The Penguins still may be able to defend their Stanley Cup title. I'm not counting them out. But let's get something straight: The Penguins are not the powerhouse of a year ago. This is a frustrated team with key holes caused by multiple injuries.

Ottawa is home, where it has beaten Pittsburgh four of the past five times. This includes a confidence-building 5-1 victory two days ago.

The Penguins have three goals in three games during this series. Lack of scoring has become a real problem for the Penguins as they have scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last eight games, including the past six. The Penguins are frustrated by the Senators' defensive shell and outstanding goaltending from Craig Anderson. Pittsburgh is pressing - and this isn't the right atmosphere and game to turn it around.

The Senators struck for four goals during the first 13 minutes in Wednesday's 5-1 victory. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury showed a vulnerability that had not been on display during the playoffs. He was terrible. He's likely to be in goal again today, but now there are red flags. The Penguins also have Matt Murray, a young goalie with outstanding potential. Murray, though, would be rusty since Fleury has started every playoff game.

Pittsburgh is down Kris Letang, its best defenseman. Justin Schultz probably is out, too. Yes, the Penguins have defensive reinforcements. But being without Letang and Schultz is huge. The Penguins' offensive depth is reduced, too, by injuries to forwards Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist.