It certainly wasn’t the start the Ottawa Senators were hoping for on Tuesday night but likely one that fans were at least prepared for.

The powerful Pittsburgh Penguins team, which looked extremely beatable at times, dominated the special teams battle and cruised to an easy 4-1 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-final.  Plenty of positives for the Senators to take away from this one, but in the playoffs, a loss is a loss. Game 2 goes on Friday night.

After knocking off the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference in just five games, the Ottawa Senators now get a shot at the top dog.

The Senators play Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semi-final series tonight against the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins.  And while most of the experts don’t give the Sens a fighting chance against Crosby and company, Paul MacLean’s team is used to defying what the experts say.  It all starts at the Consol Energy Center tonight.

(UPDATE 1:13 PM)- Despite a second straight day on the ice with the rest of the team, Sens Coach Paul MacLean announced this afternoon that injured centre Jason Spezza will not be traveling with the team to Pittsburgh.  The plan is for him to stay behind and work out with the other Black Aces.  MacLean would not completely rule out a Game 2 return.

After Paul MacLean did his best to temper expectations a little bit yesterday, Jason Spezza has officially returned to Sens practice this morning.

The Head Coach suggested yesterday that he doesn't expect Spezza back to start the second round but today is obviously another huge step in his recovery.   Spezza wore a grey jersey along with healthy scratches Jim O'Brien, Peter Regin and Guillaume Latendresse.

It is official- The Ottawa Senators will take on the high flying Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins finished of the New York Islanders in six games and now stand in the way of the Senators and a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. With players like Crosby, Malkin, Iginla, the Penguins are going to give Ottawa everything they can handle in Round 2.

As the Ottawa Senators get some much needed rest and await their second round opponent, I wanted to pass along a cool initiative started and led by Sens fans.

If you haven't heard, Sens Money on the Board (or #SensMotB) is the latest twitter craze sweeping its way through Sens Army. The premise is simple- fans make pledges based on things that will happen in Ottawa Senators hockey games.

In the end, it wasn’t even close.  It was a series that at times looked like men against boys.

The Ottawa Senators rolled into the Bell Centre in Montreal, in front of one of the most passionate fan bases in sports, and finished off the Canadiens with a 6-1 drubbing.  The win closes out the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal and finally gives the Sens bragging rights over one of their local rivals.

After a dramatic win on Tuesday night, the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal shifts back to the Bell Centre in Montreal.

With a 3-1 series edge, the Ottawa Senators have a chance to punch their ticket to the second round with a win tonight.  Players and coaches have been saying it the past couple days but the fourth win is always the hardest and Paul MacLean knows his team will have to be at their best to finish off the Canadiens tonight.

After a miraculous come from behind win like last night's, it's kind of difficult to put it into words.

When I left Scotiabank Place on Sunday night after the Senators scored a convincing 6-1 win over the Habs in Game 3, I was convinced I had watched the best hockey game I'd ever see.  Well on Tuesday night, the Sens may have topped that with their dramatic 3-2 overtime win.