After dropping a six-game, opening-round series to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ottawa Senators held their annual locker cleanout Monday with plenty of questions about where they're headed in the off-season.

When the Senators pulled out to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period of Game 6, people were likely getting ready to go back to Pittsburgh for Game 7.

But Ottawa was completely outplayed by the Penguins in the third period, getting outshot 18-4 and outscored 3-0, leading to Pascal Leclaire's overtime goal that eliminated the Senators from the playoffs.

The Ottawa Senators return to Scotiabank Place Saturday night to try to save their season and force a Game 7 Tuesday in their first round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins took a well-deserved rest on Friday.

After playing 47:06 of overtime Thursday night before defenceman Matt Carkner sent the Eastern Conference quarter-final to a Game 6 by giving the Senators a 4-3 victory in triple-OT, the Penguins were forced to pack their bags for a trip to Ottawa.

Neither team bothered to practice Friday.

The Ottawa Senators are alive and kicking, thanks to a couple of unlikely heroes. Matt Carkner scored at 7:06 of the third overtime to give the club the victory and Pascal Leclaire made 56 saves in his first ever playoff start to keep the Senators alive in their first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.