It wasn't in the cards tonight for the Senators. Although the offense finally got going, the defense and goaltending was absolutely horrendous. Brian Elliott looked terrible, was yanked in the second period after four straight Pittsburgh goals, giving way to an equally ineffective job by Pascal Leclaire.
The Senators, down 4-0 early in the 2nd period, rallied back to cut the deficit to as little as two at 6-4. A game-changing non call on a delay of game by a Pittsburgh blueliner turned into goal #7 for Pittsburgh, sealing the deal on tonight's game. Ottawa wouldn't have won regardless, but it would've made for an interesting few final minutes.
Senators head to Mellon now in a precarious situation - win, and go home, or lose, and go home..for good.
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UPDATE: Pascal Leclaire with horrendous rebound control, Jordan Staal skates in and beats Leclaire easily. 7-4 Pitt.
UPDATE: After going on the power play, Mat Cooke picks up a questionable hooking penalty, and the Senators convert on a 5v3. Spezza's shot fake leaves Marc-Andre Fleury in the dust. Ottawa down two, ten to go.
UPDATE: Chris Kunitz posts up five feet in front of Leclaire virtually untouched, takes a clean pass from behind the net, and blows one by Pascal. 6-3 Pens, eight total goals this period. Scotiabank deflated.
UPDATE: Some fantastic passing on the power play, and twelve seconds in Matt Cullen makes up for his egregious error on the shorthanded goal to beat Marc-Andre Fleury clean. Jason Spezza with a nifty pass through, 5-3 Pitt.
UPDATE: Matt Cullen caught pinching, Pascal Leclaire beaten by Max Talbot. The Penguins scored this one shorthanded.
UPDATE: Just seconds after an incredible(almost impossible) save by Marc-Andre Fleury on Matt Cullen, Daniel Alfredsson finds twine via one timer. Broken stick by a Pittsburgh skater the reason for this one.
UPDATE: Chris Campoli takes a shot from the blueline, Fleury makes a fantastic save, but Neil stays with it and beats Fleury to cut the deficit to three.
UPDATE: Brian Elliott beaten on a wrist shot. No screens, no anything. Just beaten.
UPDATE: Right after the mistake, the Senators misplay a puck behind the net, Max Talbot recovers, and finds a streaking Matt Cooke. 3-0 Penguins, two turnovers lead to two Pittsburgh goals.
UPDATE: A brutal turnover and miscommunication between Jason Spezza and Anton Volchenkov leads to a Sidney Crosby breakaway, giving the Penguins a 2-0 lead. Crosby beat Elliott clean.
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