The Pittsburgh Penguins needed to use two goalies but they came away with a 1-0 shutout victory over the Montreal Canadiens to extend their win streak to 13 games.
Tomas Vokoun entered the game in the third period after Marc-Andre Fleury was forced out with what looked like a head injury, and battled every step of the way to preserve the victory.
Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby scored the lone goal of the game 13 minutes into the second period to extend his point streak to five games.
The Canadiens came out firing against the Penguins and dominated most of the first period. The Habs registered ten shots on goal, twice the amount as Pittsburgh, but Marc-Andre Fleury was there every step of the way.
Fleury made a tough stop on David Desharnais midway through the first period and denied a second chance opportunity in traffic. He followed that up with an unbelievable save with the right pad off a cross-ice one timer.
After a loose puck in the crease was cleared by Brooks Orpik, Chris Kunitz found the puck in the defensive zone and wired a perfect stretch pass to Sidney Crosby on the attacking blue line. Crosby skated in on Carey Price and wristed a perfectly placed shot past the stick side of the goaltender.
With under a minute remaining in the second period, Fleury froze a loose puck to stop play. Just as the whistle blew, Brian Gionta shoved Tyler Kennedy into the goaltender. Fleury lay on the ice, face down, for a few seconds before slowly coming up to his knees. Team trainer, Chris Stewart, came on the ice to speak with Fleury about the injury and appeared to be touching the back of Fleury’s neck.
Dan Bylsma did not give specifics to the injury after the game.
Matt Cooke, still angered about the play from Gionta, took a roughing penalty to start the third period. The Penguins easily killed off the penalty and continued to go after Gionta for retribution.
Montreal’s greatest opportunity to score came with six and a half minutes to go in the game. Chris Kunitz attempted to back hand the puck out of the defensive zone but it was easily picked off by Tomas Plekanec at the top of the slot. Plekanec skated in on Vokoun uncontested, and fired a wrist shot on net. Vokoun swallowed the puck into his chest to freeze play.
The Canadiens pulled the goalie in the final minute of the game but the Penguins would not allow the game-tying goal.
- This is the fourth combined shutout in franchise history for the Penguins; the last coming on February 2nd, 2011 when Brent Johnson was ejected for fighting Islanders’ goaltender, Rick Dipietro.
- Sidney Crosby has registered a point in each of his 12 home games against the Montreal Canadiens.
- The Penguins’ 13 wins in March set a franchise record for wins in a month.
Three Stars
- Sidney Crosby
- Brooks Orpik
- Carey Price
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
