Penguins/NHL
PITTSBURGH 3 – TAMPA BAY 0 Marc Andre Fleury bounced back after a couple of poor starts to make 21 saves in a 3-0 shutout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning (16-9-1, 33 pts) on Friday evening. It was Fleury’s third shutout of the season and 14th win of the season.
The Penguins played far from a perfect game defensively and when they needed Fleury to be great, he was. “He was our best player tonight and a big reason why we won,” captain Sidney Crosby said of Fleury.
Speaking of Crosby, he picked up three assists to give him 36 points on the season and Crosby reached 700 career points, becoming the fastest active player to reach that milestone (497 games).
Chris Kunitz (12, 13) who continues to make a strong bid for Team Canada scored twice and Brandon Sutter (5) added a power play goal. Kunitz now has 35 goals and 78 points in his last 75 regular season games.
The Lightning fell to 4-4-1 since losing Steven Stamkos to a broken leg but remain tied for second place in the tough Atlantic Division. The Penguins have opened a seven point lead over the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division.
