RALEIGH, N.C. — Five times in the last nine games, and now six times in 10 games, the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ (34-18-16) and Carolina Hurricanes (43-19-6) went to overtime at the Lenovo Center. The Penguins remained winless in those games (0-4-6), but in keeping with the script, a wild third period went to overtime.
After a low-scoring two periods, four more goals followed Bryan Rust’s third-period tying goal as the teams combined for seven goals in the third, as Carolina yielded a pair of leads, but the Penguins also gave up a lead.
The back-and-forth fight ended when Carolina defenseman Sean Walker scored with 28 seconds remaining in overtime.
The Penguins finished their five-game road trip, which also began in Carolina, with a 2-1-2 record and a three-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets for a playoff position.
While the Penguins registered 12 shots in the first period, no set of eyes in Raleigh would agree they deserved a better fate than trailing 1-0. In fact, that small deficit was its own victory.
Somewhat fittingly, Carolina quickly scored just 10 seconds into the Penguins’ first power play. After an offensive zone draw, the Penguins over-committed, and Jordan Martinook saw the opportunity. Martinook broke for center ice, and former Penguins center Jordan Staal easily set him up for a long shorthanded breakaway goal at 9:34 of the first period for a 1-0 lead.
The Penguins’ good fortune continued into the second period. Despite being outshot 14-4 through the first 35 minutes, the Penguins tied the game.
Sidney Crosby played in his first game since the Olympics after missing the last 11 with an MCL sprain. While he may not have been sharp, he scored the Penguins’ goal at 9:57 when Rickard Rakell’s backhand pass deflected to him near the net. Crosby (28) slipped a backhand past Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen to tie the game 1-1.
However, seconds after a late second-period Carolina power play expired, Penguins defenseman Ilya Solovyov tried to defend Jackson Blake on the mid-wall by going down on the ice. Blake skated past the helpless Solovyov and to the net, stuffing a shot past the otherwise brilliant Stuart Skinner at 16:51 for a 2-1 Carolina lead.
Carolina further exerted their dominance in the second, outshooting the Penguins 14-7.
Crosby also played the instigator by punching Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov late in the second period. Crosby traded the roughing penalty for two calls on Svechnikov and a Penguins power play that carried over into the third period.
Evgeni Malkin added to the Penguins advantage when he drew a tripping penalty seconds into the third period, giving the Penguins a pivotal two-man advantage.
Erik Karlsson (8) blasted a shot past Andersen at :59 in the third period to tie the game 2-2.
But the see-saw continued, as the Penguins fell behind again. After hard work in the offensive zone, the Penguins’ game fell apart a few minutes into the final period. Elmer Soderblom, the big 6-foot-8 winger, pinned a couple of Carolina defenders to the wall in the offensive zone, but his turnover toward the blue line fed the Carolina transition.
After Penguins winger Connor Dewar fell at center ice, the Penguins’ mismatched defense with Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson scrambled, and Taylor Hall (15) was uncovered and scored an easy backhand goal near the crease at 3:27 to take a 3-2 lead.
The twists were not done.
Penguins winger Bryan Rust (26) flexed his defensive game with a beauty to tie the game 3-3 with a blocked shot and breakaway goal at 7:16.
But then Carolina took yet another lead following another Crosby penalty (tripping). Logan Stankoven (14) scored a power-play goal at 12:59.
And the Penguins tied the game again. And scored again.
Karlsson (9) flashed his extraordinary individual skills when he undressed Carolina’s top center Sebastian Aho at the offensive blue line and stepped into another blast past Andersen at 14:46.
Karlsson had a three-point game (2-1-3), and has eight points in his last three games.
Then the Penguins claimed their first lead of the game just 23 seconds later. Winger Anthony Mantha sprung rookie Ben Kindel for a breakaway goal at 15:09, and a Penguins a 5-4 lead.
So, this time it was Carolina’s turn to tie the game. Because of course. Death. Taxes. And these teams going to overtime.
Carolina defenseman K’Andre Miller (5) erased the Penguins’ only lead of the game with his heavy shot that deflected off Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon at 17:08. That was the end of regulation scoring and the wild third period that left players and fans breathless.
Skinner was excellent despite allowing five goals. He stopped 38, including a few 10-bell saves and a diving third-period stop on Carolina center Mark Jankowski.
Andersen allowed five on 27 shots in regulation.
The Penguins have a rare off day Thursday and don’t play again until Saturday.
Tags: hurricanes game Penguins game Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized:Penguins Postgame