May 20, 2013 3 min read

OTTAWA (AP) – Craig Anderson has his game back, and just in time to give the Senators a chance.

He was a pivotal part of Ottawa’s 2-1 double-overtime win over Pittsburgh Sunday that cut the Penguins’ lead to 2-1 in the second-round series.

Anderson made 49 saves in Game 3, a stunning performance that came after he was pulled less than two minutes into the second period of Game 2 after allowing three goals on 21 shots.

“You have to put things behind you as quick as possible and, regardless of wins or loses, you have to look forward to the next day and try and improve on your last performance,” Anderson said Monday, with both teams taking a day off from skating.

“I just kept things simple and focused on things I could control, which was stopping the puck. It was exciting. We found a way to win. We did a lot of good things and we got rewarded.”

Anderson shut down Sidney Crosby on a breakaway and made an acrobatic stop on Evgeni Malkin, who used every move in his repertoire to get around the Ottawa defense and get a shot off in the first overtime.

“One of the more clutch performances from a goaltender, because of the stakes and the landscape of the series and how it would have changed had we gone down 3-0 in the series,” said Senators forward Jason Spezza.

“Andy looked like the way Andy has looked all year, and that’s confident and calm. He’s a guy that has a good edge to him and I think that suits our team well. He’s real competitive, he’s demanding of our team in front of him and I think we have a good dynamic.”

The Senators won when Colin Greening scored in the eighth minute of double overtime. Game 4 is Wednesday before the series shifts to Pittsburgh for Game 5 Friday.

Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma thought it was the best road game his team played during these playoffs. But it irks him that his team had a lead and a power play with 1:27 seconds remaining in regulation. Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson tied the score with a short-handed goal before Greening finally put the game away.

“We didn’t accomplish our goal of holding onto the puck through that minute 27,” Bylsma said. “We gave up a second dump and that was the one they were able to come back on a line rush that Alfredsson scored on.

“We had some good opportunities, especially five-on-three. I think the Malkin chance, and both Sid and Jarome (Iginla) had some good looks, but Anderson was up to the task. He was real strong.”