Penguins shut out Senators, clinch second in Metropolitan

PITTSBURGH --The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 4-0 win against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena on Friday.
Pittsburgh (47-29-6), which is 4-1-0 in its past five games, will have home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan before winning the Stanley Cup in each of the past two seasons.

WATCH: [All Senators vs. Penguins highlights]
"I've said it a lot, they're a fun group to coach," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "They're competitive guys. They want to win. I think we have great leadership in our room. I think they play their best when the stakes are high. This has been a challenging year for us in a lot of different ways.
"What I love about our group is when the stakes get high, we play at our best. I think that's an indication of the leadership that we have in the room."
Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who lead the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils by three points for second in the Metropolitan. Casey DeSmith made 35 saves for his first NHL shutout.
"It's thrilling," DeSmith said. "Everything that you would expect it to be, it is. I'm just really thankful it came at an important time, in an important game. To clinch home ice is awesome. We want to be here as much as we can. Our home record (30-9-2) speaks for itself."

Craig Anderson made 19 saves for Ottawa (28-42-11), which is 2-9-0 in its past 11 games.
"Our guys gave everything they had," Senators coach Guy Boucher said. "This was a real important game for [the Penguins]. We outshot them 35-23, but they capitalized on their opportunities and we did not. … We pushed, and we pushed, and we pushed. Their goalie played outstanding.
"In the end, they have those high-end scorers that don't need as many scoring chances to put it in, and that's how they are where they are."
Anderson saved Crosby's five-hole attempt on a breakaway 44 seconds into the first period. Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead on a power play at 1:25 of the second period, scoring from below the goal line by banking a shot in off Anderson's pads.
Jake Guentzel made it 2-0 at 7:31, getting the rebound of Justin Schultz's shot and banking a backhand from below the goal line off Anderson's left skate.
Kessel extended the lead to 3-0 at 6:55 of the third period, one-timing a shot into an open net off a scramble in front before Patric Hornqvist scored for the fifth straight game to make it 4-0 at 16:53.
Ottawa had a four-minute power play after Evgeni Malkin was called for slashing and cross checking Zack Smith at 11:43 of the first.

Goal of the game

Crosby's goal at 1:25 of the second period.

Save of the game

DeSmith's save on Tom Pyatt at 6:32 of the second period.

Highlight of the game

Guentzel's goal at 7:31 of the second period.

They said it

"I think, down the stretch, we had to play in some big games. So I think that mentality and games like that, I think prepare you for the playoffs. So, yeah, I think we did a good job and won some close games."-- Penguins forward Sidney Crosby
"Finished the year here last year on a tough note and we wanted to give them a hard time tonight and get a win for ourselves. But we knew they were going to come out pretty hard. Obviously, they wanted home ice for the playoffs too. We played pretty well tonight, I thought. We had our chances, and obviously, the ones they got, they capitalized on." -- Senators forward Tom Pyatt

Need to know

Senators forward Mark Stone missed his 14th straight game with a leg injury and won't play in Ottawa's season finale against the Boston Bruins on Saturday. … Senators defenseman Ben Harpur left with a separated shoulder after Carl Hagelin cross checked him into the boards at 11:54 of the second period. Harpur will not play Saturday. … Crosby played 82 games for the first time in his NHL career. He played 81 twice (2005-06 and 2009-10). … Sullivan won his 200th game as an NHL coach. He is 200-122-15 in five seasons (two with the Bruins and three with the Penguins).

What's next

Senators: At the Boston Bruins on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CITY, TVAS, NESN, NHL.TV)
Penguins: Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round at PPG Paints Arena, TBD