NEW YORK: Sidney Crosby scored an overtime winner as the Pittsburgh Penguins downed the Tampa Bay Lightning to level their Eastern Conference finals series at 1-1 on Monday.
Crosby ended his eight-game goal drought 40 seconds into overtime as Pittsburgh recovered from squandering a two-goal lead to haul themselves back into the series.
Crosby’s goal was his first in overtime in 113 career playoff games and gives the Penguins hope as they head to Florida for Wednesday’s Game Three.
“We were pretty confident all game that (we) deserved to win the game and that if we kept doing what we were doing we would win the game — and that’s what happened,” Penguins rookie goalie Matt Murray said.
“We played with desperation but never with panic, and that’s what I like about our team.”
Crosby meanwhile paid tribute to the vision of Bryan Rust for setting up his winner. Rust teed up Crosby perfectly for the goal after hearing the Canadian star’s call.
“I didn’t think Rusty saw me, so I tried to let him know I was there,” Crosby said.
“He had a good chance to maybe shoot it too, but he made a perfect pass — and to an area where I could get a quick shot away.”
The winner was fitting reward for a late spell of dominance by Pittsburgh, who outshot Tampa 19-6 over the third period and overtime.
“I thought as the game wore on, we were better and better,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
All of the regulation time goals came in the first period. Matt Cullen and Phil Kessel struck early on to put Pittsburgh 2-0 up before Tampa Bay came roaring back with goals from Anton Stralman and Jonathan Drouin to make it 2-2 in a breathless opening spell.
Tampa Bay’s young goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy proved a defiant last line of defense, thwarting Pittsburgh repeatedly to help take the game to overtime.
Vasilevskiy finished with a remarkable tally of 38 saves, but was finally broken by Crosby’s overtime winner.
“He was the reason the game went into overtime in the first place,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper reflected afterwards when asked about Vasilevskiy’s display.
Predators sign left wing Justin Kirkland to entry-level deal
The Nashville Predators have signed left wing Justin Kirkland to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Predators announced the deal Monday.
Kirkland, now 19, was Nashville’s fourth draft pick at No. 62 overall in the third round of the 2014 draft. He had 67 points in 69 games in the Western Hockey League at Kelowna this season, and the 6-foot-3 forward has 169 points in 199 career WHL games.
The native of Camrose, Alberta, Canada helped Kelowna win the WHL regular-season title and reach the Memorial Cup Final in the 2014-15 season.
Panthers make Tallon president, Rowe GM
he Florida Panthers have shaken up their front office, with Dale Tallon becoming president of hockey operations and Tom Rowe replacing him as general manager.
Those moves occurred earlier this month, but the team did not confirm them until Monday.
Eric Joyce and Steve Werier are new assistant general managers for the Panthers, who won 48 games and set a franchise record with 103 points this season. Florida lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Islanders.
Crosby ended his eight-game goal drought 40 seconds into overtime as Pittsburgh recovered from squandering a two-goal lead to haul themselves back into the series.
Crosby’s goal was his first in overtime in 113 career playoff games and gives the Penguins hope as they head to Florida for Wednesday’s Game Three.
“We were pretty confident all game that (we) deserved to win the game and that if we kept doing what we were doing we would win the game — and that’s what happened,” Penguins rookie goalie Matt Murray said.
“We played with desperation but never with panic, and that’s what I like about our team.”
Crosby meanwhile paid tribute to the vision of Bryan Rust for setting up his winner. Rust teed up Crosby perfectly for the goal after hearing the Canadian star’s call.
“I didn’t think Rusty saw me, so I tried to let him know I was there,” Crosby said.
“He had a good chance to maybe shoot it too, but he made a perfect pass — and to an area where I could get a quick shot away.”
The winner was fitting reward for a late spell of dominance by Pittsburgh, who outshot Tampa 19-6 over the third period and overtime.
“I thought as the game wore on, we were better and better,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
All of the regulation time goals came in the first period. Matt Cullen and Phil Kessel struck early on to put Pittsburgh 2-0 up before Tampa Bay came roaring back with goals from Anton Stralman and Jonathan Drouin to make it 2-2 in a breathless opening spell.
Tampa Bay’s young goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy proved a defiant last line of defense, thwarting Pittsburgh repeatedly to help take the game to overtime.
Vasilevskiy finished with a remarkable tally of 38 saves, but was finally broken by Crosby’s overtime winner.
“He was the reason the game went into overtime in the first place,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper reflected afterwards when asked about Vasilevskiy’s display.
Predators sign left wing Justin Kirkland to entry-level deal
The Nashville Predators have signed left wing Justin Kirkland to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Predators announced the deal Monday.
Kirkland, now 19, was Nashville’s fourth draft pick at No. 62 overall in the third round of the 2014 draft. He had 67 points in 69 games in the Western Hockey League at Kelowna this season, and the 6-foot-3 forward has 169 points in 199 career WHL games.
The native of Camrose, Alberta, Canada helped Kelowna win the WHL regular-season title and reach the Memorial Cup Final in the 2014-15 season.
Panthers make Tallon president, Rowe GM
he Florida Panthers have shaken up their front office, with Dale Tallon becoming president of hockey operations and Tom Rowe replacing him as general manager.
Those moves occurred earlier this month, but the team did not confirm them until Monday.
Eric Joyce and Steve Werier are new assistant general managers for the Panthers, who won 48 games and set a franchise record with 103 points this season. Florida lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Islanders.
