Things have certainly looked better for the Pittsburgh Penguins than these most recent stretch of games. Not only has Pittsburgh lost three of their last four, they now have to deal without Evgeni Malkin in the lineup for the next 2-3 weeks; news the Penguins learned earlier in the day.
Mikkel Boedker scored midway through the second period to break a 2-2 tie and the Penguins couldn’t answer as the Phoenix Coyotes won 3-2, Tuesday night at Consol Energy Center.
David Moss gave Phoenix a 1-0 lead 9:06 into the first period. Martin Hanzal out-worked Matt Niskanen for the puck in the corner and sent a backhand centering pass to Moss who was streaking to the net.
The Penguins answered with a power play goal by Jussi Jokinen less than three minutes later. Jokinen finished off a nice setup by James Neal but the puck bounced out of the net so fast, the goal was originally waved off. Video replay showed it was a good goal and the scorekeeper had to rewind the game clock a full 2:35.
Phoenix retook the lead with a power play goal of their own. Shane Doan’s centering pass was deflected back to him. Doan threw the puck at the net and Antoine Vermette was able to jam the rebound past Marc-Andre Fleury.
Pittsburgh evened the score with less than five seconds remaining in the first period when Taylor Pyatt deflected a shot by Rob Scuderi.
Mikkel Boedker broke the tie 13:18 into the second period. Michael Stone shot the puck from the right point and Shane Doan attempted to put back the rebound. Boedker pounced on the loose puck and beat Fleury by roofing a wrist shot from a sharp angle that somehow found its way over the goaltender’s left shoulder.
The Penguins tried to climb back with a goal in the third period, but the defense held firm and goaltender Thomas Greiss made all eight saves to preserve the 3-2 win.
Three Stars
- Shane Doan
- David Moss
- Taylor Pyatt
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
