Senators force decider as Penguins downed
THE Ottawa Senators came from behind to force a decider in their Eastern Conference final series against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
A third period strike from Mike Hoffman (pictured, AFP) completed a 2-1 win for the Senators, who rallied after falling behind to an Evgeni Malkin goal in the second period.
Bobby Ryan got Ottawa back on level terms in the second period to leave the series balanced at 3-3 heading for Game 7 in Pittsburgh (at 7am on Friday morning Cambodian time).
Senators coach Guy Boucher praised the way his team had responded after a 7-0 drubbing in Game 5.
“The guys are fighters, and they choose to fight. They don’t choose to bail out; they don’t choose to freeze – they choose to fight,” Boucher said.
“That’s something they’ve developedd individually and as a team, and nd that’s why we’re still here. It’s an unbelievable team on the other side, so it takes everyry player, everyone’s character to be able to do that, and that’s what our players displayed today.”day.”
Senatorss goalie Craig Anderson, meanwhile, nwhile, proved one of the heroes s for the Canadians, stopping 45 shots, including 22 of 23 in thee second period.
“I think what he’s done all year, in terms erms of focus and rebounding ng and coming up with big saves, is at the forefront of what these guys have been doing,” Boucher said.
“It’sIt s a rollercoaster all series, not just this one, but all the previous ones. And he’s been terrific at reloading mentally, p h y s i c a l l y
a n d emotionally. I think i t’s the measure o f o u r team.”
Hoffman’s winner came at 1:34 of the third when he gathered a pass from Fredrik Claesson and blasted a slap shot pastpas Penguins goalie Matt Murra Murray high to the glove side. Malkin and Ryan exch exchanged goals in the second peri period. The Penguins looked tot have taken a lead at 3:04 of the second, when S Sidney C r o s b y f o u n d Trevor Da Daley to shoot and beat Craig And Anderson with a rebo rebound. H o w e v e r , Daley was later adjudged tot have interfered with t h e g o a l t e n d e r, denying PittsburghPitts what would have been a precious score.
The Penguins are chasing back-to-back Stanley Cup wins after their triumph in the NHL showpiece in 2016.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan sounded a defiant note after the defeat, insisting his team still had all to play for.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed in the result, but I don’t think we can get discouraged by that,” Sullivan said. “I think we’ve got to take the positives from it and build on it, and we’ve got to become a more determined team for Game 7.
“The puck didn’t go in the net for us tonight, but I believe, if we stay the course there, then pucks will go in.