The must-see game on Tuesday was between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators. A win by the Penguins would mean the Senators would miss the playoffs. Pittsburgh knew it. Ottawa knew it. And the Sens stepped up big time.
Ottawa trailed 3-1 heading into the third, but a late third period goal by Ottawa brought them within a score of tying the game. The Senators pulled the goalie with 90 seconds left and earned a faceoff in the offensive zone. They won it, got the puck to Mike Hoffman at the point and tied the game.
The Penguins' collapse continued, as they were called for too many men just a few seconds after the goal. The Senators couldn't take advantage, but that momentum carried well into overtime. A turnover eventually led to the puck landing on Mark Stone's stick mere feet in front of goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, and he iced the game.
The Senators' win, Pittsburgh's loss and the Islanders' loss means the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference are very much up for grabs. If only Pittsburgh had a killer instinct, things might be different.
That was incredible. The Penguins go up 3-0 and get steamrolled for the next 40+ minutes
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) April 8, 2015