Penguins/NHL
COLUMBUS 4 – PITTSBURGH 3 OT
Game 1 saw the Columbus Blue Jackets blow a 3-1 lead and lose. Tonight saw the Pittsburgh Penguins blow a 3-1 lead and lose.
Matt Calvert scored at 1:10 of the second overtime, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2.
The series is now at tied at 1-1.
Calvert’s overtime winner gave Columbus their first playoff win in franchise history. The goal came just 37 seconds after a Blake Comeau interference penalty ended that Pittsburgh failed to score on.
It was Calvert’s second goal of the game as he scored shorthanded in the second period that completely changed momentum of the game.
The Penguins went 1-8 on the power play and gave up a shorthanded goal in the loss. The Penguins not only came up small on the power play but so did their stars.
Kris Letang was a disaster again, while Evgeni Malkin and James Neal haven’t scored a playoff goal in six games. Sidney Crosby has not scored a playoff goal in seven games. Crosby was credited with a team-high 4 giveaways in the loss.
Columbus was the better team in most facets. They won the special teams game, 2 power play goals, 1 shorthanded goal, outhit Pittsburgh 51-28, won 43 of 76 faceoffs and outshot Pittsburgh 45-42.
The Penguins had an electrifying start, getting two goals from Brian Gibbons in the first 4:24 of the game, including a shorthanded breakaway goal from Gibbons and Pittsburgh appeared off to the races. Gibbons who has been the Penguins best forward in the playoffs, was lost in the first period due to what is believed to be a neck injury after trying to throw a hit on Jack Johnson behind the Blue Jackets net.
He did not return and played just 2:26.
Game 3 is Monday night in Columbus.
