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Senators force game 7 with 2-1 home ice win over Penguins

May 24, 2017, 8:40 AM ET [145 Comments]
Jared Crozier
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I said in yesterday's preview that if the Senators were going to win game 6 to force a trip back to Pittsburgh, Craig Anderson was going to have to bounce back and be the best player on the ice.

Well, challenge met as Anderson made 45 saves allowing the Senators to recover from allowing the first goal to beat the Penguins 2-1.

It didn't hurt that they also scored on the power play for the first time in 10 games, on Bobby Ryan's 5-on-3 goal to tie the score at a crucial point in the game. Mike Hoffman's laser beam shot that went off the post and in early in the third period was the difference and despite being outshot 46-30 Ottawa managed to hang on for the win.

If someone told you, whether it was Sept 15th or May 15th, that the Senators would have a one game play-in to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, 100% of Senators fans would have jumped at the chance, and that is what they are now presented with.


The Senators have a chance to do something on Thursday that they have never done before in franchise history. Win a game 7. The Senators are 0-5 in the ultimate game, the latest heartbreak coming in 2012 against the Rangers.

They have put that 7-0 drubbing behind them, and the previous 6 games have no bearing on the outcome of game 7, an opportunity the Senators can relish, and a situation that despite their success, the Penguins have not exactly excelled either. Their record in home ice game 7's is second worst only to that of their nemesis, the Washington Capitals. They are 3-7 in such situations, but won their last one, last season's Eastern Conference Final against the Lightning that propelled them into the Final and their Stanley Cup win.

Ottawa played this one tight to the end, allowing too many shots but doing their best to close out plays and minimize scoring chances. Anderson, especially during a second period barrage, played one of his best games of the playoffs, at a time where his team needed him the most to not allow that second goal that would have changed the course of the game.

Erik Karlsson had just one assist but looked much better in this one, leading the rush more often and making himself a threat. Like many star players, he turned it up a notch after he was cross-checked from behind into the boards, and a resulting non-call. Akin to poking a bear with a stick, he seemed to become even more intense after that and stepped his game up even further.

It was also the playoff debut for Colin White, who played a minimal 2:39 as the Senators went largely with 3 lines and played White, Ryan Dzingel and Viktor Stalberg sparingly (a total of less than 14 minutes between the three of them.

It was a big game for Bobby Ryan as well, not only scoring to end the Senators' power play drought, but he was physical, verbal and showed an intensity that some people (ahem *Brian Burke*) didn't think he had. Ryan had a look in his eyes that I haven't seen before, and he was invested in this one, and it was appreciated by the crowd during and after the game.

Somehow, whoever picked the 3 stars in the building saw fit to name Hoffman first star, Ryan second star and Anderson 3rd star, but anyone who paid attention to the game knows that although the three players were probably right, it was Anderson's play that allowed the Senators to extend their season. Anderson was focused, and if he has one more of those in him, the Senators have a chance to move on.

IF that was the last home game of the season and the Senators do come up short in Pittsburgh (and I am not saying they will), at least they finished on a high note and pushed it to the brink at a time when I think there was a lot of doubt creeping into a lot of minds (outside the dressing room) after the drubbing they took in Pittsburgh. Now they have a chance to go back in there and exorcise the demons of that game with a strong performance, win or lose.
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