(AP Photo/Gene J.Puskar). Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) knocks the puck out of the crease against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Monday, Ma.
Let's get this out of the way right now. Both the Blue Jackets and the Capitals rely on a fast, offensive-focused game, where the Penguins were able to rely on desperate defense and the occasional offensive breakout. They have beaten the teams with the best- and third-best records in the league with this ragged defence corps that is dressing one of its top five defencemen from last year's playoffs, and that one is a one-legged Brian Dumoulin. They owe nothing to the game of hockey.
Pittsburgh felt like it proved something by fighting through the first wave of frustration - "We have some talented guys, but we don't have to win a game 7-6", said coach Mike Sullivan - and the Senators returned home pledging to rebuild the Kanata Wall.
The other big story was the Pens fourth line of Rowney - Cullen - Wilson generating momentum by modelling an aggressive forecheck in the offensive zone. And, believe it or not, that takes some adjustment.
Bobby Ryan outmuscled Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta along the boards.
In Game 1, after defenseman Ron Hainsey separated a man from the puck on the forecheck, Kunitz gobbled a loose puck and immediately sent it to the net, where Malkin was ready for the tip-in.
"I don't think our attitude changes (in overtime)", he said. "It's a refresh, I think, for me".
There are a lot of cameras filming the Penguins' bench during games - "too many", as head coach Mike Sullivan joked afterward. The sixth-seeded Senators have already won six times in overtime, and won the Rangers series despite leading for 13 minutes of the first five games, and the comparisons to the miracle Habs of 1993 are already floating around in the glittering, pixie-dust air.
Pittsburgh possesses the better roster, but still has to play the games.
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The Ottawa Senators dominated Boston then rallied by the New York Rangers on the legs of seemingly tireless defenseman Erik Karlsson, the inspirational play of goaltender Craig Anderson and a neutral zone trap created to frustrate and suffocate opponents in equal measure.
Andre Burakovsky has an on-ice shot attempt differential of plus-14 at even-strength over the past two games, scoring two goals with an assist.
The Senators' militant defensive approach was working.
Just as long as they don't beat themselves. They didn't get to that early on, trailing in shots 10-8 after the first. So the speed is going to have to start there.
The Senators know it and theyre prepared for it. "They're not going to give you anything but we worked hard to get our chances and we've got to bury them when we get them". "They're committed to defending there. I catch an edge, it's in the net". We've got to exercise some patience.
Unlike the Penguins, the Senators chose not to skate Sunday.
Depending on which team fans cheered for, Monday night provided good news regarding penalties.
"It was scary. It wasn't fun to live", Boucher said of the pushback his team faced in the first two rounds. I have to give credit to our guys. Before we talked about it, 'Hey, there's going to be a pushback, ' but it always stays a little fictional. "I think this is something that's crept into our game over the last few weeks".
Which makes those high-end Penguins even more important.
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