Jussi Jokinen scored the only shootout goal and Marc-Andre Fleury made at least two acrobatic saves in the Penguins’ 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings scored late in the game to force overtime and secure a playoff spot for the 23rd straight season.
Tomas Jurco scored for Detroit mid way through the first period to get the Wings out to a 1-0 lead. Darren Helm kept the puck in at the blue line and sent a pass to Daniel Alfredsson whose shot from the right-wing circle caromed off the back boards and went in front of the net. Jurco then backhanded the puck past Fleury for his eighth goal of the season.
James Neal scored his 25th goal of the season nine minutes into the second period to knot the score at one. Sidney Crosby took the puck in the neutral zone and skated into the offensive zone, drawing all four wing penalty killers. Crosby’s backhand saucer pass landed perfectly on Neal’s stick who then backhanded the puck past goaltender Jonas Gustavsson.
Jakub Kindl scored five minutes later to give the Wings a 2-1 lead. Kindle’s slap shot went off the left post and in the net as Brooks Orpik knocked Ryan Sheahan into Marc-Andre Fleury.
The Penguins tied the score again when James Neal added his second of the night and second on the power play. Neal’s slap shot from the left point went off the backside of defenseman Danny DeKeyser and in the net.
Pittsburgh then took the lead in the third period. Kris Letang’s wrist shot from a wide angle was stopped but the puck squirted behind Gustavsson. Letang swooped around the net to try and knock it in, but Jussi Jokinen pounced first and got his 19th of the season.
Detroit battled back when Riley Sheahan scored with 1:15 remaining in the game to force overtime.
In the shootout, Marc-Andre Fleury made an unbelievable save on Daniel Alfredsson. Jokinen scored when his shot when off of Gustavsson’s stick and in the net in one of the stranger shootout goals ever scored.
Fleury stonewalled Tomas Tatar and the Penguins escaped with the extra point.
Three Stars
- Kris Letang
- James Neal
- Riley Sheahan
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
