Colin Greening scores in double overtime to cut series lead to 2-1 Pittsburgh

Source: Yardbarker

This is what the playoffs are all about.The Pittsburgh Penguins held a 1-0 lead and played a strong defensive third period for the first 19:31. But a shorthanded goal from Daniel Alfredsson tied the game and the Ottawa Senators won in double overtime by score of 2-1.Both teams took a scoreless tie into the second period and almost went into the second intermission with a deadlock as well. But Tyler Kennedy scored his second goal of the playoffs with 1:07 remaining in the second to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Matt Cooke forced a turnover then found Tyler Kennedy in the slot. Kennedy's shot hit off the right post and behind Craig Anderson who had been spectacular leading up to that point.The goal was a long time coming for the Penguins who failed to capitalize on a brief 5 on 3 power play at the beginning of the second period. The Penguins attempted to grind down the Senators in the third period and escape with a 1-0 win. Chris Neil had a wide open opportunity but was robb...

A Matter of Perception (Rotoworld)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

This week's Dose wonders how Jonathan Toews' struggles would be framed if his name wasn't Jonathan Toews.

NHL Three Stars: Howard’s 39 saves help Red Wings take series lead over Blackhawks (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

No. 1 Star: Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings For the second straight game, Howard was able to withstand the Chicago Blackhawks' attack, though he was a little busier in Game 3. Making 39 saves, Howard backstopped the Red Wings to a 3-1 victory to take a 2-1 series lead. One of his biggest saves was early in the third period when Patrick Sharp came in on a breakaway: No. 2 Star: Drew Miller, Detroit Red Wings Miller was part of the 1-2 punch Detroit gave Chicago in the second period as his goal put the Red Wings up 2-0 and came 31 second after Gustav Nyquist opened the scoring. Miller was also credited with four blocked shots. No. 3 Star: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings Datsyuk's goal gave Detroit a 3-1 lead and came two minutes after Patrick Kane cut the lead to one and a minute after Andrew Shaw's goal was waived off. Detroit has won nine straight games in which Datsyuk has scored a goal.

Another Playoff Moment

Source: Sens Chirp

Something I learned at a young age, is that if you approach playoffs with the "Cup or bust" mentality, you'll completely miss the real beauty of this magical time of year.

Playoffs are all about those "moments". Those where were you when, kind of moments. The ones that stick with you for days, weeks, even years to come. And as Ottawa Senators fans, we have been pretty spoiled the last couple of seasons.

Chris Neil's OT winner against the Rangers. Kyle Turris shocking New York in Game 4 of that same series. This year, we got the 6-1 demolishing of the Canadiens on home ice. The following game a late goal from Cory Conacher and then another OT winner by Turris. In Game 5 we watched the Senators eliminate the Habs in

Senators notebook: Alfredsson shows leadership at key time

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Appropriately enough, on the day after Daniel Alfredsson’s dramatics in Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was named a finalist for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award. Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks are also up for the honour.

Mendes: 10 striking stats to emerge from another wild Game 3

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Once again, a Game 3 at Scotiabank Place proved to be memorable for Ottawa Senators fans.

Senators find reasons to believe

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson was back at the scene of the Sunday euphoria late Monday morning, talking about how it took determination, focus, nerves of steel and a healthy share of good luck to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in double overtime.

Scanlan: Sens-Pens series has new look after stunning double OT game

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Suddenly this series could get interesting. When the supposedly just-happy-to-be-here Ottawa Senators steal a win from a Pittsburgh Penguins team that doesn’t know what hit them.

NHL Tooth Watch: Cataloging all the lost fangs in the 2013 playoffs (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The road to the Stanley Cup is fraught with peril, and much of that peril happens in and around the mouth. Hockey players earned the gap-toothed stereotype fair and square, so it's never all that surprising when a player takes a puck, glove or stick to the mouth and loses a few teeth in the process -- but this postseason has been off the charts. The Montreal Canadiens/Ottawa Senators series alone stole seven teeth from the mouths of four players. And it didn't end there. Players have been losing teeth all over the place. It's almost too much to keep track of. But we have to try, friends. We must. And with that in mind, we introduce NHL tooth watch, our running tally of who's losing teeth and how many they're losing. Total Teeth Lost this postseason: 15 And here are the incidents that got us to where we are:

Net gain: Craig Anderson gives Senators a chance (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

OTTAWA (AP) -- Craig Anderson has his game back, and just in time to give the Senators a chance.

Mark Messier Leadership Award Finalists: Alfredsson vs. Brown vs. Toews (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The NHL announced the finalists for the 2012-13 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone, because only our greatest NHL awards have title sponsors. Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators, Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks are the three finalists for the award, which is presented to “the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season,” the National Hockey League announced today. According to the NHL: “Mark Messier solicits suggestions from club and League personnel and NHL fans to compile a list of potential candidates. However, the selection of the three finalists and ultimate winner is Messier’s

Travis Yost: On Crosby v. Turris

Source: Yardbarker

Make sure to follow Travis on Twitter! -- One of the big things that's going to get lost in the midst of Ottawa's thrilling comeback -- ignited by Daniel Alfredsson's game-tying goal in the dying seconds of regulation, and capped off by Colin Greening in the second overtime -- is that the team remained within striking distance for the entire game, yielding just one goal to the likes of fourth-li...

Silver Nuggets: Dear Daniel

Source: Silver Seven by DaveYoung

Dear Daniel,

I hope you are recovering after last night's marathon game, I know I am and I didn't have to play in it. Anyways, I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how much you mean to this city and this team (as if you didn't already know).

When people around the league talk about the Ottawa Senators, invariably Erik Karlsson comes up. Probably the word pesky is mentioned, and I guess Jason Spezza is pretty well known too. In Ottawa, it is Daniel Alfredsson. You ARE the Ottawa Senators, and it feels as

Double Overtime Game Lost Thanks to Coach Bylsma’s Prevent Defense

Source: Yardbarker

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma lost the game last night.  It wasn’t a bad play, it wasn’t a better team, it’s wasn’t poor play by his team, it wasn’t the drop play that Bylsma kept referring to in his post game interview. It was bad coaching. It is 100% Dan Bylsma’s inability to go for the kill is what lost last night’s double overtime game against the Ottawa Senators.  It is not just the matter of the one game.  It’s what could have been a 3-0 series with Ottawa’s hope decimated is now a 2-1 series with Ottawa having the momentum swing in their favor. You would think after losing a game to the Islanders using the same prevent defense plan the Dan Bylsma would have learned his lesson.   In his post game interview Bylsma said   “We went to a possession powerplay there with the time”.   He also mentioned the powerplay line was mid change.  It was obvious that he didn’t get the full line change he wanted and perhaps Evgeni Malkin didn’t change like he was supposed to.  That is not

Hockey fan leaves waitress generous tip thanks to Penguins loss (Photo) (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Sometimes the Stanley Cup Playoffs make us do abnormal things, like canceling a pizza pickup order because our favorite team just tied the game in the third period. Other times it brings two fanbases together. This was the case for Catherine Farish from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Originally from Boston, she moved south because her husband is a sergeant in the Marine Corps. She's also a big Boston Bruins fan. Working Sunday night at a local Buffalo Wild Wings during the Pittsburgh Penguins/Ottawa Senators double overtime game, she encountered a customer who would end up making her day. Here's Catherine: Last night during my shift this young man came in alone and sat at my table. He was quiet, but friendly and very easy to take care

John Toperzer: Pens drop double-overtime Game 3 in Ottawa Sunday night

Source: Yardbarker

Here’s the ultimate Monday morning quarterbacking poll of Pittsburgh’s disastrous last-minute power-play which turned into a short-handed, game-tying goal by Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson in Sunday's Game 3, double-overtime defeat. poll by twiigs.com With one minute and 27 seconds remaining in regulation and a 1-0 lead, the Penguins went on a two-minute power play (sending Erik Kar...

On Conspiracy Theories, Bad Officiating, And No Benefit Of The Doubt For Erik Karlsson

Source: SenShot by Jared Crozier

Let me preface this post by stating that I know how it looks.  I know that it seems like sour grapes.  If you are a Senators fan, you will probably agree with most of what I have to say.  If you are not, then you will no doubt call me a “homer”.  But I have a forum so I have some things to get off my chest.

While watching last night’s classic playoff game between the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins, and following my (admittedly Senators-slanted) Twitter timeline at the same time, it became clear that a lot of Senators fans have taken to the opinion that the NHL has put some kind of conspiracy in place to do what it takes to get the Pittsburgh Penguins into the next round, or at least as far as they can

(Video) Brooks Orpik hit on Chris Neil

Source: Yardbarker

This is the hit that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik put on Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil. There was no penalty called on the play, in my opinion, this was a dangerous hit, but not necessarily dirty, but dangerous. If you're a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins you probably think this is a good hockey play. If you're a fan of the Senators, you probably wanted a penalty on the play. The head coach of the Ottawa Sentors Paul MacLean didn't like the play and was unhappy about on the players bench. I suppose in the regular season, there might have been a penalty called on the hit, it's a what we call a push check, a form of checking from behind. What do others think of the hit? #TribHKY >> Neil lost footing, Orpik give him good shove during his fall. #pens #sens — Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) May 20, 2013 Chris Neil.....hi...you're injured! — Injury Ninja (@InjuryNinja) May 20, 2013 Like Lucic's hit on Gunnarson, that's a penalty a month a

What We Learned: Complaining about NHL officiating? Time to fine these sore losers (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Hello, this is a feature that will run through the entire season and aims to recap the weekend’s events and boils those events down to one admittedly superficial fact or stupid opinion about each team. Feel free to complain about it. No one is ever going to be totally happy with the ways in which the NHL's referees or officials make their decisions. We can all agree on that. If there's a game in which neither team is whistled for a penalty, both will likely complain that the refs missed calls on the other. If there's a game in which both teams receive 10 power plays, both will complain that the referees were overly harsh in doling out discipline. No one is ever especially happy with calls that go in between those two extremes,

Senators Ups and Downs: Playoffs Week 3

Source: Silver Seven by Mark Parisi

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.

Right Back In It

Source: Sens Chirp

On Sunday night, the city of Ottawa learned it really can make a difference.

Daniel Alfredsson shocked the Penguins with a last minute game tying goal and Colin Greening played the role of hero in double overtime, as the Ottawa Senators rode the hometown crowd to their biggest win of the season. 

Greening's OT goal gives Senators a shot (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

OTTAWA -- Colin Greening was the only Ottawa Senators regular not to pick up a point in the team's five-game, opening-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Senators outlast Penguins, win 2-1 in double OT

Source: Silver Seven by Ryan Classic

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

Senators avoid 3-0 deficit with double OT win over Pens (Reuters)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

(Reuters) - The Ottawa Senators clawed their way back into their Eastern Conference semi-final series against Pittsburgh on Sunday, Colin Greening's goal in double overtime giving them a 2-1 win over the Penguins in Game Three. After losing the first two games of the series and trailing 1-0 on the night to Tyler Kennedy's second period goal, Ottawa were just seconds away from losing a third straight to the top-seeded Penguins. ...

NHL Three Stars: Anderson shines in Sens’ comeback; Krug’s two-point night (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Zack Smith finishes off Matt Niskanen with the stinky leg drop . No. 1 Star: Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators Anderson stopped 49 of 50 as the Senators staged a stunning comeback over the Pittsburgh Penguins, tying the game with less than a minute to go and winning it, 2-1 , in double overtime. No. 2 Star: Torey Krug, Boston Bruins Krug's second postseason game was even better than his first. He had a two-point night in the Bruins 5-2 win, scoring again and picking up an assist. His play on the goal, kicking the puck to his stick then whipping it past Henrik Lundqvist, showed some serious veteran savvy:

NHL-Senators avoid 3-0 deficit with double OT win over Pens (Reuters)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

May 19 (Reuters) - The Ottawa Senators clawed their way back into their Eastern Conference semi-final series against Pittsburgh on Sunday, Colin Greening's goal in double overtime giving them a 2-1 win over the Penguins in Game Three. After losing the first two games of the series and trailing 1-0 on the night to Tyler Kennedy's second period goal, Ottawa were just seconds away from losing a third straight to the top-seeded Penguins. ...

Senators Stun Penguins In Double OT

Source: ESPN YouTube

Highlight Of The Night: Daniel Alfredsson scored a short-handed goal with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game and Colin Greening scored in double overtime to complete the Senators miraculous come-from-behind victory.

Senators rally, stun Penguins in 2OT

Source: Yardbarker

Colin Greening scored 7:39 into double overtime, and the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins that cut their series deficit to 2-1 on Sunday night. Daniel Alfredsson got Ottawa even 1-1 by scoring a short-handed goal with 29 seconds left in regulation just after the Senators pulled goalie Craig Anderson for an extra skater. ''We were just calm,'' Anderson said of the Senators' mood heading into overtime. ''We had tied it up. We had momentum. We felt like the fans really rallied behind us. ''Going into overtime, we knew we just had to build off the momentum and keep the pressure on.'' Anderson made 49 saves, including 18 after regulation. Tomas Vokoun stopped 46 shots for Pittsburgh and took his first loss (4-1) since taking over for No. 1 Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series will be in Ottawa on Wednesday. Tyler Kennedy scored with just over a minute to play in the second period

WATCH: Colin Greening finishes off 2OT game

Source: Yardbarker

Most of us have heard of Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin; however a relatively unknown hero emerged in game 3. Ottawa Senator Colin Greening put “the biscuit in the basket” and sent the Senators home with a 2-1 double overtime thrilling victory. While Pittsburgh still leads the series 2-1, these are the type of games where a series can begin to tilt into the other teams favor.   Follow us on Twitter: @RealSportsKings @kettner_sk @DCSportsKings

Travis Yost: And We Have a Series

Source: Yardbarker

Make sure to follow Travis on Twitter! -- Facing an early 2-0 series deficit, the Ottawa Senators needed their best for sixty minutes to flip the script on home ice. They didn't get a sixty-minute effort. They got an eighty-seven minute, fifty-three second one. It was Ottawa's Colin Greening that eventually broke the 1-1 tie with Pittsburgh in double overtime, burying a rebound created fro...

Senators steal Game 3 after Greening completes comeback with double OT winner (Video) (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

This one looked over. The Ottawa Senators were staring a three-game deficit right in the face, down a goal with 90 seconds to go. Then, to make matters worse, Erik Karlsson took a slashing penalty, putting them down a man as well. But the Senators refused to go away, and a minute into the penalty, Daniel Alfredsson sneaked into the Pittsburgh zone, unmarked, and Milan Michalek found him in front of the net. Alfy sealed the deal, as Alfies often do , ending Tomas Vokoun's shutout bid and sending the game into overtimes. Yes, overtimes . For the first time in the 2013 postseason, it took double OT for this game to produce a winner, and when it did, the Senators were back in the series. At 7:39 of the second overtime, Colin Greening

Greening's goal in 2nd OT lifts Sens over Pens (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

OTTAWA (AP) -- Colin Greening scored 7:39 into double overtime, and the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins that cut their series deficit to 2-1 on Sunday night.

Seantors 2, Penguins 1 (2 OT) (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators jumped back into their second-round playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins in dramatic fashion Sunday night at Scotiabank Place.

Senators Get Back Into Series With Thrilling 2-1 Double OT Win Over Penguins In Game 3

Source: SenShot by Jared Crozier

TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, THIS IS WHAT I HAD WRITTEN IN THE LAST 5 MINUTES OF REGULATION:

The Ottawa Senators skated with the Pittsburgh Penguins and stayed even with them for 39 minutes.  It was a very frustrating final 21 minutes at Ottawa couldn’t find the elixir to solve Tomas Vokoun, or even too many situations, to force him to make a save.  The epitome of the frustration of the Senators and their fans came with over 8 minutes left and the 4 officials on the ice all missed a blatant

Evgeni Malkin crashes into net and meets the goal cam

Source: Yardbarker

During game three with the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin crashed into the net while trying to create a scoring chance.  In a rare occurrence, Malkin looked directly at the camera before exiting the net and gave us this beauty of a GIF. [@CorkGaines]

Erik Karlsson Delivered An Amazing Skate Pass

Source: Yardbarker

Ottawa Senators Erik Karlsson delivered one of the best skate passes I’ve ever seen in a hockey game. During the opening period of Game 3 between the Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins, Karlsson was pushing into Pittsburgh territory when his stick was knocked away from him. Instead of freaking out, Karlsson continued with the puck underneath his left skate, made a juke move, before completing the pass Kyle Turris who took the shot on goal.     The post Erik Karlsson Delivered An Amazing Skate Pass appeared first on Ride The Pine.

ECSF Game 2: Bruins Pound Rangers 5-2 To Take 2-0 Series Lead

Source: SenShot by Jared Crozier

The New York Rangers kept it close for the first half of the game, but Boston took control over the last 30 minutes to take game 2 of their second round series 5-2.  It wasn’t as one-sided as the score would indicate but Tuukka Rask turned aside 35 of 37 Rangers’ shots.

 

May 19, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) during the third period in game two

The Ottawa Senators Keys to Turning Their Series Around

Source: Sports Media 101 by Rob Russo

 

Despite being down in the series 2-0, the Ottawa Senators are far from out of it. Returning home, where they have played well all season, and having Jason Spezza return to the lineup help tip the scales in favor for the Senators chances of getting back in this series. Game one was a lopsided contest where the Penguins were in complete control the entire game. For game two, the Senators hung around like the pesky team they define themselves as, and came much closer to solving the Penguins for the first time

Round 2, Game 3 Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators

Source: Silver Seven by Mark Parisi

Let's hear from some people who are going to have do well to lead to victory tonight.

"We're a team that likes to play anybody against anybody."

"Everyone is going to be fired up."

"You never want to play from behind, which we're guilty of sometimes."

Sometimes?!!?

What does the prediction machine say?

Well, it says prepare yourself for awesomeness. The return of Jason Spezza to the lineup is

Jason Spezza Confirmed for Game Three

Source: Sports Media 101 by Rob Russo

Down two games to zero in their second round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ottawa Senators have some relief coming. It was confirmed that Jason Spezza will be in the lineup for game three tonight. The Senators have been without their elite number one center for most of the season. Spezza suffered a back injury which required surgery and a lengthy rehab. Not only does this give

Only Ottawa Cheering For Ottawa

Source: Yardbarker

from Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star, Senators Nation? Uh-oh Canada. The Ottawa Senators may be the only franchise of seven from north of the 49th Parallel still alive and kicking — feebly, to be sure — in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Yet they remain very much a parochial, narrowly embraced entity, a team utterly yoked to one city and one city alone. Further, it’s a city that only civil servants and governance geeks could love. Our national capital is less loathed than smug Toronto and less parodied than slacker Vancouver but also lesser envied than either. Nor does it possess the small-market virtues of Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. And it made no friends in at least one of our two Canadian solitudes by handily dispatching Montreal in the first round. This is not a town that will spiritually stitch together the country’s diverse parts through the unifying force of hockey. continued

Time for Michalek to Czech in

Source: Ottawa Sun by Don Brennan

Let’s see now. Craig Anderson has returned, Jared Cowen, Erik Karlsson and now even Jason Spezza, too.
If we see the old Milan Michalek in Game 3, the Senators should be in good shape.
Theories vary as to why the 35 goal scorer of a year ago has not been very productive this season. Mostly, we are told, his surgically repaired knee isn’t right. But I see his hands giving him more trouble than his legs.
Somebody mentioned today that Michalek was jumping into the dirty areas in front of the net, but without Jason Spezza to feed him when he got there, he wasn’t seeing the puck. After awhile, he stopped jumping.
Well tonight he gets Spezza back as his centre, with Cory Conacher on the other side. Perhaps it

Travis Yost: ECSF GAME 3: Jason Spezza Returns

Source: Yardbarker

Make sure to follow Travis on Twitter! -- A pair of road losses in Pittsburgh have washed away Ottawa's margin for error. To get back in the series, Ottawa will have to defend home ice against a Penguins team that's firing on all cylinders. The team's hoping that the return of a familiar face from injury can aid them in their uphill climb: centerman Jason Spezza, out of commission since Janu...

Eklund: Spezza Returning to Lineup Tomorrow.

Source: Yardbarker

It has just been confirmed that the Sens will be getting back Jason Spezza for tomorrow's game. more to come..

Morning skate update: Senators hope Spezza provides ‘boost’

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson is confident that the return of centre Jason Spezza will provide “an energy boost” in Game 3 Sunday.

WCSF Game 3: Sharks Bite Back, Win 2-1

Source: SenShot by Jamie Clarke

OVERALL RECAP

It was one of those game where you knew the home team had to win. Not that they were going to, but that they had to. There was that air of necessity in San Jose as the Sharks welcomed their close neighbours the Los Angeles Kings into their arena for the first time this post season. Trailing 2-0 in the series, the home team needed a win to keep themselves competing. And a win they got, drawing this series to 2-1 for LA.

May 18, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Los Angeles Kings in

Silfverberg, Zibanejad Need To Do More For The Senators To Get Back Into Series; Lineup Updates

Source: SenShot by Jared Crozier

While much of the spotlight this week has been directed at Erik Karlsson‘s struggles, Jason Spezza‘s return and Craig Anderson‘s early exit, there is plenty of spotlight to go around, and a couple

Game Day- Pittsburgh @ Ottawa Game 3

Source: Sens Chirp

After dropping the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh, the Ottawa Senators return to Scotiabank Place for the biggest game of their season.

In Game 1 they looked overwhelmed, in Game 2 they showed they can play with this Pittsburgh team. Now they hope the lift of playing in front of their home town crowd will be enough to get them back in their Eastern Conference Semifinal match up.

There are those that doubt the signifcance of home ice advantage in the NHL playoffs. It's safe to say those people have not set foot in Scotiabank Place at playoff time. It absolutely does make a difference. We saw it in Round 1, when the difference between Game 2 and 3 against the Montreal Canadiens was night and day. This team

Senators prediction panel: Game 56

Source: Ottawa Citizen

The Ottawa Senators continue their playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Which team will come out on top? Our prediction panel weighs in.

Gameday preview: Penguins at Senators

Source: Ottawa Citizen

With the Senators returning home down two games to none in their best-of-seven series versus the Penguins, the organization is going need whatever lift it can get from its fans and the return of its No. 1 center to the lineup.