The last two times the Pittsburgh Penguins lost back to back games, they went on winning streaks of fifteen and seven games, respectively.
They’ll expect to go on a similar run as the Stanley Cup playoffs start up next week.
The New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2, Thursday night, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit. Travis Zajac, David Clarkson and Ilya Kovalchuk all scored for the Devils who will miss the playoffs a season after reaching the Stanley Cup.
Matt Cooke opened the scoring for Pittsburgh 8:52 into the opening period. Brandon Sutter came down the left side and backhanded the puck on goal. Goaltender, Johan Hedberg, kicked out a rebound and Cooke backhanded a shot that trickled pas Hedberg for the goal.
Jussi Jokinen added a power play goal late in the second period to extend the lead to two. Marc-Andre Fleury corralled the puck and left it for Kris Letang behind the net. Letang wired a stretch pass to Jokinen who outskated the defenseman and fired a shot that beat Hedberg on the glove side.
Travis Zajac scored late in the second period to cut the deficit in half. Zajac received a pass from the left wing circle, turned, and fired a wrist shot past Fleury.
David Clarkson tied the game in the third period with a power play goal. Patrik Elias centered to Clarkson from behind the net and Clarkson’s quick shot squirted through Fleury. It could have been Clarkson’s last goal as a member of the Devils. Clarkson is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
As the game opened up in the third period, former Penguin Steve Sullivan sent a shot-pass to Ilya Kovalchuk who redirected the puck in the net.
The Devils outplayed the Penguins in their final home game of the season. Already eliminated from contention, the Devils found a level of desperation the Penguins couldn’t match, outshooting Pittsburgh 32-18 in the game.
Pittsburgh will host their final regular season game against the Carolina Hurricanes and are expecting reinforcement with rumors of James Neal and Paul Martin returning to the lineup.
- The Penguins lost their first game when leading after two periods (19-1-0).
- The Penguins will finish with a 12-6-0 record against the Atlantic Division.
- Jussi Jokinen’s goal gave Fleury his first assist of the season.
Three Stars
- Ilya Kovalchuk
- Patrik Elias
- David Clarkson
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
