Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scoreboard - Live Odds - Sporting Events - Live Lines

Sens try to avoid deeper hole in Game 3 vs. Pens

Mon 14th, April 2008

(Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators will try to avoid a three games to none deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals when they host the second-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at Scotiabank Place.

The seventh-seeded Senators, last year's Eastern Conference champions, desperately need a victory in Game 3 tonight or they will have little margin for error.

The Penguins, meanwhile, hope to continue where they left off in the Steel City. Pittsburgh won Games 1 and 2 on its home ice, posting a 4-0 triumph to open the series on Wednesday and notching a 5-3 decision on Friday.

Pittsburgh is attempting to win its first playoff series since downing Buffalo in the 2001 conference semifinals.

Ottawa was expected to be without the services of captain Daniel Alfredsson and centermen Mike Fisher and Chris Kelly throughout the entire series, but the Senators have not ruled out a return for Alfredsson tonight. The Swedish winger had 40 goals and 49 assists this year, but has been sidelined with neck and knee injuries since April 3.

Jason Spezza, the club's leading scorer during the regular season, missed practice on Saturday and Sunday, but is expected to play tonight. Spezza posted a team-high 92 points (34 goals, 58 assists) in 76 games during the regular season.

Pittsburgh extended its lead to two games on Friday as Ryan Malone scored the game-winning goal with 1:02 remaining in regulation to lift the Pens.

Malone finished with two goals and an assist for the Atlantic Division champion Penguins, while Petr Sykora lit the lamp twice. Sidney Crosby registered four assists and Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves to earn the win.

Crosby, Pittsburgh's 20-year-old captain, has played in seven career playoff games, registering nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) over that span.

Shean Donovan, Cory Stillman and Cody Bass each had a goal for the seventh- seeded Senators. Martin Gerber allowed four goals on 53 shots in defeat.

Trailing 3-0 in the second period, the Senators battled all the way back and tied the score on Bass' first career playoff goal at 8:51 of the third period. Persistence paid off for the rookie, who banged home his own rebound to draw the Senators even.

However, with 1:14 left in the third, Ottawa's Martin Lapointe was called for high-sticking and the Penguins wasted little time on the power play. Gerber kicked out Marian Hossa's backhander, but Malone gathered the rebound, circled behind the goal, came around the near post and stuffed the puck into the back of the net with 1:02 remaining.

The Penguins have been superb on the power play in this series, scoring on 4- of-11 or 36-percent of their opportunities with the man advantage. Ottawa has scored on just 1-of-9 power plays.

Malone added an empty-net marker in the dying moments to seal the win.

This series is a rematch of last year's opening-round set that Ottawa won in five games en route to its first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup finals. However, the Senators had home-ice advantage a year ago as they were the fourth seed compared to Pittsburgh's fifth-place standing.

The Senators won the season series against the Penguins, going 3-0-1 in four meetings this year. Last year's playoff matchup was the first-ever postseason encounter between the clubs.

Ottawa was 22-15-4 as the hosts this season, while the Pens were 21-17-3 as the visiting club.

Where the players come to play and STAY.

Sports Information you need to win BIG.

Sports Contests – Think you know the game?

Poker Promotion

Find NC State basketball tickets at TickCo and watch the college basketball season wrap up with Final Four tickets!

Contact Us | Help | Site Map| Sport Links

Sportsbook Directory | Casinos Directory | Poker Room Directory | Racebook Directory | Partners Directory