For the second consecutive game the Pittsburgh Penguins went into the third period without a goal and trailing. And for the second consecutive game they emerged with victory.
Pascal Dupuis scored twice in five minutes, Craig Adams added an empty netter, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves as the Penguins came back to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1, Thursday night.
Both teams seemed wary of taking offensive chances to start the game resulting in a 0-0 tie heading into the first intermission.
The Leafs got on the board first with a goal from Tyler Bozak midway through the second period. Phil Kessel took the puck in the neutral zone and skated down the left side. Instead of shooting he delayed and crossed towards the high slot before sending a short pass to Cody Franson. The defenseman wasted no time in sending a cross-ice pass to Bozak who beat a sprawling Marc-Andre Fleury.
Toronto had a chance to extend the lead late the period as John-Michael Liles sent the puck in front, but Marc-Andre Fleury was able to make a save with his right toe to keep the game at a 1-0 deficit.
Both teams continued to find tough roadblocks in the third period as the action was back and forth but with limited shots. Then, with just over seven minutes remaining, the Penguins scored to tie the game at one. The goal was scored by Pascal Dupuis but it was all Sidney Crosby on the play.
The puck was sent around the boards by the Penguins and Chris Kunitz won a puck battle from the corner. Kunitz passed the puck to Crosby in the slot who then sent a spinning pass to Pascal Dupuis in front of the net. Goaltender Ben Scrivens was completely off guard and Dupuis buried the puck for the tying goal.
Brooks Orpik took a tripping penalty just 37 seconds after the goal which gave the Leafs power play a chance to retake the lead. But the Penguins killed the penalty and were able to keep the score tied as the final minutes ticked down.
Marc-Andre Fleury played a spectacular game and earned the third star late in the third period. After Brooks Orpik’s stick broke on an offensive zone slap shot, Leo Kamarov stole the puck and skated in on Fleury with a breakaway. Kamarov attempted to beat Fleury over his left shoulder but the goaltender stood tall and denied the shot.
Just a few minutes later, the Leafs had something going with Phil Kessel along the half wall. Kessel saw a lane for a cross-ice pass to James van Riemsdyk but Sidney Crosby’s diving poke check knocked the puck away denying a scoring chance for Toronto.
On the same shift, the Penguins took the puck from the defensive zone and charged towards the net. Chris Kunitz, with Bozak draped all over him, stopped and skated towards the point before back handing a pass to Dupuis in the high slot. Dupuis quickly shot the puck on net and beat Scrivens glove side who may have been screened by his own defenseman.
Toronto had received a power play with 23 seconds remaining in the game and pulled the goaltender for a 6 on 4 advantage. The Penguins blocked a shot from the point and Craig Adams lifted the puck down the ice and into the net for an empty-net goal.
- Adams’ goal was the first shorthanded goal of the year for the Penguins.
- Craig Adams has all three goals for the fourth line this year; two on empty-netters.
- The top line of Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis has produced 35 points in seven games this month.
Three Stars
- Sidney Crosby
- Pascal Dupuis
- Marc-Andre Fleury
Photo courtesy of Yahoo! sports
