NHL Playoffs 2013: Bruins take 2-0 lead, Sens stun Pens

OTTAWA -- Although it appeared the Ottawa Senators’ improbable saga this season might finally be nearing its end Sunday night, instead, the Sens wrote another unlikely chapter to get back in its second-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With time winding down in regulation and Ottawa trailing 1-0 -- and the Senators’ hopes of realistically winning the series likely winding down along with it -- Senators’ captain Daniel Alfredsson delivered an unlikely boost for a team that has shown a lot of push back this season despite facing a ton of adversity and sent what had been a nervous crowd at Scotiabank Place into a loud frenzy.

Go-Go-Gadget GIFs!

Malkin couldn’t convert on his remarkable moves early in overtime:

The first overtime period was full of crazy back-and-forth play and chances for both teams, but no one could get the winner. The teams headed to double overtime in the first multi-OT game of the 2013 playoffs.

As the game wore on, injuries were inevitable. Chris Neil left the game in the second overtime after taking a bad fall:

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The net camera caught Malkin’s reaction up close, and it was glorious:

The Penguins failed to score on their power play at the start of the second period, even though it involved a brief 5-on-3 opportunity. If you want to know how Malkin feels about that, just watch the above GIF a few more times.

Both teams had a single unsuccessful power play in the opening period, and the shots were 12-8 in favor of the Penguins. Pittsburgh looked to have the edge in pressure throughout most of the first, but Ottawa had some great chances on their power play.

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Things were tenuous for the Bruins in the first half of the game. Though they created scoring chances early, twice they took one-goal leads only to let them vanquish quickly.

Rangers coach John Tortorella, by the way, thought that Callahan goal was a mighty good one.

I hope this doesn’t offend the delicate sensibilities of hockey fans!

“Both of them skated this morning,” Bruins head coach Claude Julien said to the media Sunday. “Redds and Seidenberg. But both won’t be available today.”

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The Bruins lead did not last long, however, as a much more highly touted rookie Bruins defenseman helped give it back just 2:33 later.

The Rangers’ flailing power play has been the topic of much media coverage in this series, and New York did nothing to alter that narrative in the first period. They misfired on two power plays and, worse, the Bruins had the better chances while shorthanded on the first one.

The Ottawa Senators played better in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They only lost by a goal, and they put in three. Sidney Crosby, however, put in his second postseason hat trick, Brendan Morrow added one, the Pens chased Craig Anderson, and that was all Pittsburgh needed to push Ottawa into what is essentially a must-win Game 3.

The Senators still haven’t played their A-game in the series. Not only did Anderson give up the entire hat trick, he gave up four goals in 28 minutes, getting pulled for Robin Lehner, who many would argue played a lot better than Anderson did in a game and a half. Erik Karlsson looked average again, getting taken to school by Crosby on his first goal. You have to wonder just how healthy he is right now.