OTTAWA – The Pittsburgh Penguins met the Ottawa Senators for game six of the Eastern Conference Final (ECF) in front of a near sellout crowd at Canadian Tire Center. The Penguins dominated the Senators in nearly every facet of the game but sometimes one man makes the difference.
Craig Anderson faced 46 shots and a flurry of quality scoring chances but only missed one in route to a Senators 2-1 victory. En route to the ECF the Penguins managed to win a few games where they were out shot and out played. This time it was the Senators who stole one at home to force a game seven in Pittsburgh.
The first period appeared to be a typical trap and chase Senators game. The Pens, having solved the trap previously, spent most of the frame in the attacking zone. The Pens had two power play (PP) opportunities but could not find the back of the net.
The second period began with both teams pressuring and Evgeni Malkin and Mike Hoffman were called for offsetting roughing penalties leading to a four on four. Trevor Daley tracked down a puck in front of Anderson and buried it but the goal was challenged and waved off.
Back at full strength, five minutes in, Malkin made a strong move to the net down low and collected his own rebound to sneak one past Anderson’s left pad. Scott Wilson and Ian Cole were credited with helpers.
The Pens kept the pressure on and spent most of the first half of the period in the attacking zone till Ron Hainsey was called for interference on Jean-Gabriel Pageau. On the penalty kill (PK) Cole was flagged for high sticking Kyle Turris leading to a 5 on 3. Soon after Bobby Ryan buried a nice feed from Turris evening things up at one. Turris and Erik Karlsson assisted on the goal.
Ryan’s Power Play Goal (Video)
With five minutes left, the Penguins got another PP chance when Marc Methot held Sidney Crosby. Mark Streit looked uncomfortable controlling the PP from the point and the Senators easily killed off their third penalty.
Late in the second, at a minute left, the Pens went on a rush that saw a number of good chances but once again Anderson stood on his head. The period ended locked up at a goal each.
When the puck dropped for the third period the Senators seemingly abandoned their trap in favor of attacking the offensive zone. They pressured the Pens and it paid off with a goal at just over a minute in. Hoffman slammed a one timer from the left circle past Matt Murray, beating him blocker side high. Fredrik Claesson and Clarke MacArthur both got helpers on the tally. Sens up 2-1.
The Penguins needed to respond but instead struggled to break out of their own zone. After some shoving between Karlsson and Bryan Rust, a four on four ensued. The Penguins dominated the open ice and had a number of great chances but Anderson kept the Pens off the board.
Anderson’s Save on Crosby (Video)
Following a Pens PK for too many men, Murray left the net in favor of an extra attacker with two minutes left in regulation. The Penguins could not get any pucks past Anderson and the Senators held on for the win.
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