Predators Advance to Stanley Cup, Senators Force Game 7
Ten days ago, I predicted that the Penguins would win their series against the Senators in 6 games, and the Predators would win in 7 against the Ducks. Well if you flip those predictions around, then I totally got it right — well, potentially. The Penguins and Senators face off in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night. Meanwhile the Predators have advanced to the Stanley Cup on the backs of Colton Sissons and of course, Pekka Renne.
Saving Grace
Going into the series, Renne led all goalies this postseason with a 1.37 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage. He finished Game 6 with 38 saves, continuing what has been the most impressive moment of Renne’s career. In the last three games of the series, Rinne stopped 104 of 111 shots for an impressive .937 save percentage.
Meanwhile in the other net, Ducks goalie John Gibson maintained a .939 save percentage before an untimely hamstring injury sidelined him for the series. His replacement, Johnathan Bernier, gave up four goals on his first 21 shots. Bernier ended the series with a .824 save percentage, coming up short when the Ducks needed him most.
Senators Powering Through
Matt Hoffman’s decisive third period power play goal lifted the Senators to Game 7.
As for the Pens and Sens (yes we are on a nickname basis), blows have been traded throughout the series with each team winning a game apiece before the Penguins took a 3-2 series lead in Game 5 with a decisive 7-0 victory — the worst playoff loss in Ottawa history. In Game 6, with the Senators’ season on the brink of collapse, a crucial power play gave them a much needed boost. In the final minutes of the third period, forward Mike Hoffman ripped a shot from distance that beat Penguins goalie Matt Murray. If not for the stellar play of Sens goaltender Craig Anderson, who had 45 saves, the game would have been all but over at that point.
It took a two-man advantage, but the Senators finally scored their first power-play goal of the series. That proved enough to claim Game 6 and force a seventh in Pittsburgh. That game kicks off at 8 pm Thursday night. The winner will face the Predators in the Stanley Cup.
