Ducks knock out Oilers in game 7

Anaheim had little time to recover from that grueling second-round series, and it showed in an occasionally slow-footed performance.

Then, just 3:31 into the first period, the unthinkable. They won two out of three in the 2011 first round, including a huge Game 5 victory when Jerred Smithson scored with 1:57 gone into overtime. "We had to go out and play our game individually".

A very different challenge awaits in the Eastern Conference final in what amounts to the hockey equivalent of switching from boxing to MMA.

The Penguins are probably the favorites right now to win the Cup and repeat as champions, but Ottawa poses a tough test for them. We have celebrated hat tricks with some of our players in the past. We just kept coming at them and had a lot of chances.

"They're pretty stingy", Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby said. "We're really comfortable both on the road and at home so it's a good feeling to get the first one".

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

Returning to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, the Oilers made an outstanding name for themselves.

"I'm happy, because I don't think we deserved to end our season tonight", Cogliano said. They're not simply happy to be here. "We've got a well-rounded group".

Then again, so do the Penguins. The Predators - who have not lost on home ice this postseason - have an early chance to put a stranglehold on this series with Game 2 set for Sunday afternoon, affording the Ducks under 48 hours to recuperate and regroup. They've won a league best nine straight playoff games dating back to game six of the Ducks series past year. It's an opportunity that provides all the adrenaline necessary to overcome any sort of physical or emotional fatigue.

Getzlaf ended a monster series without a point on his 32nd birthday, but he contributed to a stellar defensive effort against National Hockey League scoring champion Connor McDavid, who went scoreless in Game 7 and managed just five points in the series. "This is an extension of Game 6; we've got to win or we know what the consequences are", said McLellan after this morning's skate. Erik Karlsson is playing like the generational talent that he is. It's hardly slowed him down. Forsberg got position in front of Anaheim's Antoine Vermette to tip Matt Irwin's point shot past Gibson with Ryan Johansen drawing the secondary assist. "The way he skates and the vision he has, it's really impressive". "They came out and took it to us".

Nashville would respond by taking the next two games to put a 3-1 stranglehold on the series. But when he's healthy - or when he's playing, I should say - Crosby many times is the difference between his team winning and losing.

Some familiar themes played out in this game.

Anaheim has just two days to prepare to face another daunting obstacle from its playoff past: a 6-foot-5 Finnish goalie with a knack for stopping the Ducks in their playoff tracks. Methot insisted he won't be looking for payback.

"We definitely wanted to jump on them right away", said Canadian Neal. "We're going to have to play at the level we're capable of". Underwood is the wife of Predators center Mike Fisher. Meanwhile, her husband and his upstart team are drawing strength from her fight. "The things we did this year were truly awesome and we gave the fans something, that were behind for so many years, something to cheer about and the fans should be proud of themselves too, surely as the players", said Maroon. "Guys have been so resilient this year".

Nashville is officially a hockey town!

If the Ducks didn't know it before the series started, they definitely know it now: The Oilers are for real.

The Ducks have been the hapless foils for some of the best moments in Nashville franchise history - and for Rinne, who always seems to find his inimitable top form against Anaheim.