• Pittsburgh wins the series four games to none

{{:NHL Eastern Conference Bracket}}

• Regular Season Records (W-L-OTL): Penguins 47-27-8, 102 points; Senators 43-31-8, 94 points
• Leading Scorers (G-A-PTS): Penguins, Evgeni Malkin 47-59-106; Senators, Jason Spezza, 34-58-92
• {{credit|jon m}} - Crief:
  • One year ago, the Senators easily ran roughshod through the Penguins in the opening round of the playoffs, claiming victory in just five games. This was due in large part to the fact that after the Penguins scored 7 goals in gaining a split of the first two games, they managed just 6 in the final three games (all losses, two of those at The Igloo). The series victory launched the Sens on their drive to the Stanley Cup Finals, and it was Ray Emery's solid play between the pipes that drove the train. Fast forward one year later, and Emery is on the bench in favor of Martin Gerber, while the Pens appear to be gearing up for what they hope is their first finals appearance in 16 years. Don't be fooled by the fact that Ottawa won 3 of 4 in the regular season against Pittsburgh; the Sens are not nearly as confident a group as they were earlier in the season. Ottawa General Manager Bryan Murray took a page from the Lou Lamoriello playbook by firing his head coach late in the season to take over the club, and things have seemed to deteriorate further. Additionally, injuries to Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher will hurt the Senators, especially on special teams where Alfredsson (power play) and Fisher (penalty killing) were key ingredients. Ottawa still has talented scorers in Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza, and they will need to step up their game. For Pittsburgh, the Penguins may have actually benefited from the 29 game absence of Sidney Crosby. Many left them for dead when he went out of the line-up, but instead they saw Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Malone and others pick up the slack. The return of Crosby and the trade deadline acquisition of Marian Hossa will force the Senators to 'pick their poison'. Goaltending is a huge question mark for both clubs, as Marc-Andre Fleury is looking to respond to last year's poor playoff showing. This series, and the Caps-Flyers series, has the best potential for firewagon hockey among the four first round Eastern match-ups.