Just too good

With one third-period goal scoring spree, the Pittsburgh Penguins took control of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Ottawa Senators as they pulled away for a 7-3 victory and a 3-1 series lead.

James Neal got the four-goal spurt going with a power play goal 1:59 into the third period to make the score 4-2. Then, things just got silly.

Pascal Dupuis stood behind an Ottawa defender, brought the blade of his stick around and tapped in a Matt Cooke pass while Ottawa goaltender Craig Anderson, who was too busy watching Cooke skate around from behind the net. 5-2 Pens on the shorthanded goal.

Thirty-one seconds later, Sidney Crosby did what Sidney Crosby can do. He took a Tyler Kennedy pass, skated down the left side and then cut across to the middle of the ice, leaving an Ottawa player hopelessly out of position. Given free reign in front of Anderson, Crosby backhanded a shot into the twine for a 6-2 Pittsburgh lead. Anderson was done after that, and so were the rest of the Senators.

And for good measure, someone left Jarome Iginla alone for a moment on a power play. That was bad news for Ottawa, as Iginla slapped home his second marker of the evening to give Pittsburgh a 7-2 advantage.

Daniel Alfredsson gave Ottawa fans something to cheer about with his own power play goal late in the third period, but that wasn't going to make up for the four goals the Senators let in.

Frankly, I'll be shocked if Pittsburgh doesn't end this series in Game 5 Friday. The Pens aren't just the better team in this series, but I believe they are better than any other team left in the Stanley Cup playoffs. There is too much firepower between Crosby, Iginla, Neal, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and any other Pittsburgh forward that steps on the ice for opponents to handle on a game-to-game basis. And as long as goaltender Tomas Vokoun continues to play well, the Pens should be in great shape.

Ottawa certainly knows what Pittsburgh can do.