NHL Playoffs 2013: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators Recap
The NHL Playoffs have entered round two. The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators have tried to beat on each other in an attempt to advance to the Conference Finals. In what I previously thought would be an even series is now one-sided . The Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be on a mission to prove what the New York Islanders did to them was a fluke. As for the Ottawa Senators they are proving how good the Penguins are. Ottawa has struggled in the first two games failing to find their game. I have to ask, is it possible that Pittsburgh is that much better than the Montreal Canadiens? One thing is for sure, if the Senators have any chance of making this a series, and not just a practice session for the Penguins, Ottawa needs to lace up their skates and get back to playing hockey. If they can’t do that; this time next week the only place we will see the Senators play is on a golf course.
Game 1 Recap
Game one ended much like game one in the opening round. The Penguins dismantled the Senators in almost every facet of the game. Pittsburgh won the game going away, 4-1. It was a very well-rounded game by the Penguins. To go along with the four goals the Penguins managed 40 hits, and 18 blocked shots. That is a scary thing to see considering few NHL teams are going to be able to contend with a game like that. Despite being out shot in game one Pittsburgh had little trouble defeating the Senators. Ottawa seemed to be in shock after the first goal of the game. Only two minutes and forty-one seconds into the first period the Sens gave up a Power Play goal to Paul Martin. Ottawa was able to tie the game at one on a Colin Greening wrist shot. That would be the last time Ottawa would light the lamp in-game one. Evgeni Malkin scored what turned out to be the game winning goal at 12:15 in the first.
Other Goal Scorers
PIT, Chris Kunitz PPG, Pascal Dupuis SHG
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Game 2 Recap
Game two ended the same way game one did, with a Penguins victory. Giving the Penguins a 2-0 series lead. This game was won by Sidney Crosby. Crosby went “beast mode”, and netted his 2nd career playoff hat-trick. Crosby opened the scoring only three minutes and sixteen seconds into the opening period. The Senators responded about ten minutes later. Kyle Turris scored on the power play. Just three minutes later Crosby put the Penguins back up by one to close out the first period scoring. The first period saw the Penguins out shot the Senators 18 to 7. The defensive Senators didn’t show much ability to put the puck on net. The 2nd period looked just like the first in almost every way. Pittsburgh opened the scoring early, just one minute and fifteen seconds in; Crosby scored on the power play. As they did in the first period Ottawa answered quickly. Just forty seconds later Greening beat Tomas Vokoun with a wrist shot. Brenden Morrow put Pittsburgh up 4-2 on a tip-in goal ending the second period scoring. Yet again the Pens out shot the Sens 15-8. The third period saw the Pens take their foot of the gas a little bit only managing 9 shots, sadly for the Senators they were unable to take advantage , and only scored one goal Jean-Gabriel Pageau netted his fourth goal of the playoffs to bring the score to it final resting place 4-3.
Other Game 2 stats
Hits: Pittsburgh 21, Ottawa 41
Blocked Shots: Pittsburgh 20, Ottawa 8
Prediction
If the Senators can not find there game this series will not make it past game four. The Penguins have found their game, and are seemingly having little trouble with the Senators defensive, hard-hitting style. When this series started I had the Senators winning it in 7. I don’t see this series ending in a sweep, but I also do not see the Senators winning it. Pittsburgh is just too good. Pens in 5.