Penguins top Senators 4-0 to earn home-ice in 1st round

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins can admit it now. The regular season is kind of a drag.

Being the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions creates a target on your back that's impossible to shake. An NHL-high 19 back-to-backs left them spent. A sluggish first half forced them to focus.

No matter. The Penguins survived. And now they're heading to the playoffs with momentum and home-ice advantage in the opening round. A legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup three-peat awaits.

Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel banked in goals off Craig Anderson minutes apart in the second period, Casey DeSmith stopped 34 shots and the Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0 on Friday night to clinch second place in the Metropolitan Division.