Penguins 3, Senators 1

The Pens broke out the brooms and swept the Sens tonight.

For anyone who has been following this team for several years, do you need any hyperbole to understand what that means? I don't think so. Just let that sink in and enjoy the recap.

First period:

There's not much to write about for the first period. It was close... on the scoreboard. The Pens dominated the shots, and pretty much dominated the play for the period. The shot total was 14-5, with the Pens getting one power play.

Gerber and Fleury were both good, and the Sens did a good job of hanging on to make it to the second period with the score tied.

Second period:

The Pens started the scoring early in the second period. Heatley took a dumb slash that put the Pens on the power play.

The Sens had a two on one chance short handed, but Vermette pushed the puck wide. The Pens went back down the ice and established themselves with the puck winding up behind Gerber after Crosby made a great cross ice pass to Malkin. Geno put the initial shot right into the goalie, but put the rebound behind Martin with one hand. 1-0 Pens.

The Sens tied the score when Cory Stillman chipped just enough of the puck to have it trickle behind Fleury in a scrum around the net. I think just about all of the Sens goals have been around the net this series. 1-1 tie.

The Sens decided to get some extra work on PK by taking two really stupid penalties. The Pens didn't score on either power play.

Just after the second power play expired, the Sens had a chance, but the lead pass dribbled off the stick of Spezza. The puck was worked up to Ruutu for a semi-breakaway. Ruutu was caught on the break, but he spun and put the puck in the net with the backhand. It was terrific. 2-1 Pens.

The Sens decided to mix things up and had Pele on the ice. Unfortunately, he was caught kicking the puck in (after a video review) and the goal was disallowed. Big shift there - keeping the Sens behind on the scoreboard going to the third.

Third period:

There was an early penalty called on Scuderi for tripping. The Pens killed that one off, and the Pens went into shutdown mode.

This was the only period of the entire series where they visibly sat back and waited for the Sens to bring it. The forecheck was minimal, with maybe one man in, and after the 10:00 mark, the Pens were content to largely dump the puck in and wait.

The Sens only managed 9 shots in the period, and despite a few great chances, never were able to exert any extended offensive pressure. That's a credit to the Pens, from Fleury to the D to the backcheck of the forwards. Great team effort.

Crosby finished off the Sens with an empty netter at the 19:53 mark of the third.

Looks like the Pens are on track to get the Rangers in round 2, unless Washington can turn around their series and win a game in Philly. Either way, the next game for the Pens is at least a week away. It will be good to get the guys some rest.