OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators got going early and never looked back torching the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 in their first Conference Final at home in over a decade. The crowd was electric and bordered on hysteria when Mike Hoffman scored less than a minute into the game.
The Pittsburgh Penguins fielded an injury depleted roster and dressed 7 defensemen to try and mitigate the situation. They would need more help than (often healthy scratched) Mark Streit and (returning from injury) Trevor Daley to shore up their defense. The Pens need to get healthy fast or they will be golfing in a week.
Game three of the ECF lasted three periods but was over halfway through the first. After Hoffman scored, helped by Alexandre Burrows and Kyle Turris, the Senators went on a run of 3 more goals in as many minutes. Marc Methot followed with his own, assisted by Derick Brassard and Bobby Ryan. Then Brassard nabbed a goal of his own giving Ryan another helper as well as Clarke MacArthur. Zack Smith finished off the barrage with a goal assisted by Methot and Erik Karlsson. The Senators scored four goals and chased Marc-Andre Fleury in the process. The period ended 4-0 Senators.
Smith’s Wraparound Goal (Video)
The second period both teams traded power play chances and neither could muster much in the way of scoring opportunities. The Penguins went into the period 0 for the entire series on the power play so it was not surprising that they only managed to register a couple shots in three opportunities.
Kyle Turris added an insurance goal on a nice forehand to backhand move, beating Matt Murray. He was helped out by Hoffman and Fredrik Claesson. Just before the horn sounded, Z. Smith plowed into Murray, assuring the Penguins that they would start the third on the power play.
The Sens began the third on the penalty kill and soon returned to full strength having killed off every penalty thus far in the series. The Penguins followed with a kill of their own when Matt Cullen was sent off for slashing but the Senators failed to register a shot.
Anderson Short Handed Save (Video)
Five minutes into the period Sidney Crosby tipped in a wrister by Phil Kessel past Craig Anderson, giving the Penguins a power play goal and M. Streit nod in the assist column. The usual garbage time antics ensued and both the Sens and Pens had to kill off penalties. In the end the score remained 5-1 Senators.
The Penguins will have a number of adjustments to make before game 4, not least of which includes getting players back. This game has the feel of game six from the Capitals series for the Penguins (they lost 5-2). They need to forget about it and come back fresh.
The Ottawa Senators need to rinse and repeat what they did in this game. They shut down the Pens on defense and attacked an offense. Their skilled players got away from the trap long enough to run up the score. Once again the Senators are showing the hockey world why they are in the Conference Final and are currently up 2-1 in the series with a game in hand.
ECF Game 4 will be played @ Ottawa at 8:00 pm. On Friday May 19th.
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