Yes, it was a two-man advantage, caused by Pittsburgh defensemen Ron Hainsey (interference) and Ian Cole (high sticking) going to the box 36 seconds apart, but Ottawa was struggling so badly on the power play, 0-for-29 in its previous 10 games coming into Game 6, that even a 5-on-3 was no sure thing.
However, defenseman Erik Karlsson and center Kyle Turris each passed up a shot at the point so they could set up a play that got the Penguins moving and Ryan open for a one-timer from the lower part of the left circle.
"Karl and Turris both had better shots than I did," Ryan said. "It's amazing what not holding on to the puck will do. You just try to find a lane, try and find something."
Ryan called it "a lucky goal," but it was hardly that. It was a one-timer that beat Penguins goalie Matt Murray on the short side.
"To see it go in, I think we -- we in the Sens' community -- took a collective breath there because it was overdue," Ryan said.
The Senators had to kill off two Penguins power plays in the first period just to get out of the first 20 minutes tied 0-0. They did by playing better in front of Anderson than they had in the previous two games, when they allowed four power-play goals on five chances, including three on three chances in Game 5.
"The puck was on our stick, we got clears, had some big blocks," Anderson said. "I thought we tied up sticks better in front than we did in the last game."