Chris Kunitz scored 5:09 into the second overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over Ottawa to book their spot in the NHL finals against the Nashville Predators.
The defending NHL champion Penguins were able to avoid being upset by the upstart Senators who are now 0-6 in their franchise history in game sevens.
It was the second goal of the contest for three time Stanley Cup winner Kunitz. They also got a goal from Justin Schultz and 27 saves from backup goaltender Matt Murray as the Penguins won the series four games to three.
In their return to the Stanley Cup finals, the Penguins will face a Predators team who eliminated the Anaheim Ducks in six games.
Ryan Dzingel and Mark Stone scored for the Cinderella Senators, who made an incredible unexpected run through the NHL postseason by employing a smothering defensive game plan combined with the solid netminding of Craig Anderson.
Anderson was the first star in a 2-1 game six Senators victory that set the stage for Thursday’s winner-take all showdown in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins relied just as much on goaltender Murray since he took over from starter Marc-Andre Fleury halfway through the series.
The move paid huge dividends, especially in game five when Murray backstopped the Penguins to a 7-0 blowout victory and then Thursday’s do-or-die series clincher.
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