PITTSBURGH – Few things in the sports world are as exciting as a game seven in the the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The narrative from game six was that the Pittsburgh Penguins were good but Craig Anderson of the Ottawa Senators was better.
Following that same logic, Anderson was very good in game seven but Chris Kunitz was better. Aside from the stellar Pens special teams it was Kunitz who scored both the first and the eventual game winner in overtime. The Penguins won 3-2 in a double overtime grudge match..
The first period was not unlike the first period from the previous game in that the Penguins dominated in the Senators zone and controlled the puck for most of the period but did not score. A questionable call on Scott Wilson early put the Sens on the power play but the inept Ottawa specials teams continued to struggle against the Pens PK. The first ended with no score.
Early in the second period Matt Murray made a couple great saves, keeping the game scoreless. The Penguins and Senators both had some great chances but early but Anderson and Murray kept the twine clean.
Halfway through the second it would be Kunitz who would capitalize on a chip ahead from Conor Sheary, leading to an odd man rush, putting the Penguins up 1-0. Less than a minute later the Senators evened things up when Mark Stone converted on a pass from Erik Karlsson, tying things up at 1.
Kunitz and Stone Goals (Video)
The Senators got a power play with under five minutes to play when Olli Maatta caught Derick Brassard with a high stick but the Pens PK killed it off without incident. The second period ended tied at 1.
Coming out in the third the Senators were pressuring early and had several chances but Murray was stellar. The Penguins countered with some good looks of their own but Anderson held his ground in net.
Just before the halfway point the Penguins got their first power play when Dion Phaneuf interfered with Phil Kessel trying to enter the zone. Thirty seconds into the PP Justin Schultz crushed a one timer from the point that beat Anderson who was screened by Kunitz. Phil Kessel also got a helper on the goal.
Unlike the first period, the Senators waited nearly 3 minutes to tie the score up following a Penguins goal. At the 5:19 minute mark, Karlsson sent a one timer from the point that Murray stopped but came out in front and Ryan Dzingal tapped it past Murry’s blocker. Kyle Turris received an assist on the goal as well.
The Penguins dominated the offensive zone but could not get pucks past Anderson and after 3 periods of play, the score remained 2-2.
The first overtime began with the Sens pressuring early but the Pens turned it around and got a number of great chances. The Penguins kept pressuring but aside from the occasional odd man rush the first over time period ended without incident.
The Penguins continued their puck possession dominance in the second overtime and five minutes in, it finally paid off. Kunitz sent a slapper from the point that went untouched past Anderson through a screen. Crosby and Justin Schultz assisted. Having scored two goals and assisted on another it was Kunitz who made the difference in the game.
Following the game Murray noted that “when we do what we need to do, we’ll be successful”. What he is eluding to is the “play the right way” mantra from coach Sullivan. The belief that if they play their game they will be successful. For the second straight season, that philosophy has served this team well.
The banged up Penguins will move on to the Stanley Cup Finals and hope to continue their winning ways despite all the adversity they have faced. In the mean time the Nashville Predators will begin preparing for their first ever Final in franchise history.
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