Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - Pascal Dupuis scored the game-winning goal 9:56 into overtime, as thePittsburgh Penguins overcame a three-goal deficit to close out their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with a 4-3 win over Ottawa in Game 6 at Scotiabank Place.
Jordan Staal set up the tally, fending off defenders in the far corner before slipping a pass to Dupuis, who fired a wrister from the left circle over the glove of Ottawa goaltender Pascal Leclaire.
The Senators won Game 5 in triple-overtime on a goal by Matt Carkner to stave off elimination and extend the series.
Matt Cooke tallied twice for the defending Stanley Cup champions, igniting the comeback in the second period and tying the game with 7:36 left in regulation.
Bill Guerin netted a power-play goal in the third period for Pittsburgh, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves. The Penguins join Philadelphia as the only teams from the East to advance to the second round.
Daniel Alfredsson and Matt Cullen both registered a goal and an assist for Ottawa, which was back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. Leclaire stopped 39 shots.
"It's always tough losing this time of year, knowing you have to go home," said Senators forward Jason Spezza.
Cooke put Pittsburgh on the board at 10:56 of the middle frame, just 68 seconds after Alfredsson extended the lead to 3-0.
Mike Fisher thought he had Ottawa's fourth goal later in the period, but it was ruled that his shot crossed the goal line after the net was knocked from its moorings.
With Ottawa defenseman Anton Volchenkov off the ice for interference, Guerin positioned himself atop the left circle and one-timed an Alex Goligoski pass behind Leclaire at 7:03 of the third.
Cooke backhanded the rebound of a Mark Eaton shot from a sharp angle to tie the game at 12:24.
"I didn't have to beat a goalie either time," Cooke said. "It was just a backhander into the empty net. We did a good job of sticking with it, putting pucks (on net) and creating havoc."
Cullen staked the Senators to a 1-0 lead. Alfredsson made a stretch pass from his own zone to spring Cullen on a breakaway. Fleury went for the poke check and was beaten on a wrister 5:19 into the contest.
Pittsburgh nearly tied the game with 7:20 remaining in the first period, but Leclaire kicked out Michael Rupp's bid from outside the crease. The puck came within inches of crossing the goal line, leading to a lengthy video review that upheld the original no-goal call on the ice.
Ottawa grabbed a 2-0 lead at the 1:51 mark of the second period. Fleury made a stop with the right pad on the initial shot taken by Chris Kelly, who was hauled down. Chris Neil swept the rebound over Fleury as a delayed penalty was being called.
It was the second career two-goal playoff game for Cooke...The Senators have lost six straight home playoff games...Pittsburgh outshot Ottawa, 18-4, in the third period...Staal had two assists...Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was held pointless after posting five goals and nine assists in the first five games...Pittsburgh has won two of the three postseason matchups with Ottawa.
