Ottawa Senators

If only. That's what most Sens fans were saying after losing two games in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are such a good team that the Senators need just about everything to go their way to beat them--and that's hard to do when your opponent is forcing the issue. In game one, special teams didn't go their way. In game two, goaltending didn't go their way. Finally, in game three, they got goaltending, special teams, and clutch scoring. The result? Life in a series that was quickly slipping away. Biggest Gains: Colin Greening He's having a hell of a series. (True story: I wrote that and picked him before game 3.) Greening is now on a three-game goal-scoring streak and scored the game-winner in the second overtime of game three. But in a tough series, Soylent's toughness has stood out. Consider that he's primarily played bottom-six minutes, and his performance looks even better. Through three games, Greening has been the Senators' most consistent forward in the series. If the team can get some scoring from its other lines, Greening's play could be a real asset. If they can't, though, he's not good enough to win the series himself. Biggest losses: Erik Karlsson Trying to do to much. Needs to play within his current limits, and that has to be hard for a guy who mentally is still expecting to do more. It has to be beyond frustrating to try to do something and have your muscles just go, "Nope." Karlsson hit a low in game two, turning in an awful performance, and played much better in game three, but also took two tough penalties, including a slash on Matt Cooke that should have ended the game and put the Senators down 3-0 in the series. He's got to play smarter until he's totally healthy. Goalies Trend Notes Craig Anderson He was average in game one, awful in game two, and amazing in game three. The Senators can win this series if Anderson plays well enough--but "well enough" here means at a Vezina level, apparently. Robin Lehner Came in to relieve Anderson and only allowed 20 goals on 21 shots. Did exactly what a backup should: Give his team a chance to win--and they almost did, in a game they were getting blown out of. Defensemen Andre Benoit Looked very strong in his first NHL playoff game. The Penguins' style of play suits his game, and his big hit on Jarome Iginla led to a Senators goal. Jared Cowen Looked pretty bad with Gryba, but much better with Gonchar. Cowen needs to be free to do his thing in his own zone and find someone to dish the puck to. Sergei Gonchar Was that Gonchar dropping people in game three? After a soft game two, he looks much more engaged. Eric Gryba The shoe is on the other foot after Gryba was knocked out of the series on a big hit by Brooks Orpik. Erik Karlsson See "Biggest losses." Marc Methot His offensive explosion has unsurprisingly come to an end tasked with covering Sidney Crosby, but Crosby has been held pointless in two of three games now. That's pretty good. Of course, there is that whole hat-trick debacle... but those came on Karlsson's side. Chris Phillips Interestingly enough, Phillips is plus-3 on the series, and plus-3 in games he's played with Andre Benoit. Keep it simple and he's an asset. Patrick Wiercioch He has resumed skating, but no return is imminent. Forwards Daniel Alfredsson So, if you're keeping track--and we are--Alfie has now created game-tying goals in the last 30 seconds of both series, both of which ultimately led to wins. And his face after yesterday's goal was epic boss. Erik Condra His performance blitz continues, as Condra is now on a four-game points streak. He has three assists in three games against the Penguins, and is no longer wasted on the fourth line with better teammates like Pageau and Greening. Cory Conacher We love that Conacher is trying his hardest to piss off the Penguins

Here's a shot I took from the Sens amazing 2-1 double overtime win in game 3. I love the towels waving, with the players are celebrating and of course, if you look carefully, the puck in the net too. Follow me on twitter @SensTown

Are we sure the Sens goal horn guy didn't pass out on the button on the OT goal?— Calle Lindholm (@callelinde17) May 20, 2013 The Sens goal horn is so long it out lasted the Leafs in the playoffs.— DHSpeedwagon (@DHSpeedwagon) May 20, 2013 Sens goal horn guy leaning on it with his crotch, both middle fingers raised!— 3 Wight (@pistol_1980) May 20, 2013 There's nothing more annoying than the stupid Sens goal horn #shutup — Andrew Chan (@bosoxfan929) May 20, 2013 Sens goal horn went off for 34 seconds. That is entirely too long. Beyond annoying, just plain asinine. — Andrew Stone (@Astone_112) May 20, 2013 Fuck sens working ass off to win that double OT, lets talk about the long goal horn — Ashley(@bruinsbunnie) May 20, 2013 The Sens goal horn guy went nuts after a 2OT win? I'm shocked. — Phillip Wallner (@wallnerr) May 20, 2013 I might love the sens goal horn guy even more. He loves that button. — Andrew W. MacFarlane (@DrewMacFarlane) May 20, 2013 Wow the #Sens sure know how to rub a goal horn in your face after you lose.. #NHLplayoffs #BecauseItsTheCup #nhl — Nick Nash (@n_nash93) May 20, 2013 HOLY HELL THAT GOAL HORN WENT ON FOREVER. #Sens #Pens — Brian Tenerowicz (@BrianTenerowicz) May 20, 2013 Love how they just blasted the horn for a solid minute in Ottawa #nhlplayoffs #sens — Danny Mccabe (@goalscorer1313) May 20, 2013 Ottawa's horn guy is fucking LAYING on the button. Holy Christ. — Travis Yost (@TravisHeHateMe) May 20, 2013 I love you, goal horn dude. — Jo Innes (@JoNana) May 20, 2013 Are we sure the Sens goal horn guy didn't pass out on the button on the OT goal?— Calle Lindholm (@callelinde17) May 20, 2013 The Sens goal horn is so long it out lasted the Leafs in the playoffs.— DHSpeedwagon (@DHSpeedwagon) May 20, 2013 Sens goal horn guy leaning on it with his crotch, both middle fingers raised!— 3 Wight (@pistol_1980) May 20, 2013 There's nothing more annoying than the stupid Sens goal horn #shutup — Andrew Chan (@bosoxfan929) May 20, 2013 Sens goal horn went off for 34 seconds. That is entirely too long. Beyond annoying, just plain asinine. — Andrew Stone (@Astone_112) May 20, 2013 Fuck sens working ass off to win that double OT, lets talk about the long goal horn — Ashley(@bruinsbunnie) May 20, 2013 The Sens goal horn guy went nuts after a 2OT win? I'm shocked. — Phillip Wallner (@wallnerr) May 20, 2013 I might love the sens goal horn guy even more. He loves that button. — Andrew W. MacFarlane (@DrewMacFarlane) May 20, 2013 Wow the #Sens sure know how to rub a goal horn in your face after you lose.. #NHLplayoffs #BecauseItsTheCup #nhl — Nick Nash (@n_nash93) May 20, 2013 HOLY HELL THAT GOAL HORN WENT ON FOREVER. #Sens #Pens — Brian Tenerowicz (@BrianTenerowicz) May 20, 2013 Love how they just blasted the horn for a solid minute in Ottawa #nhlplayoffs #sens — Danny Mccabe (@goalscorer1313) May 20, 2013 Ottawa's horn guy is fucking LAYING on the button. Holy Christ. — Travis Yost (@TravisHeHateMe) May 20, 2013 I love you, goal horn dude. — Jo Innes (@JoNana) May 20, 2013

ShareThis Twenty nine seconds. ShareThis

The first period was scoreless but hardly boring, with multiple scoring chances within the first couple minutes. Chris Phillips took a questionable holding penalty six minutes in, putting Ottawa at the mercy of Pittsburgh's excellent power play. Seriously, have you seen this power play? Evgeni Malkin gets caught up in the neutral zone, giving more room for Sidney Crosby to pass through. Excellent goaltending and defence saved the Senators' hides, keeping the Penguins off the scoreboard. For the first time in 50 games, the full Ottawa Senators power play was able to take the ice. Dropping Turris to the second unit made for, with no exaggeration, their best-looking power play in months. What recently had been an exercise in mimicking statues on ice suddenly came to life, moving around and generating opportunities. With only seconds to go in the first, Evgeni Malkin broke loose on a breakaway only to be tripped up by a desperate Marc Methot, putting the Penguins up on a power play going into the second period. A dangerous way to start the period was exacerbated when the Senators took a too many men on the ice penalty with a minute to left on the first one. Not only were the Senators able to kill it, but we were treated to a rare sight: Marc Methot leading a 2-on-1. A failed 2-on-1, but still. A highly entertaining second period featured some awful calls both ways (Zack Smith getting two minutes for touching Malkin, Sidney Crosby getting two minutes for Jared Cowen knocking Crosby's stick into his face, and embellishment by Karlsson that was also known as Douglas "Crankshaft" Murray yanking him by the neck), ultimately culminating on a laser shot from Tyler Kennedy that put the Penguins up 1-0 just one minute before intermission. Third period. The real story for most of the period was CBC's Bryan Murray isolated camera reaction shots. Bryan Murray might be the most entertaining GM in hockey right now when his team comes oh-so-close to scoring and ultimately fails. And that's pretty much all that happened. At least, that was all that happened until Erik Karlsson reaped the rewards of being labeled a diver. A blatant, atrocious high stick in the face by (who else) Matt Cooke went uncalled, denying Ottawa a power play that they sorely needed. With less than two minutes to go, Karlsson slashed Cooke's stick, had his break in half, and was sent to the box. Down 1-0 and shorthanded, it seemed all but lost. And then... Daniel Alfredsson. We head to overtime. Bryan Murray might need to see a doctor about his heart after this period. So. Many. Chances. Both teams. Craig Anderson was outstanding, as was the entire Penguins defence. Spezza was losing faceoffs but winning battles. The Penguins missed passes. But right before everyone's heart gives out... We head to second overtime. Chris Phillips takes another questionable penalty, this time getting hooked into a tug of war with (who else) Matt Cooke. Somehow, in overtime, the Senators manage to kill it off. Soon after, Matt Niskanen takes a penalty for Pittsburgh. Fortunately for the Penguins, Ottawa's regular season power play made its triumphant (?) return. Not 20 seconds later, the line of Colin Greening, Erik Condra, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau break out. Passing and chaos ensue. Then, to break the tie 27:39 into overtime, Colin Greening knocks one in. Senators win 2-1 in one of the most entertaining games in Ottawa Senators history. Sens Hero: Colin GreeningGreening has easily been one of the best Senators this round, if not the best. Tonight he managed to pull off another feat in potting the game-winner. During the play he also was high-sticked in the face, slicing him enough that he had to have fiberglass removed from his face. He still did an interview with CBC first. Sens Hero: Colin GreeningYeah, I'm giving it to him twice. Double hero for double overtime. Sens Hero: Daniel AlfredssonAt 40-years old the captain is still oftentimes the best Senator on the ice. If nothing e

ShareThis Do Sens fans believe in miracles? ShareThis

ShareThis Hear what the Senators players had to say after the game. ShareThis

ShareThis The Ottawa Senators are alive. Colin Greening's goal at the 7:39 mark of the second overtime Sunday gave the Senators a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, much to the delight of the raucous sellout crowd at Scotiabank Place. ShareThis

ShareThis Here are the Senators Extra Super Fans of the Game from Sunday, May 19. ShareThis

ShareThis Ottawa Senators take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semi-Finals at Scotiabank Place. ShareThis