NHL playoffs 2017: Penguins vs. Senators preview and prediction

The Senators will battle the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final, in what could be a huge mismatch.

Many expected the Pittsburgh Penguins to be back in this spot, but no one should’ve picked the Ottawa Senators to make the run they have to the Eastern Conference Final.

The Penguins squandered a 3-1 series lead over the Capitals, and survived with a 2-0 win on the road in Game 7 to advance to their second straight conference final.

Meanwhile, the Senators are playing in just their third conference finals in the franchise’s history, and hasn’t played in one in 10 years, since 2007. At the same time, the Penguins have played in now five conference finals since 2008 alone.

Obviously, the Penguins hold the experience card in this whole series. They’ve proven this year that they’re on a similar war path to the Stanley Cup finals, and are looking like a strong candidate to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

While this series seems like a big mismatch, the Senators proved in their conference semifinals series with the New York Rangers, and even their first round against the Boston Bruins, that they are capable of overcoming the odds. They faced it all against the Rangers, where it was late deficits or strong goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist. They survived thus far, and could somehow pull off the upset of last year’s champs.

Next: 27 greatest American players of all-time

Prediction: Penguins win in five games

I simply can’t see the Senators pulling this off, and I can’t imagine them surviving longer than five games. Out of pity, I gave them one, but the Penguins are just dominant right now. They proved in Game 7 against the Capitals that, even if they falter a bit in previous games, they’re still the defending champions and look strong as ever. I see this being a cake walk for Pittsburgh, and we see them atop the Eastern Conference once more.