Penguins Take Win Over Senators, Bruins Look to End Series

The Pittsburgh Penguins dominated the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday with a 7-3 win and now lead the series 3-1.

The Senators got off to a good start with a shorthanded goal by Milan Michalek in the first period and finished ahead 2-1. This represented the first game in this series they had led before the end of a matchup, reported ProHockeyTalk.com.

The Penguins came back and by the end of the second period, they took a 3-2 lead. Then the wheels came off in the third period as the the Penguins got hot and scored four goals; three of them came within a 1:45 time span. Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson tried to wake up his team with a power-play goal (playoff point No. 100 for him), but it was too little, too late.

Daniel Alfredsson

Alfredsson wore his heart on on his sleeve and admitted with his team’s deficit, overcoming it wasn’t likely. He said after the game via NHL.com, “Probably not. They have too much depth. We don’t have much going for us right now. Maybe that’s the way we like it.”

Questions have been swirling whether Alfredsson would hang up his skates for good after the series but he would not address this on Wednesday.

Senators coach Paul MacLean also showed how upset he was by not taking any questions following the game. His only comment, while holding the game’s scoresheet, was, “I think everything’s right here. It’s 7-3. See you in Pittsburgh. We’re going to Pittsburgh and we’re coming to play. Have a good night.”

The next and perhaps final game is Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

For the Penguins, their good night included Jarome Iginla and James Neal both scoring twice while Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis also contributed goals. Goalie Tomas Vokoun had 30 saves.

With a 3-1 lead, it’s not hard to look over at the competition and imagine that the the Eastern Conference final could be the Penguins vs. the Boston Bruins. Crosby refused to look too far ahead on Wednesday and just said he was focused on Game 5.

The Penguins sit at +190 to win this year’s Stanley Cup while the Senators are +2200, according to Bovada.

Boston Bruins vs. NY Rangers

Over in New York on Thursday, the Rangers will try to overcome their 3-0 deficit against the Bruins.

Boston will enter the game confidently but this team knows the series may not necessarily be over yet (see 2010 collapse).

David Krejci

David Krejci said via Boston.com, “It would be nice. But we know and we learned as a team that the last one is the hardest from past years and even in the last series. We’ve just got to get ready for tomorrow and play just like it’s Game 1.”

Injured Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg practiced with the team on Wednesday and said he may be ready for Thursday’s game.

So far Boston has been fine without Seidenberg as well as his fellow defensemen Wade Redden and Andrew Ference for the series as players have stepped up including green Matt Bartkowski.

For the Rangers, they are looking for just one win to stay alive. Playing at home may be a good thing as the team has gone 3-0 during the playoffs and on Madison Square Garden’s ice (including regular season games), the Rangers have won nine consecutive games.

Tuesday’s loss represented the Rangers’ first one since February 2010 in a regulation game after they had led entering the third period.

History may not be on the Rangers’ side as only three teams have come from behind with an 0-3 deficit to win the league series.

The Bruins have own two of three games by one goal and the Rangers will look to capitalize on an injured Bruins defense.

Don’t bring out the brooms yet; the Rangers may get the win (-108, 5 o/u).