For the fourth time in six games, the Pittsburgh Penguins took an early lead, only to let their opponents come back to tie the score. The Red Wings were the latest to team take advantage of the Penguins’ inability to hold a lead, as they came from behind to win 3-2 in overtime Thursday night in Detroit.
Playing for the second time in as many nights, the Penguins needed to hold on to a 3-1 third period lead. They held on for over 17 minutes, but Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock pulled goaltender Jimmy Howard to give the Red Wings an extra attacker, and they immediately capitalized.
With 2:39 seconds remaining, Henrik Zetterberg split Penguins’ defensemen Kris Letang and Olli Maata. He then took a wide-open wrist shot that beat Thomas Greiss high to his glove-hand side to draw Detroit to within one goal.
The Wings kept their foot down and the Penguins were unable to responsd. Pascal Dupuis and Blake Comeau both had chances at the empty net bet were could not capitalize. Back in the Penguins’ zone, Pavel Datsyuk made an incredible pass to Niklas Kronwall. His shot hit two Penguins on its way into the back of the net for his second goal of the game.
Detroit had several chances in overtime before a Paul Martin turnover found its way to Justin Abdelkader in the slot and he buried a shot off the left post and in behind Greiss to win the game for the Red Wings.
Greiss played well in his Penguins debut, stopping 27 of 31 Red Wings shots. The Penguins were outshot for the second consecutive game, getting only 26 shots on goal.
The Penguins penalty kill was a bright spot, as they killed all three Detroit power plays. After giving up six power play goals in the first 15 times they were shorthanded, the team has killed off their last 12 consecutive penalties. The Red Wings penalty kill, a league best 18 for 18 coming in to the game, also shutout the Penguins with the man advantage to continue their mastery.
Pittsburgh got off to an excellent start, with first period goals by Pascal Dupuis and Olli Maatta giving the team a 2-0 lead. Detroit answered back with Niklas Kronwall’s first goal of the game with 5:00 remaining in the first period. The Penguins regained a two-goal advantage on Chris Kunitz’s wrist shot in the middle of the second frame.
With their first overtime loss, the Penguins’ record is now 3-2-1, and by gaining a point, they have drawn into a tie with New Jersey for fourth place in the Metropolitan Division. The team’s two-game road trip continues on Saturday, when they will face the Nashville Predators.
