When it’s going your way, it’s going your way.
The Pittsburgh Penguins held off the Calgary Flames in a 4-3 victory to extend their home win streak to ten games and seven games overall.
Calgary outshot the Penguins 30-23 and held a heavy shot advantage in the first and third periods of the game. But Marc-Andre Fleury made several key saves and the Penguins’ offense was opportunistic.
Pascal Dupuis scored midway through the first period with a grinding shift from the top line. Dupuis whiffed on a bouncing puck that was head towards the net. Sidney Crosby picked Ladislav Smid’s pocket and stole the puck away in front of the Calgary goal. Crosby’s quick shot was stopped by goaltender Karri Ramo, but the puck kicked out to Dupuis who poked it into a wide open net.
The goal came after the Flames put the Penguins on their heels but failed to take advantage with a goal.
Just 1:19 later, Harry Zolniercyk tipped in a slapshot from Robert Bortuzzo to extend Pittsburgh’s lead to two.
Paul Byron scored his second goal of the season at the 6:58 mark of the second period to cut the Pittsburgh lead in half. Byron received a pass in the corner, skated all the way out to the point, turned towards the high slot and fired a slap shot that deflected off the right post and in the net.
Calgary was given a power play later in the period, but once again they could not take advantage of the opportunity. Joe Vitale went off for tripping but Joe Colborne took a hooking penalty eighteen seconds later to make it 4 on 4. Simon Despres turned the puck over in his own end but found Sidney Crosby at the top of the defensive zone. Crosby took the puck at center ice, made a quick move past TJ Brodie, then took off to the net. Crosby unleashed a slap shot from the top of the left wing circle that picked the top right corner of the net.
Matt Niskanen added to Pittsburgh’s lead with just over a minute remaining in the second period. Crosby stopped up at the attacking blue line and sent a cross-ice pass to Niskanen who wristed the puck through traffic.
The Penguins had a 4-1 lead with under a minute to go in the second period, but Mike Cammalleri scored to move Calgary within two. Cammalleri fought his way past a Pittsburgh defenseman and whipped the puck past Fleury for the goal.
Jiri Hudler scored in the opening minutes of the third period to make it a 4-3 game. Matt Stajan took the puck behind the Pittsburgh net and sent a perfect pass to Hudler who was wide open in the slot.
Joe Colborne had the best chance to tie the game when his wraparound went off the post late in the third. The Flames outshot the Penguins 12-5 in the final period but couldnt find a way to even the score and the Penguins held on for the win.
- The Flames haven’t defeated the Penguins since December 3rd, 2005.
- Pittsburgh is 22-2-0 when scoring first.
- Sidney Crosby has six goals and seven assists in six games vs Calgary.
Three Stars
- Sidney Crosby
- James Neal
- Mike Cammalleri
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
