Ovechkin played through hamstring, knee injuries in playoffs

The Senators have won the past two meetings with Pittsburgh at home by a combined score of 6-2 after losing the previous four in the series. Odd to say, but it’s true.

This is clearly an issue.

The Penguins defeated the Blue Jackets in five games to open the playoffs. And it’s not that he’s a defensive liability, as many of his detractors would try to suggest, because he isn’t. The NHL is going to have a PR nightmare on its hands for this one with two small market teams in the final. However, the Senators were unable to keep pace with the Rangers in Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden, recording a pair of 4-1 losses, and twice needed overtime to seal road wins against Boston in the first round. He’s done about everything asked of him – and done it to near perfection – throughout the first two rounds. Just don’t mistake the joy that spilled onto the ice after beating the Rangers in six games with satisfaction. Through the first five days of the 2016 playoffs, Rogers averaged just over half a million viewers.

Two-time Norris Trophy victor Erik Karlsson guided the Senators to six-game series victories over Boston and the New York Rangers despite playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel. He was seen visibly shaking at times as he answered questions. Let’s take a look at our National Hockey League playoff predictions.

Here are some stats for the two teams tonight. Ottawa’s defense frustrated Pittsburgh for much of the evening, with defenseman Erik Karlsson looking like the best player on the ice. If this series goes seven, I’m giving it to the Penguins, but my head be damned, I’ll double down on heart, because Senators in 6. The Senators surely can’t tempt this kind of fate very often, but Anderson made a huge glove stop on a deflection by Patric Hornqvist on the fifth power play of the night.

The Senators are well aware they’re not supposed to be here.

It’s due to their forward group that the Penguins have been able to offset the missing pieces behind them. That 2006-07 Senators squad was custom-built to make a run to the finals; they scored the second-most goals and gave up the second-fewest in the East during the regular season. Previously a puck possession team that relied on speed to gain the offensive zone and power to wreak havoc within it, the Penguins have become a counterattacking team that is not afraid to absorb physical punishment.

Phaneuf and Ceci won’t be alone in that, to be sure. The Senators got some chances as well, as Bobby Ryan missed a goal when his shot pinged off the post. That was the worst 5-on-5 SP of any starting goaltender in the second round.

Who do you think takes this series? Craig Anderson and Marc-Andre Fleury were both pulled as starters.

The Match-Up: The Anaheim Ducks have made their way through the playoffs as that other contender, the one you remembered after dwelling on the usual suspects.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – James Neal scored 9:24 into overtime, and Nashville kicked off its first appearance in the Western Conference finals with a victory over Anaheim. It was also the series when he seemed to give up on his team’s chances of making a comeback from a 3-1 deficit.