HEATHER WAMPLER – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pens met with the Ottawa Senators for the final time this series, the Pens are moving on to the second. Chris Conner was called up from the baby Pens to replace Ruslan Fedotenko. Defenseman Jordan Leopold and forward Tyler Kennedy are still out due to injury. I was excited and nervous going into the game. If they would have lost that could mean the end of the Stanley Cup run for them but if they did win it’s possible they get the cup two years in a row. Again.
The Sens were the first to score. At 5:29 center Matt Cullen took a pass from right winger Daniel Alfredsson and beat out Pens goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the stick side on a breakaway chance. Defenseman Anton Volchenkov received the second assist. It’s always a major drag when the other team scores first. Especially during a playoff game. The Sens goaltender Pascal Leclaire was on top of his game. He managed to block Pens center Mike Rupp’s shot at 12:40. Rupp was so close to tying up the game. Left winger Pascal Dupuis managed to get a mini breakaway at 14:50 but Leclaire was able to stop his backhander attempt. The first penalty of the game was given to Jarko Ruutu at 16:30 for holding. Unfortunately the Pens power play unit was unable to do get anything done. Left winger Matt Cooke was the last to the box at 19:26 when he boarded Sens center Peter Regin. The Pens were outshot 11-10.
The second started with the Sens on the remaining 1:27 of the power play. The penalty killers were able to hold them back. Fleury was able to stop the first shot by right winger Chris Neil at 1:51 but he was able to send his own rebound in behind Fleury nullifying the delayed penalty being called against the Pens at the same time. Center Chris Kelly and Ruutu received the assists. What a way to start the second period. 2-0 and it wasn’t looking good for the Pens. I had thoughts of “pull Fleury” swimming the back my mind but I figured nah, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Then 9:51 came around. A loose puck bounced around ending up with Alfredsson tossing a wrister in the Pens net for a 3-0 lead. Centers Matt Cullen and Mike Fisher received the assists. I couldn’t believe it. How could the Pens be down-0 3? I kept my fingers crossed and didn’t lose hope. A huge sigh of relief came at 10:56 when Pens Cooke kept swinging at a loose puck after a Leclaire save on defenseman Sergei Gonchar. He got a backhander off and into the net. Center Jordan Staal and Dupuis received the assists. They were still two goals away but still had a period and a half left. At 6:19 the refs did what they do best, waved off another goal. Luckily this time it was a Sens goal. Upon review it was found that the puck made it across the line after the net was knocked off its moorings. Gonchar was forced to take a hooking penalty on Sens Cullen at the same time. The Pens were outshot again 11-12.
Then came the miracle period. Period three. The Pens were still down 3-1. They had 20 minutes to get at least two goals. Their first big break came at 5:11 when Sens Volchenkov was given an interference penalty. With the man advantage the Pens were able to cut the Sens lead. Right winger Billy Guerin took a pass from defenseman Alex Goligoski for a one-time over Leclaire’s glove. Center Evgeni Malkin received the second assist. Then the moment the Penguin nation was waiting for. The tying goal. Cooke backhanded defenseman Mark Eaton’s rebound into the net. I couldn’t believe it. I also had a sinking feeling the game would be going into OT. Which it did. The Pens finally outshot the Sens 18-4.
I almost didn’t want to watch OT. I was so nervous that it would be a repeat of Thursday’s game. I don’t think I could have handled a game 7. Luckily this time OT didn’t last long. It was a mere 9:56 when the game winning goal occurred and the Pens advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Dupuis took a pass from Staal and slammed a wrist shot from the left circle of Leclaire’s glove for a 4-3 victory.
The San Jose Sharks won their series 4-2 over the Colorado Avalanche, the Philadelphia Flyers have won their series 4-1 over the New Jersey Devils, the Vancouver Cannucks are leading the L.A Kings 3-2, the Chicago Blackhawks are leading the Nashville Predators 3-2, the Detroit Redwings and Phoenix Coyote are tied at 3, the Washington Capitals lead the Montreal Canadiens 3-2, the Boston Bruins lead the Buffalo Sabres 3-2.
Since the only two teams to finish their series are Pittsburgh and the Flyers the team we play is yet to be determined. If Washington and Buffalo win their series: Penguins play Buffalo Sabres with the Sabres having home-ice advantage. If Washington and Boston win: Pens play Boston Bruins with the Pens having home-ice advantage. If Montreal and Buffalo win their series: Pens play the Flyers with the Pens having home-ice advantage. If Montreal and Boston win their series: Pens play the Canadiens with Pens having home-ice advantage.
The series will recommence on Monday at 7:00 p.m., which means the Pens will have to wait at least two more days before their next opponent will be determined.
