from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

There will be a tomorrow for the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators have forced a dramatic Game 7 to decide which team will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final after they scored a clutch 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, sending the crowd of 18,111 — just short of a sellout — at Canadian Tire Centre into hysterics.

Yes, the East final will go the distance.

With the Senators trying to get to the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 2007, Mike Hoffman scored the winner early in the third period and goaltender Craig Anderson came up big, sending the series to Game 7 on Thursday night at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena. The victor will will face the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup final, starting Monday.

“We wanted to force Game 7 and that’s what we did — especially in the second period,” forward Zack Smith said. “Andy was huge tonight again. He’s the difference.”

Smith said he knew people thought they were finished.

“That’s fine with us. I feel it’s been that way for most of the year and playoffs. That’s fine, we’ll play that role,” Smith said.

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