Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are expected to tie up their series with the Bruins. Reuters

Hoping to avoid a 3-0 hole, the Ottawa Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday night at Scotiabank Place in Game Three of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The Senators made progress in Game Two against Pittsburgh goalie hot Tomas Vokoun, slipping three goals past the keeper, who nearly shut them out in Game One, but Sidney Crosby’s hat trick handed the Penguins a 4-3 victory.

Vokoun is third among keepers with a 1.70 goals against average in four postseason games thus far.

Ottawa’s Kyle Turris and Jean- Gabriel Pageau each scored their fourth goals of the playoffs, and left wing Colin Greening notched his second.

One more win for Pittsburgh would put them one step closer to their first trip to the conference finals since 2009, the same year they last won the Stanley Cup.

Crosby doubled his out put for the playoffs within the first two periods. He’s now tied for best in the post season with six goals.

Evgeni Malkin extended his torrid point streak by assisting Crosby’s third goal, and is now tied for the playoff lead with 14 points.

Ranked second in the regular season in goals against and No. 1 in the penalty kill, the the Senators tried to outmuscle the speedier Penguins, connecting on 41 checks to Pittsburgh’s 21. Ottawa also earned 14 minutes in the box.

Ottawa’s offense lagged way behind the defense, but the attack proved itself more in Game Two when it took care of the puck in the neutral zone.

The game begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast by NBC Sports, or watch a live online stream at NBC Live Extra.

Betting Odds: Pittsburgh is a 1.5 goal favorite.

Over/Under: 5.5

Predicted Score: Ottawa 2-1