Series Preview
by Kevin Greenstein

Last spring, the Ottawa Senators came away with a decisive 4-1 victory when these teams met in the first round. Look for a very different result this time around…

Penguins Outlook: No NHL team has a more explosive offense than the Pens, who boast truly sensational depth of top-end talent. From young stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Ryan Whitney to veterans Marian Hossa and Sergei Gonchar, the Pens’ power play is truly fearsome, and should give the Senators fits. And though the Pens are known primarily for their offensive prowess, it’s worth pointing out that with hard-hitting rearguard Brooks Orpik clearing the crease and lightning-fast netminder Marc-Andre Fleury stopping over 92% of the shots he faces, their defense is quite formidable as well.

Senators Outlook: It’s a good thing for the Senators that games in October and November count as much in the final standings as do those in February, March, and April, because they wouldn’t have reached the postseason but for their stellar 15-2 start. The defending Eastern Conference champions limped to the finish line this year, and though their top line (captain Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, and Jason Spezza) is stellar, the rest of the team hasn’t jelled particularly well. One huge positive has been the re-emergence of netminder Martin Gerber; if he can deliver an elite-level performance, it could extend the series a bit.

Prediction: Penguins in Five

Game One
Penguins 4, Senators 0
by Kevin Greenstein

Why the Penguins won: That the Pens won 4-0 without getting a single point (goal or assist) from Sidney Crosby says it all. When he went down with a high ankle sprain in the middle of the regular season, the Pens learned how to win without him. And as a result, they can now win games without relying too heavily upon their superstar. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Evgeni Malkin (one goal, two assists on Wednesday night) is able to effectively carry the load when Crosby is shut down by opposing checkers. Just as he did when Crosby was out with the ankle sprain, Malkin again stepped up huge on Wednesday night. If the Pens continue to play this well—and if Marc-Andre Fleury continues to stop the puck with calm aplomb—the Pens have to be considered the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Why the Senators lost: After a 15-2 start to the regular season, the Senators were pedestrian at best. When healthy, the trio of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, and captain Daniel Alfredsson is arguably the best line in the NHL. But without Alfredsson (out of the lineup as a result of a hit delivered by the Maple Leafs’ Mark Bell on April 3rd), that top line loses considerable oomph. And because the rest of the Sens’ forward corps has underachieved badly all season long, the lack of scoring depth makes it highly unlikely that they’ll be able to overcome Alfredsson’s absence.

Key play of the game: Gary Roberts missed much of the regular season, but it didn’t take him long to make an important impression in the playoffs. Just 1:08 into Game One, he flipped a backhand past Martin Gerber to give the Pens a 1-0 lead. The goal was important in itself, as it got the Pens off to a great start in the series. But it was also critical because it demonstrated that Pittsburgh has four lines that can score goals, contrasting sharply against the Sens’ one-line team.

What’s next: The Sens are in serious trouble, of this there’s no doubt. For while losing Game One on the road is hardly a disaster, the Pens’ performance made it abundantly clear that Ottawa is badly over-matched in this series. And with Alfredsson (as well as Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly) out of the lineup, it’s quite unlikely that they’re going to come up with the goal-scoring needed to outdo the high-flying Penguins.

Game Two
Penguins 5, Senators 3
by Angie Carducci

Why the Penguins Won: After shutting out Ottawa 4-0 in Game One, the Penguins’ explosive offense didn’t let up on the gas. By the end of the first period, Pittsburgh had stormed out to a 20-8 lead in shots on goal, and Ottawa remained in the 1-0 game thanks only to the strong goaltending of Martin Gerber. The Penguins went on to post 54 total shots, a new team playoff record. Pittsburgh’s power play also came through in a big way, taking advantage of Ottawa’s lack of discipline to stake out a 2-0 lead early in the second. Even after the Senators rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game midway through the third, the Penguins stuck to their system, retained poise and discipline, and eventually allowed Ottawa to take the penalty that led to Ryan Malone’s game winner.

Why the Senators Lost: With both teams’ penalty killing units working overtime in Game One, the Pens and Sens both looked to start Game Two with a focus on discipline. But Ottawa committed four first-period infractions to Pittsburgh’s one, and the Penguins seized the momentum late in the frame when Sergei Gonchar opened the scoring at the end of a full minute on a 5-on-3 power play. The Senators’ defense allowed the Penguins’ dangerous offense far too many chances as Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and Gerber deserved better as his team left him to face 54 shots, many of them on the Penguins’ six power play chances.

Play of the Game: With just 1:14 remaining in a 3-3 game, Ottawa’s Martin Lapointe took yet another ill-advised penalty for the Senators, high-sticking feisty winger Jarkko Ruutu. Ruutu declined to retaliate, giving the Penguins the power play and allowing Pittsburgh native Malone to score what he called “the biggest goal of my career,” the game winner on a wraparound with 1:02 remaining.

What’s Next: The Senators, already depleted by an ill-timed rash of injuries to key players including captain Daniel Alfredsson and centers Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly, now return to Ottawa down two games to none. They will need to find a way to contain Pittsburgh’s high-powered offense, which got multiple points from its star players – four from Sidney Crosby, three from Evgeni Malkin and Malone, and two from Petr Sykora and Marian Hossa – and can start by limiting the Penguins’ opportunities with the man-advantage. Otherwise, this series stands a chance of being over before it returns to Pittsburgh for game five.

Game Three
Penguins 4, Senators 1
by Angie Carducci

Why the Penguins Won: Last year when the Penguins opened the postseason at Ottawa, 16 players on their roster had never played in a Stanley Cup playoff game. This year, returning to Scotiabank Place for Game Three, the Penguins had a far more confident, experienced team and a 2-0 series lead. Pittsburgh withstood an early onslaught of hard-fought, desperate hockey from the Senators to open the game and kept it scoreless through the first, negating Ottawa’s home-crowd advantage. The Penguins played disciplined, smart hockey, took advantage of the Senators’ defensive breakdowns to score opportunistic goals, and continued to get impressive goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury, who’s 13-2-1 since returning from injury. Pittsburgh also got a total team effort, as Max Talbot, Jordan Staal and Marian Hossa scored their first goals of these playoffs. Staal and Hossa were an especially welcome sight on the scoresheet, as both had been frustrated of late in their efforts to find the back of the net. Hossa, who’s leading the team in shots on goal in this series, also contributed two assists against his former team.

Why the Senators Lost: Back home for Game Three, the Senators came out looking like a different team than the one that showed up in Pittsburgh. Ottawa dominated the play early with a hard-hitting, fast-skating first period. They got an emotional lift from the return of captain Daniel Alfredsson, out since April 3 with multiple injuries, and the presence of leading scorer Jason Spezza, a game-time decision after a leg injury in Game Two. The Senators had the better of the opportunities and puck possession, but came up empty thanks to the Penguins’ defense and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. By the time Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Staal scored within the first 1:30 of the third period to take a quick 3-1 lead, the Senators’ defense simply couldn’t keep up with the Penguins’ explosive offense. And when Ottawa had a chance to get back into the game with a power play early in the third, once again the Senators displayed a stunning lack of discipline, with Dany Heatley high-sticking Staal and Cory Stillman tripping up Ryan Malone. The man-advantage shifted to the Penguins, who promptly scored to effectively end any chance of a Senators’ comeback.

Play of the Game: After the hard-fought but scoreless first period, the Senators scored just 1:11 into the second to take their first lead of the series. But just over four minutes later, the Penguins executed a perfect sequence of tic-tac-toe passes, starting behind the Ottawa net and advancing quickly up ice, with every Penguins skater touching the puck. Gritty forward Talbot was last, taking a pass as he cut toward the net and shifting it to his backhand. Ottawa goaltender Martin Gerber slid across the goal and was positioned for the shot, but Talbot sneaked the puck through Gerber’s five-hole for his first career playoff tally. The game was tied 1-1, the Penguins had taken the momentum away, and Pittsburgh never looked back.

What’s Next: Down three games to none, the odds are squarely against the Senators as they head into Game Four. Ottawa came out hard in Game Three, playing with character and desperation, and they’ll be playing for pride in front of their home crowd as they hope to avoid a sweep and send the series back to Pittsburgh. For the Penguins, if they continue to stay faithful to their defensive system, capitalize on their offensive opportunities and get strong goaltending from their 23-year-old netminder, they are poised to send last year’s Stanley Cup runners-up to a quick first-round exit.

Game Four
Penguins 3, Senators 1
by Angie Carducci

Why the Penguins Won: What a difference a year made, as the Penguins turned the tables on the team that eliminated them in the first round last spring. Instead of relaxing with their 3-0 series lead, Pittsburgh came out hungry and determined to finish off the Senators in Game Four, outshooting Ottawa 14-5 in a dominating first period. Early in the second, after the Penguins had taken a 1-0 lead on Evgeni Malkin’s power play tally, Ottawa had a man-advantage of their own but went without so much as a shot on goal, thanks to the Penguins’ aggressive penalty killing. The Senators’ top line of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson was hampered by injury in this series, with Alfredsson missing the first two games and Spezza wearing a knee brace since a Game Two injury, but those stars were also made a non-factor by the Penguins’ speed and defensive system. Pittsburgh got all four lines contributing throughout the series, with 16 goals scored by 10 different skaters. They also got a strong defensive effort from the entire team, which played its system, took away passes, blocked shots and kept goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury from seeing too much rubber. Still, Fleury was outstanding, making the big saves when it counted, including two chances by Martin Lapointe and one on Alfredsson late in the 2-1 game when the Senators were threatening to tie. The 23-year-old netminder continued to display solid positional play and improved rebound control, and his confidence only seemed to grow with each Penguins win. Pittsburgh outscored Ottawa 16-5 in the four-game sweep, with the Senators’ five goals the fewest the franchise has ever allowed in a playoff round.

Why the Senators Lost: The sweep concludes a hugely disappointing second half for Ottawa, which began the season with great promise after an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final last spring and 15 wins in their first 17 games. They began this series decimated by injury, with Alfredsson and key centers Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly out of the lineup, and with a question mark in goal, as starter Martin Gerber had only one playoff win to his credit. Gerber continued to be Ottawa’s bright spot of the series in Game Four, however, turning aside 31 of the 33 shots he faced. In the end, Ottawa was done in by not only injuries, but by lack of discipline; although the Senators took fewer unnecessary shots at the Penguins in Game Four, they still allowed Pittsburgh four power play opportunities, one of which allowed the Penguins to take a 1-0 lead. The Senators simply couldn’t get any breaks in Game Four; a strong series of plays midway through the second period resulted in good scoring chances for Mike Commodore and Cory Stillman, giving Ottawa some momentum, and they finally tied it on Stillman’s hard-earned goal from right in front of the net. The Penguins regained the lead just a few minutes later on Jarkko Ruutu’s improbable goal, however, and when the Senators appeared to tie it again, Antoine Vermette was ruled to have made a distinct kicking motion to slide the puck in off the inside blade of his right skate. The goal was disallowed, and the Penguins’ defense and Fleury shut down the Senators the rest of the way.

Key Moment: At 15:28 of the second, with the game tied 1-1, agitator and shootout specialist Ruutu got the puck at the blueline and hustled toward the goal. Ottawa defenseman Brian Lee gave chase and rode Ruutu off to the left side of the net, nearly to the outside of the faceoff circle. But Ruutu kept the puck on his stick, spun around Lee and got a shot off his backhand, which somehow found a space through Gerber’s five-hole and put the Penguins ahead to stay. Gerber, thinking Ruutu had been taken out of the play by his defenseman, couldn’t have seen it coming.

What’s Next: The Penguins were rewarded with two days off before their next practice, as they wait to see how the remaining Eastern Conference series play out and who they’ll face in the second round. Although teams sometimes fear becoming rusty from such a layoff, Pittsburgh will appreciate the chance to rest a few players who are hurting, such as forwards Ryan Malone, who’s been battling through injuries since Game Two, and Gary Roberts, who missed the last two games with a sore groin. For the Senators, they’ll look to next year, when GM/coach Bryan Murray suggested they could field a very different team. Ottawa has eight unrestricted free agents, many of them big names, and Murray was watching Game Four intently to see which of his players showed up with strong efforts in the face of elimination.