Senators push Penguins to the limit

Ottawa forces deciding Game 7 with gritty effort

There will be a tomorrow for the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators have forced a dramatic Game 7 to decide which team will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final after they scored a clutch 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, sending the crowd of 18,111 — just short of a sellout — at Canadian Tire Centre into hysterics.

Yes, the East final will go the distance.

With the Senators trying to get to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 2007, Mike Hoffman scored the winner early in the third period and goaltender Craig Anderson came up big, sending the series to Game 7 on Thursday night at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena. The victor will face the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup final, starting Monday.

“We wanted to force Game 7 and that’s what we did — especially in the second period,” forward Zack Smith said. “Andy was huge tonight again. He’s the difference.”

Much was made of the fact the building wasn’t full, but the crowd had lots to cheer about as Bobby Ryan also scored for the Senators on Matt Murray. Only Evgeni Malkin was able to score for the Penguins. Hoffman’s second goal of the series at 1:34 of the third was a blast Murray never stood a chance on as the puck went off the post and in.

Had it not been for Anderson, the Senators wouldn’t have stood a chance going into the third.

Despite being outshot 23-10 in the second period and 34-19 overall, they were tied 1-1 with the Penguins after finally scoring with the man advantage at 13:51 of the second with their first power-play goal in 11 games, ending an 0-for-29 slump. Ryan scored during a twoman advantage, firing the puck by Murray on the stick side.

The Senators credited a team meeting Monday where they talked as a group about the fact they had a great opportunity and they shouldn’t let it slip away.

“We got together and aired some stuff out,” defenceman Marc Methot said. “It was honestly just a good, positive talk. It just kind of put everything into perspective that it takes eight exhibition games and 82 games to get into the playoffs, let alone get to the third round and this isn’t an opportunity that we want to waste.”