Round 2 Game 4 Recap: Pittsburgh Penguins Flex Muscles Rout Ottawa Senators 7-3, Lead Series 3-1

The Ottawa Senators were out matched tonight against a much stronger Penguins team. Craig Anderson kept them in for a long as he could but it all fell apart in the third, a period many thought might be the Sens strongest bringing stats in to hold that argument. But that was not the case tonight.

May 22, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing

(11) watches the puck rebound following a shot on Pittsburgh Penguins goalie

(92) in the second period in game four of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

GAME RECAP

Like like every game it seems the Ottawa Senators almost right off the bat is on the penalty kill. Just like game 3 an Ottawa Senator took advantage of a miscue from a Penguin and made them pay. Tonight it was Milan Michalek, who used his speed, which we haven’t seen in a long while; to score yet another short handed goal. This was the Sens first time in this series playing with the lead. The Sens lead lasted 12 minutes until James Neal shot perfectly high glove to tie it up at one. But a minute and change later Thomas Vokoun coughed up a rebound once again but this time Ottawa finally made him pay as Kyle Turris banged in the rebound for his 5th of the playoffs and gave his team the 2-1 lead after the first period. Oh lets not forget about Craig Anderson who was unbelievable making 15 saves many of them huge but it wouldn’t be enough later on.

The second period began in disastrous fashion. One with Erik Karlsson too busy trying to draw a penalty and made his team pay for it as Pascal Dupuis skated to a break away and scored five hole on Craig Anderson to tie the game at two. The other with the Sens stopping to play hockey and letting Pittsburgh skate in and take shots freely as Anderson let off a rebound which was hammered in by Jarome Iginla. After many “missed calls” Ottawa was finally awarded a power play, which produced many good chances. One of them being a Jason Spezza shot which hit the post. The period ended with the Sens still on the power play and still down 3-2.

The third period began with the balance of the Sens power play which created nothing. Moments later the Penguins were awarded another power play courtesy of a Sergei Gonchar penalty. Pittsburgh took advantage of their power play as James Neal scored his second goal of the game to put the Pens up 4-2. This was only the second goal the Sens allowed in the third period. As I say how well the Sens have played in the third period the wheels fall off as Pascal Dupuis scored a short handed goal and then not even a minute later Sidney Crosby made it 6-2 to seal the Sens fate. At this point Robin Lehner was put into the game in favour of Craig Anderson. Moments later Chris Neil took a penalty and Jarome Iginla scored to make it 7-2. Daniel Alfredsson added a power play goal but it was all too late, as 7-3 was the Final.

OBSERVATIONS

• Mark Stone had a couple decent shifts but looked a little lost tonight. The Sens might want to give him some regular season games to see what he has to offer. Still think he would compliment Spezza quite well but needs some more games to develop, kind of the same way Mika Zibanejad needed some games.
• Had it not been for Craig Anderson this might have been quite a different game. He made some massive saves, especially in the first period.
• The Sens showed just why you never want to stop playing against the Penguins, as the Pens scored two quick goals to take the lead in the second period.

UP NEXT

The Sens will travel back to the Consol Energy Center on Friday night and will fight for their lives now being down 3-1. Paul MacLean and his players will hope for a different outcome otherwise the Penguins will eliminate Ottawa out of the 2013 NHL Playoffs.