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We saw a glimpse in Game 7 against Washington but on Sunday we were treated to a full 60 minutes of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey in a 7-0 rout of the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Final series. Four goals in the first period were more than enough for the Pens who chased Craig Anderson two different times in the opening twenty minutes. Lead in hand the Pens kept pressing and potted three more goals over the final two periods. The victory gives the Pens a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 is Tuesday night. [Pensburgh]
One area specifically the Pens have excelled through five games against the Pens is on the penalty kill. Killing off another four power plays on Sunday afternoon helped pushed the Senators drought to 0-for-29 and no man advantage goals so far this series. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
Ten years ago, a young Penguins squad returned to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2001. The opponent was a veteran laden Ottawa Senators squad that went on to win the Eastern Conference. A decade on, the Pens are still taking lessons from 2007 as they push for a second straight Stanley Cup title. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
Fan have long been awaiting the return of the 2016 Pens that rolled their way to the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup. Though a laundry list of injuries have prevented the Pens from playing at full strength for most of the season, Sunday’s performance was a well timed flashback to last season. [Penguins]
Leading the charge on Sunday was the third line of Bryan Rust, Nick Bonino, and Carter Rowney. Together the three combined for seven points, including a goal from Rust and three assists from Rowney. [Penguins]
Every year the NHL awards the Conn Smythe Trophy to the playoff MVP but to win a championship everyone knows it takes a complete team effort. The 2017 Penguins have shown the ability to play as a team even in the face of injuries. [USA Today]
There is no question Marc-Andre Fleury is the main reason the Penguins advanced to the Eastern Conference Final. Replacing him with Matt Murray may be the key to pushing to the Pens back to the Stanley Cup Final. [ESPN]
After leaving Game 2 with an undisclosed injury, forward Bryan Rust returned to the lineup Sunday and looked every bit the catalyst he has become in Mike Sullivan’s system. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL...
Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has been fined by the NHL for an “inappropriate remark” he used during the team’s Game 4 victory over the Nashville Predators. [The Tennessean]
With Henrik Lundqvist in goal, Sweden knocked off Canada in a shootout on Sunday evening to claim to 2017 IIHF World Championship in Germany. [USA Today]