Hoffman’s goal helps Senators beat Penguins to force Game 7

Not to mention, the Penguins have Matt Murray in goal again, giving them two very strong goalies to lead the team.

Back in Pittsburgh, that won’t be a problem.

The Senators had little going until a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage for 1:24 just past the midway point of the period. Thirty-six seconds later, it became a 5-on-3. But it hummed effectively this time around with Ryan ultimately wiring a one-timer short-side – evening the game at one.

Pittsburgh mostly owned the second, pounding 23 shots on Anderson while mustering 82 per cent of even-strength shot attempts (27-6). There were times when play-by-play announcer Doc Emrick of NBC was calling out missed penalties.

The Penguins were fortunate to get out of the second period tied.

The Senators, at times, seem to have reinvented the game, winning by defending.

Hoffman gave the Sens the lead 94 seconds into the third though, blasting a slapshot past Murray following a backhand feed – and followup traffic in front – from Fredrik Claesson.

The Ducks, who came in 2-1 when facing elimination this postseason, peppered Rinne with pucks.

Pittsburgh would threaten many times in the third period but would not find the equalizer. During that stretch, which began last season, he’s captured a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy, World Cup of Hockey, World Cup of Hockey MVP, Rocket Richard trophy and back-to-back finishes as a Hart trophy finalist.

Of course, that dramatic goal wound up being moot, as the game ended five minutes into overtime with Ryan’s score. It didn’t look good on Anderson and he had been solid up until that shot beat him. Hockey is a game of inches and milliseconds. Defensively, the Ottawa Senators are allowing 2.6 goals per game and are killing 79.7 percent of their opponents power plays. It is a venue in which they have succeeded infrequently. There just may not be a 1,484th National Hockey League game for Cullen. Craig Anderson put the Senators on his back, stopping 45 shots on goal.

Rust’s three goals in Game 7s are the fifth-most in the post-lockout era.

Exactly one year after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, the Penguins have the opportunity to repeat history.

Kessel remains somewhat underrated as a playoff performer. It kept coming down to the two of them; Crosby won the last game before the actual game. So any prognostication of another Sens-Pens showdown will inevitably be wiped of validity once Sidney Crosby and the boys retake the ice for another go-round against Craig Anderson this week. Laviolette joins Scotty Bowman (St. Louis, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit), Dick Irvin (Chicago, Toronto and Montreal) and Mike Keenan (Flyers, Chicago, Rangers) taking at least three teams to the Final.

In Game 7, anything can happen.

Hornqvist, who has four goals and three assists in 13 playoff games, has been out since leaving during warmups for game two.

With the added offensive talent, it will be up to Pittsburgh’s coaches to make sure that they are utilized properly. “There’s nothing that really matters when you don’t have a real No. 1 goaltender”. They’ll make a push. “Credit to them they played a solid defensive game, but we were controlling the play”. But they will need to get a lead first.

Want more news first thing in the day? Depending on which side of the scoreboard lights up first, the building will either be jubilant or mortified. Pittsburgh has gone an impressive 5-17 on the power play this series while the Senators finally got over their 0-29 power play slump during Game 6. “I don’t think you worry too much about how many shots”. “They’re two of the best in the game, and they’re still out there working”.

“It doesn’t matter, they’re not going to change their minds”, Sullivan said.