The Pittsburgh Penguins were able to quickly dispatch of the Ottawa Senators in a 4 game sweep. 3-1 was the final score in tonight’s finale. The key play clearly came in the middle of the 2nd period with the game tied at one and Ottawa had an outlet pass for a breakaway but the Senator misplayed it, went in the corner, and the pass back out in the high slot got picked off, eventually springing Jaarko Ruutu on the Ottawa net with a Senator marking him. He made a great spinaround move whipping a shot past Gerber for the winning goal. It was a play you would expect of Crosby or Malkin, but certainly not of Ruutu. Ottawa appeared to have tied it late in the 2nd period but the goal was overturned due to have been put netward by a distinct kicking motion. Sens had a number of chances in the 3rd but never got one past Fleury and Crosby iced it with an empty netter in the waning seconds.
Now they sit and wait about 8 or 9 days for the 2nd round to start. Accumulating rust is a real concern, but you never eschew the chance to close a series out quickly. It’ll also give Old Man Roberts a chance to rest his groin. Assuming Montreal beats Boston, the Pens will play the Capitals if they win their series. If the Flyers upset them Philadelphia would play Montreal and the Pens get the winner of the Devils/Rangers series. Either way, a much sterner test than Ottawa was.
Oh, and by the way Bryan Murray, what I wrote 10 days ago still holds. The Pens didn’t avoid the Flyers. They did, however, not fear playing your sorry excuse for a playoff hockey team. Jackass.
