Penguins won't go away
The Penguins again put their resiliency on display and continued to fight like champions. They gave up two one-goal leads, one each in the second and third periods, but dominated most of the first overtime and got the one shot they needed in the second OT to win it. No Kris Letang for the entire playoffs. No Patric Hornqvist for the last six games of the conference final. They changed goalies mid-series after losing 5-1 in Game 3 to fall behind 2-1. Still, they have a chance to be the first team in 19 years to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Ottawa is for real
The Senators were criticized and doubted throughout the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But after they pushed the defending champions to double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, they should not be doubted anymore. Barring any unforeseen changes, the Senators should be considered a Stanley Cup contender going into next season. Going on another magical ride like the one they had this spring will be difficult to replicate, but the Senators proved themselves this postseason as a talented, skilled, tough and resilient team. They should not be seen as anything but that now.
Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz: still perfect together
These two have been doing it for years with the Penguins, and they did it again to win Game 7. Sidney Crosby set up Chris Kunitz, just as he has done so many times since 2008, for the double-overtime winner. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan recognized during the game that Crosby, Kunitz and Conor Sheary had some chemistry when they got the odd shift together, so he kept them on the same line for good starting in the third period. It should come as no surprise that the change worked; after all, Crosby and Kunitz have worked together so often for the past nine years. In fact, Kunitz's goal off a Crosby pass that got Crosby his 1,000th NHL point on Feb. 16.
Erik Karlsson mum on injury
Senators captain Erik Karlsson had a chance during his postgame session with the media to say how and to what degree he was limited by his left foot injury. Despite being directly asked the question, Karlsson did not divulge much. "Tough to say," he said. "This time of the year everybody is battling through something. Obviously we'd all like to be healthy; not only me, but a lot of guys in this room and I'm sure in their room as well are going through things and you're going to have to play through it and deal with the situation you've been dealt, the hand you've been dealt. I have no regrets.
