Post-Game Buzz: Penguins squander 2-0 lead, fall to Jets 4-2

The Winnipeg Jets (2-1-1, 5 pts) overcame a 2-0 first period deficit, scoring three times in the second period, en route to a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-0, 4 pts) on Friday night.

Evander Kane (2), Dustin Byfuglien (2), Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler (2) all scored for the Jets and Ondrej Pavelec made 32 saves in the win.

The Penguins who dropped their second straight game, were also limited to two goals in consecutive games. Sidney Crosby (3) scored twice and the Penguins got a strong performance from Tomas Vokoun (1-1-0) who made 28 saves on 31 shots in the loss.

It was the Sidney Crosby show in the first 15 minutes of the game. The Crosby line was flying from the start and Crosby put the Penguins up 1-0 at 4:26 of the first period with a snap shot from 7 ft out, after some great wall play from Chris Kunitz who assisted on the goal along with Kris Letang.

Crosby then struck again off the rush taking a pass from Matt Niskanen in the neutral zone and as Pascal Dupuis drove to the net drawing two defenders to him, Crosby with space and time cut in and beat Ondrej Pavelec with a backhand goal.

Momentum though would begin to change with around three minutes left in the first period and it carried over to the second period for the Jets as Evander Kane scored a 1:10 into the second period and Jets scored three times in the period, getting goals from Kane, Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd.

In the second period the Penguins were again plagued by poor defensive zone play and poor puck management from their forwards.

Blake Wheeler added an empty net goal with a 1:09 left in the game to seal the win for Winnipeg.

Pittsburgh next plays Sunday at Ottawa.

*For the second straight game, the Penguins didn’t record their first shot in the third period until after the 11:30 mark in the third period.

Trailing against the Leafs in the third period, Pittsburgh’s first shot came 11:35 into the third and tonight the Penguins first shot didn’t come until 11:50 in.

*In the last two games, the Penguins have been outscored 6-1 in the second period and 3-0 in the third period.

*The Penguins had 9 giveaways tonight. They had 7 giveaways Wednesday night vs Toronto.

*Jets LW Evander Kane a great talent, was the best player on the ice. He had a final line of 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots on goal and 5 hits.

*Evgeni Malkin and James Neal are a combined minus-10 in their last two games.