NHL playoff scores 2017: Senators survive another day with Game 6 win

The Eastern Conference will be decided in Game 7 after the Ottawa Senators hung on for a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on Tuesday night. The series is now tied, 3-3, with all the chips being pushed into the table for Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Mike Hoffman scored the game-winning goal for the Senators midway through the third period despite an otherwise underwhelming effort. They were outshot, 46-30, in the game, yet managed to stick around long enough to get the win.

Craig Anderson is the biggest reason for that. The goaltender was on his game all night, making big stops and limiting rebound opportunities against an offense that was ready to pounce. He finished the game with 45 save on 46 shots, which is his highest single-game save total since recording 45 on April 8, 2014.

That’s what the Senators needed because the Penguins were all over them in this game. Pittsburgh held heavy advantages in scoring chances and shot attempts, so it was on Anderson to be the final hurdle to prevent them from scoring.

He did just that, but the Penguins have to be taking positives from this game as they prepare to host the Senators at home for Game 7. If you’re Pittsburgh, the good news is that you largely dominated, only to be beaten by a goalie at his best. That’s just playoff hockey, and it’s a formula the Pens should be ready to overcome on Thursday night.

But the Senators did their part Tuesday.

Senators 2, Penguins 1 (Series tied, 3-3)

Goalie interference call comes up again

One of the ongoing themes of the 2017 playoffs has been the goalie interference rule, and how nobody seems to know exactly what a violation is. That came up again in Game 6 on the Penguins’ opening goal, which was eventually waved off for a goalie interference penalty.

Trevor Daley goes after the puck in the crease, and ends up making contact with Craig Anderson while jamming his stick at the puck. Anderson falls over into the back of his net, but it’s largely because he loses balance digging for the puck, not because the raw force of Daley knocks him backward.

However, the referees ruled Daley interfered with the goalie, and took away the goal. Understandably, Penguins fans were not happy.

But more than anything, this hints at the NHL’s ongoing issues with clarifying exactly what a goalie interference penalty is. It’s a total judgment call at the moment, and nobody seems fully clear on what constitutes a violation from game-to-game.

Bobby Ryan keeps silencing the critics

It hasn’t been a great few years for Ryan, who once had four consecutive 30-goal seasons with the Anaheim Ducks from 2009-12. During the 2016-17 regular season, the 30-year-old had 13 goals in 62 games.

But he just keep scoring in the postseason, to the extent that he’s started softening Senators fans who had grown frustrated with his $7.25 million cap hit, which lasts through 2021-22.

That contract may still be a problem for the Senators’ books, but right now, Ryan is more than worth the money. He recorded the team’s first goal in Game 6, and now has six goals and nine assists in 18 games this postseason. That’s nearly as many points in these playoffs (15) as he had in his playoff career entering this year (17).

Ryan’s contract may not be quite what the Senators hoped for, but he’s played his part over the past few weeks.

Colin White makes NHL playoff debut

He just didn’t make much of an impact. The Senators called upon their 2015 first-round pick to mix up the lineup in Game 6 against Pittsburgh, but he played just 2:39 in the game before finding himself glued to the bench.

White essentially never got the chance to make an impact, although it’s more understandable that Guy Boucher leaned on his veterans once the team had a lead to protect. Still, for the 20-year-old who just had a starring role at Boston College, it must’ve been unexpected to get the nod, only to play for just a couple minutes.

The future is still bright for White, who finished his sophomore year at BC with 33 points in 35 games. He was picked No. 21 overall in 2015, and shapes up as one of the Senators’ best prospects along with defenseman Thomas Chabot. Those two represent Ottawa’s best shot at the future — but maybe not their present, unless Boucher is willing to give White more time going forward.

The purest of snipes, and a game-winner, too.

Are we ready for a world where Bobby Ryan wins the Conn Smythe? It could happen if he keeps putting up points like he has over the first three rounds. Erik Karlsson was among the Senators’ best players in Game 6, per usual, and Craig Anderson could still play his way into the mix with more games like this one. Although let’s be honest, if the Senators keep winning, it’ll be hard for Karlsson not to win it.