During Sunday's marathon Game 3, Tomas Vokoun logged the most ice time of any player on either team at 87:39, edging out his Ottawa counterpart, Craig Anderson, by three seconds.

Overtime in the postseason can be exhausting mentally and physically for all players but probably none more so than goaltenders who have to be perfect past regulation for their teams to win.

Today, Vokoun talked about the benefit of an extra day of rest, being a starter at the age of 36 and moving on past the disappointing loss.

Was it nice to have two days off after Game 3?

"Yeah. Definitely. I was pretty tired. It was a long game. Not just physically. It’s a long time to keep your concentration. It’s nice to have one extra day of down time."

During the quarterfinal series against the Islanders, you said you said you wondered if you would ever get a chance to play in another playoff game. What is it like being the starter mid-way through the semifinal round?

"Yeah. That’s one of the advantages for me. I don’t think have to feel any pressure going forward with your career unlike someone who is 27 or 28. That makes it easier. But you still have to go on the ice. You still have to perform. Obviously it’s a game. You train and play all those years. You want to be in a situation like that. You want a chance to make a difference and be in the game. Be a part of playoff hockey. Definitely over the years when I was on the teams I didn’t make the playoffs, you realize how special it is. You always see the guys on TV having fun playing for the Cup and you have no chance. From that perspective, you have to embrace it.”

How has former starter Marc-Andre Fleury handled being the backup?

"Marc’s been great all year with me. We have a really, really good relationship. I’m sure he wants to be playing just like everybody else. He’s handling great. I’m sure we’re going to need Marc again. He’s a great goaltender. That is why this is a team sport. If you play golf or tennis, you win it or lose it yourself. In hockey, that’s why you have 20-plus players on the team. Every night, it’s somebody different who makes the difference. He’s been great personally and professionally."

How do you handle the swings in momentum in contests like Game 3?

"Every game is different and unique by circumstances. Something could happen during the game. I think what is most exciting about playoff hockey is the swings of momentum. Just like when were with the Islanders. It just swings. We were up 2-0 then they were up 4-2. You never know what’s going to happen. We know the game plan pretty good on each other I’m sure. But every game is unique. Sometimes it’s the stuff you can’t even control. Somebody by accident might have a high stick and you have to kill [a four-minute power play]. There’s always surprises."

As a goaltender, how quickly do you have to forget Game 3?

"That’s one of the things you have to be able to do if you play in goal. Obviously that was a tough loss for us under the circumstances. At the end, if you look at it, it’s no different than if we lose 8-1 in regulation. Obviously, at that moment, you’re very frustrated. We were so close. It doesn’t have any bearing on the game tomorrow unless we let it. I think that’s when you have to control yourself and say it’s in the past. Tomorrow, we start 0-0 again. Our chances aren’t any different of winning [Game 4] if we won [Game 3.]"

(Photos: Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

Playoff Stuff
Penguins - Senators

-"It's a disappointing loss. You're looking at the possibility of 3-0 and the Senators came back into the game -- and the series -- with getting that win." - Dan Bylsma (above) on Game 3.

-Bylsma speaks:

-Brooks Orpik speaks:

-Chris Kunitz speaks:

-Brenden Morrow speaks:

-"It felt pretty bad. I think it felt as bad as it looked. Thankfully, I popped up and feel all right." - Senators forward Jason Spezza on being hit by Craig Adams in overtime of Game 3.

-"We understand we're the last Canadian team that's playing but we just try to worry about the Pittsburgh Penguins and not get too caught up with all of that. We understand there's only one Canadian team left and we're that team." - Senators coach Paul MacLean.

-Senators captain/forward Daniel Alfredsson broke down the play on which he scored his game-tying goal in Game 3.

-“There was some small pieces. I had to come out of the game for I think it was five minutes or so and they picked out the big pieces.” - Senators forward Colin Greening (right) on having fiberglass removed from his face during Game 3.

-“We find ways — they aren’t always pretty — but we find ways to win.” - Senators goaltender Craig Anderson.

Calder Cup Playoffs

-An overtime goal and an assist by Trevor Smith gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 2-1 road win against the Providence Bruins in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series in the Calder Cup playoffs Monday. The best-of-seven series, which the Bruins once led, 3-0, is now tied at 3-3. Brad Thiessen made 46 saves in the victory. The Bruins are scheduled to host Game 7 Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.

“To be honest, when I was out there, there’s a verse in the Bible that says, ‘I can do all things through Him that gives me strength.’ I was saying that over and over in my head because I couldn’t do that on my own. It was fun. It was fun to be a part of. I’m just happy to give our team a chance and bring it to a Game 7.” - Thiessen.

-Bruins forward Graham Mink was suspended two games by the AHL for starting a brawl at the end of Game 5.

-After the Jump: The Red Wings take a lead on the Blackhawks and Patrick Roy returns to Colorado?

The adage of having your best players being your best players was never more valid than the 19:31 mark of the third period in last night's Game 3 between the Penguins and Senators.

When his team needed him the most, captain Daniel Alfredsson, the greatest player in franchise's history by any measure, came through with a game-tying short-handed goal which forced overtime. The Senators eventually won the game in the second overtime, 2-1, and got back into the semifinal round series which they now trail, 2-1.

After the game, the 40-year-old Alfredsson broke down his improbable goal:

How did you get so open on the play?

“We did a couple of criss-crosses and I think that confused them for who had who for them. I’m sure they’re going to look at the tape and go over it. [Senators forward Milan Michalek] was able to get the pass from [defenseman Sergei Gonchar]. He drew two guys to him and had some time to find and look for me. I was coming with some pretty good speed and that’s a tough play for the goalie.”

What does this win mean to the series?

“When you get rewarded and score the goal, you could feel the whole building the way it erupted. It gives you energy. It’s a great feeling. I’m sure it hurts for them. They could have put a stranglehold on us and now we’re right back in it.”

Is that a designed or structured play which led to your goal?

“No. Read and react. My first thought when I get the puck is to skate it up myself. Their first forechecker kind of cuts me off so I want to draw him to me. I give it to [Gonchar] so he can get past him. Then he makes a couple of great moves in the neutral zone to draw the people to him and dish it out to the side. I just kept my speed to the outside and I don’t think they picked me up.”

Is that the latest regulation goal you've ever scored?

“I think I’ve had later. I should. I’ve been here forever.”

With deadlines having been eradicated due the fact Game 3 between the Penguins and Senators went into two overtimes, members of the media grumbled over the fact Senators center Colin Greening was not available to speak until nearly 1 a.m. earlier today. As it turned out he had a pretty good reason for being tardy.

Fiberglass.

He had pieces of fiberglass - small and large - embedded in his puffy left cheek due to an errant stick which struck him in the face during the early stages of what turned out to be a 2-1 win by the Senators thanks to his goal in the second overtime.

As hockey players tend to do, Greening downplayed the severity of the injury as well as his contributions to the important win.

Regardless of his humility, Greening's contributions to his team this series have been significant. He has been the only player in this series for either team to score in all three games and he played a big role in the Senators' success on the penalty kill the past two games.

Late last night this morning, Greening talked about his goal, his face and his play this series:

What happened on the goal?

“You always kind of dream of that growing up playing in the garage or something that you’ll be able to score an overtime goal in the playoffs. But to be honest, I have to give a lot of credit to [Senators forward Erik Condra] and [Senators defenseman Andre] Benoit. Condra made a great pass to Benoit. I got on net and luckily I was able to kind of shovel it under {Penguins goaltender Tomas Vokoun’s} arm."

Have you ever scored a bigger goal in your career?

“I can’t recall anything. It’s definitely up there. When it went in, I was overjoyed. Just given the situation, obviously if they win there, it’s 3-0 [in the series]. Now were at 2-1 with another game at home. You kind of put that perspective afterwards and you’re really happy for that."

What happened to your face?

"Unfortunately, I got a stick in the face. That’s why I was a little bit late getting out here. The doctors were just picking some fiberglass out of my face and they were sewing me up."

Were the pieces in your face when you scored?

“There was some small pieces. I had to come out of the game for I think it was five minutes or so and they picked out the big pieces.”

Did you have to get stitches?

"One internal and five outside."

When did it happen?

"It happened in the first or second period. I can’t recall. You play five periods, you lose track."

What do you recall on the game-tying goal by captain Daniel Alfredsson late in regulation?

“That was a great effort by Alfredsson. That really shows his leadership just to be able to do it on the ice and off the ice. That’s a huge goal for us … 30 seconds left. I guess because the identity of our team this year has been kind of the word ‘pesky,’ I guess we could use that word tonight.

How do you move on after this game?

"To be honest our coach in Binghamton [Ottawa’s AHL affiliate], he said something when we were in the playoff down there that resonated pretty well with me. He said, ‘Enjoy the win for the rest of the night until your head hits the pillow and then when you wake up tomorrow, it’s a whole new game.’ This is a good start for us. We have one more game at home and we want to take advantage of that."

How were you able to kill all six of the Penguins' power plays in Game 3?

"I think when you play a team numerous times, you start to learn their tendencies. With Pittsburgh, it’s hard to learn their tendencies because they have a lot of talent on their power play but there were certain things we had to critique from Game 1 that I believe we critiqued to Game 2 and there were even more things to learn [for Game 3]. We still have lots to learn in terms of the [penalty kill] but I thought we were successful tonight. To be honest, that’s what we’re going to need if we’re going if we’re going to be successful. Shut down their power play."

All wins carry the same weight on the scoreboard. Does this one have more weight from an emotional standpoint?

"If you look at the situation, we’re going into overtime. If we lose the game, we’re down, 3-0 which is tough to come back from in any series. We knew if we won the game, it’s 2-1. It’s a big swing there."

Why has your line with Condra and Jean-Gabriel Pageau been successful this series?

"I think it starts with myself and Condra. We’ve played with each other for three years now. He’s a really, really smart player. He makes smart plays. He’s good in the corners. If you look at the goal, he could have just thrown it on the net. But he made the play to Benoit to spread out the defense and that’s important. [Jean-Gabriel] Pageau, he’s stepped right in. It’s interesting with your first couple of games – I know I felt a little out kind of place when I first came out – Pageau came up … and played really, really well and he really hasn’t stopped since. He’s a great player. He gets to the soft spots really well. He’s gritty in the corners for his size. I think we just read off each other really well."

Having two days off between games is probably enjoyable after this game.

"I would agree with that. When you play almost five periods and you’re a little bit tired, you just want to take advantage of the time off. These two days off will help us recuperate and let guys get some treatment and get some fluids in. We’re looking forward to playing on Wednesday."

Why have you been able to get a goal in every game of this series thus far?

"I’m streaky when it comes to this type of stuff. I was just hoping to be good defensively. I find I take on different roles at certain points in the game. Luckily, I was able to kind of be the goal scorer tonight at the end. I’m happy to produce offensively. I consider myself to kind of to be a second-tier scorer. For us to be successful, I think guys like myself need to score."