plus goals in four straight seasons from 2008-09 to 2011-12, but he managed just 13 goals this season. Part of it was because he had more defensive responsibility in new coach Guy Boucher's system, and part of it was because of hand injuries.

But Ryan admits part of it was because he was struggling.

Now that he has regained his mojo, Ryan - who scored the winner in a 4-3 overtime victory over Boston in Game 3 of the opening round - will be trying to help end the Penguins' reign.

Pittsburgh, coming off an emotional Game 7 win over Washington, needs eight more victories to become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champs since Detroit in 1997-98.

The Senators won two of three games over the Penguins during the regular season.

If Ottawa can somehow upset the mighty Penguins, there's a chance they would face Anaheim in the Stanley Cup Finals. Ryan was drafted No. 2 overall by the Ducks in 2005 and he had his best seasons in Anaheim.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

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