Penguins and Senators both score late after Kessel’s possible dive

The Penguins and Senators have been tight throughout the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Penguins squeezed out a late 2-1 lead in Game 7 before giving it back up again.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to advance to their second straight Stanley Cup Finals, and they’re willing to do just about anything to get there.

In their seven-game series with the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference finals, the defending Stanley Cup champions found themselves tied at a goal apiece with the Senators about halfway through the third period.

Pittsburgh’s Phil Kessel drew a key penalty call midway through the third period in what will likely go down as one of the most controversial calls in this year’s postseason. Kessel looked to get tripped up live by Senators defenseman and former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate Dion Phaneuf.

On second look, it may have been a bit of a display of solid acting skills, rather than a flop, but the Penguins would take the result.

Just a few moments later on the power play, the Penguins took advantage, staking a 2-1 lead on a beautiful goal from Justin Schultz past Craig Anderson in net.

Regardless, no lead has proven to be safe in this game. Just like earlier when the Penguins went up 1-0 and the Senators tied it just as quickly, the Senators bounced back a few minutes later with a goal from Ryan Dzingel, his second of the postseason.

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The Penguins will surely take the end result and have it justify the means, but even though it won’t be the game-winning goal, it’ll be one for discussion for sure. A missed embellishment call may prove to be fatal in a pivotal Game 7, and Senators fans surely won’t be happy if their season’s end is impacted because of a bad penalty.