Penguins pulverize Senators to take 3-2 series lead

[May 22, 2017]  (The Sports Xchange) - Goaltender Matt Murray picked up his second career postseason shutout as the Pittsburgh Penguins thrashed Ottawa 7-0 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday, pushing the Senators to the brink of elimination.

Pittsburgh leads the series 3-2 and can clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday in Ottawa.

Murray, making his second start after being injured most of the postseason, made 25 saves.

His Ottawa counterpart, Craig Anderson, got pulled twice and gave up four goals on 14 shots.

Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Phil Kessel each had a goal and an assist, and Carter Rowney and Evgeni Malkin each added three assists for Pittsburgh.

"We're a confident group," said Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta. "We know we have the potential to do that. Obviously, seven in a game is a lot, but at the same time, we know we have enough skill and we're a really good group, so we can definitely do that in a game."

Adding injury to insult, Ottawa played the third period without captain and team leading postseason scorer Erik Karlsson, center Derick Brassard and defenseman Cody Ceci.

There was no immediate update on their status.

Maatta, who scored his first career playoff goal in Game 4, struck again for a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead at 8:14 of the first period when sent a slap shot past Anderson's blocker from above the left circle.

The Penguins scored a power-play goal when Sidney Crosby deftly tipped a shot by Trevor Daley off Anderson's right arm at 12:03 of the first period to make it 2-0.

At 16:04, a Nick Bonino shot glanced in off Rust's leg for a 3-0 lead. Anderson, who had allowed three goals on 13 shots, was replaced by Mike Condon.

 Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) scores a goal past Ottawa Senators goalie Mike Condon (1) as Senators center Tom Pyatt (10) defends during the third period in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

However Anderson went back in for Condon after just 1:28 on the bench -- only to give up another goal before the end of the first when Scott Wilson scored from a sharp angle at 18:17 for a 4-0 Pittsburgh lead.

Condon was in net for the start of the second period and he was greeted by Matt Cullen's tip-in of a pass from Mark Streit at 1:54 for a 5-0 Penguins lead.

Kessel had a tap-in from Crosby at the left post for a power-play goal and a 6-0 lead 50 seconds into the third.

Daley scored Pittsburgh's third power-play goal at 8:40 of the third for a 7-0 lead.

"It was just that kind of night," said Anderson.

"They were going. They were going good. They got the bounces. They got the good plays. They made some good shots.

"Top to bottom, it just wasn't good enough."

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