USAToday Sports Images

PENGUINS OUTLAST SENATORS IN 2OT TO RETURN TO STANLEY CUP FINAL

Chris Kunitz (2-1—3) scored his second goal of the contest at 5:09 of the second overtime period as the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins defeated the Senators in Game 7 to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season and sixth time overall.

[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY5ykMVGbvU” type=”yt” w=”480″ h=”385″]

Pittsburgh became the first NHL team to make consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final since it faced Detroit in back-to-back years in 2008 (4-2 L) and 2009 (4-3 W). The Penguins, who also appeared in the Final in 1991 and 1992, are the first team in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to make consecutive Final appearances on three separate occasions.

The Penguins improved to 10-7 in 17 all-time Game 7s, including a 2-0 mark in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (also SR at WSH: 2-0 W). Pittsburgh appeared in multiple Game 7s within a single postseason for the second time in franchise history (also 2009 CSF at WSH: 6-2 W and 2009 F at DET: 2-1 W).

[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77wvZXNglG0″ type=”yt” w=”480″ h=”385″]

Thursday’s contest marked the 27th overtime game of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs (81 GP), one shy of tying the NHL record for most in a single postseason (28 in 85 GP in 1993).  The Penguins scored the fourth series-clinching overtime goal of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, two shy of the NHL record for most in a single postseason (6 in 1993 and 1999).  In addition, the 50 one-goal games in any fashion this postseason (81 GP, 61.7%) are one shy of the single-year NHL record, established in 2007 (51 in 81 GP, 63.0%). 

The team that scores first improved to 126-43 (.745) in 169 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 2-1 record this year. Home teams own a 99-70 (.585) advantage in the 169 all-time Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a 2-1 record this year.   Forty-one Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs have required overtime (24.2%), with home teams owning a 21-20 edge.

The Penguins won a Game 7 in the Conference Finals for the second straight postseason (also 2016 CF vs. TBL: 2-1 W). Elias notes that Pittsburgh became the fifth team in NHL history to win a Game 7 to reach the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive playoff years and first since Dallas in 1999 and 2000.  The Penguins improved to 4-1 in five all-time playoff series against the Senators, including four straight series wins dating to the 2008 Conference Quarterfinals.

Penguins forward Carl Hagelin improved to 8-1 in nine Game 7 appearances. Elias notes that he tied Glenn Anderson (8-4), Ray Bourque (8-1) and Brad Richards (8-0) for the most Game 7 wins in NHL history . . . Senators captain Erik Karlsson (0-2—2) collected his 15th and 16th assists of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs to establish a franchise record for most in a single postseason, eclipsing the mark set by Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza in 2007 (15) . . . NHL LiveWireClick here to listen to the sights and sounds from Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.

* Information provided via NHL Press Release