NHL Playoffs 2013: Crosby, Penguins blitz Senators in Game 2

The Pens got out to a quick start. A really quick start. As in these two things happened in the first four minutes.

That whole sequence was a theme throughout the night. Pittsburgh scored, and Ottawa would answer. We’re in for a high-scoring series.

The Senators will have to mount a difficult comeback in the third while keeping the oppressive Penguins at bay. A tall task.

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Crosby laughs at your “impossible angles.”

Screening your goalie only helps him, Ottawa.

Unimpressed, Crosby and his linemates crashed the net with a few minutes remaining in the period. Craig Anderson thought Crosby would pass the puck and Sid took advantage.

Overall, not a great showing for Anderson and his teammates in the first period. Pittsburgh outshot Ottawa 18-7. If they don’t regain some sort of control in the second, this game could get ugly.

One could argue the Pittsburgh Penguins played their best game of the postseason in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Ottawa Senators. They had a couple of blowout wins against the Islanders, but this felt more like the kind of complete game that could be sustainable for the Penguins as they go further into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This felt like a system that could be consistent for them.

Yes, they got outshot, but the Senators aren’t quite as good offensively as the Islanders are. Plus, Tomas Vokoun played very well in net, stopping 35 shots. They got all of the usual offensive contributions and scored four times, even though Sidney Crosby did not put his name on the scoresheet. Malkin, Iginla and Kunitz carried the load and Pittsburgh had a largely drama-free 4-1 win at home on Tuesday.