In a taut, white-knuckle thriller played before an anxious overflow crowd of 18,610 at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins overcame injuries and adversity to edge Ottawa, 1-0, and even the Eastern Conference Final matchup at one game apiece.
It was playoff hockey at its finest as the Pens, backs to the wall, authored an effort worthy of defending Stanley Cup champions.
They won despite a heaping dose of early misfortune. Swooping in from his left defense position, Ottawa hammer Dion Phaneuf caught Bryan Rust with his head down five minutes in and lowered the boom.