Penguins/NHL
Malkin, Kessel were engaged from the start, Cap off wild win
The Pittsburgh Penguins
played one really good period in storming out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals from Phil Kessel (2) and Carl Hagelin (1).
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Pittsburgh then followed that up with two bad periods, highlighted by undisciplined play and poor transition defense, yet, came away with a 5-4 overtime win as Evgeni Malkin sealed the win with his 11th career OT goal.
“It was an ugly win, but it’s a win,” coach Mike Sullivan said as the Penguins improved to 4-2-1. “We know we have to improve and get better in a lot of areas.”
Pittsburgh squandered a 2-0 lead early in the second period as the New York Rangers
scored three times in a 2:30 span, including two power play goals a minute apart.
The game settled into chance after chance for both sides.
With a 1:59 left in the second, Patric Hornqvist (3) tied the game at 3-3 with a power play marker in front off a setup from Phil Kessel.
Just prior to the Hornqvist goal, Pittsburgh killed off more than 90 seconds of two-man advantage time.
A 3-3 game in the third Pittsburgh’s lack of structure away from the puck would then strike again as Pittsburgh got caught with four men deep as Brian Dumoulin pinched and Jake Guentzel didn’t cover quick enough as Michael Grabner scored a beautiful give-and-go goal to put the Rangers ahead 4-3 in the third.
But, as was the case last spring in the Capitals series, Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk would continue to be the gift that keeps on giving to the Penguins as Sidney Crosby (4) tied the game at 4-4 with 56 seconds remaining. The goal happened off a Patric Hornqvist hand pass and Shattenkirk below the goal line inexplicitly touched the puck that allowed Crosby to bank it off Lundqvist for the goal.
Then in overtime Ryan McDonaugh would end the Rangers night with an egregious turnover and a Malkin overtime goal. That game really summed up the Rangers season who fall to 1-5-1.
In the win for Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin (Goal, 3 Assists) and Phil Kessel (Goal, 2 Assists) combined for 7 points.
Kessel scored 43 seconds into the game with a rocket of a shot down the right wing and what that goal did was have him engaged mentally from the start. The drive to win puck battles isn’t always there from Kessel but it was Tuesday night. Kessel finished with a goal, 2 primary assists.
Malkin is also at his best when he’s physical and playing with emotion. After two so-so games, he played with emotion and was physical vs the Rangers, with a four point night and getting into a scrap with Shattenkirk.
NUMBERS
Evgeni Malkin | Goal, 3 Assists, +3
Phil Kessel | Goal, 2 Assists, +3, 5 SOG
Patric Hornqvist | Goal, Assist, +2
Carl Hagelin | Goal, 6 SOG
Sidney Crosby | Goal, 4 SOG, 6 PIM
Ian Cole | Assist, 5 BLK
Olli Maatta | Assist, +1
Justin Schultz | +3
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