Pittsburgh Penguins overcome Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in shootout – NHL Update
A miserable day for goalies ended when Pittsburgh Penguins stretched their winning streak to five games after defeating Montreal Canadiens, 5-4, in a shootout in the National Hockey League (NHL) game on Friday, January 20, 2012, at the CONSOL Energy Center
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
In a high-scoring game, Evgeni Malkin shined for the Penguins as he got the team back into the game after scoring an equaliser in the final period and then became the only player to beat the goalie in the shootout.
Dustin Jeffrey also scored two goals.
Penguins’ goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, made 25 saves while his Canadiens’ counterpart, Peter Budaj, registered 34. Both the goalies gave away four goals each in regulation.
Budaj, however, failed on stopping Malkin’s shot in the shootout and surrendered the game.
The Canadiens had a good start to the game and by the end of first period, they had a one-goal lead, which was increased to two by the end of second. However, the Penguins fought back hard in the final to level the score.
"We had a chance to close it out and unfortunately we didn't do it and it's very frustrating at a time like this", Canadiens’ left winger, Max Pacioretty, said. "If we hang onto that lead, it's a completely different story. It's frustrating it keeps happening
but we've got to find answers".
The first goal was scored by Lars Eller in the first minute of the game as he was luckily present near the goalie when the puck was fired to him and was able to divert it into the net.
Kris Letang equalised the score at 4:02, but at 5:41, Erik Cole once again put the Canadiens in lead.
The lead was increased early in the second period when the shorthanded Penguins felt completely helpless.
Tomas Kaberle and David Desharnais set up Andrei Kostitsyn, who was present in front of the goalie. As soon as the puck got to him, Kostitsyn slashed it hard into the net taking the score to 3-1.
The Penguins fell shorthanded once again, but this time, instead of falling behind, they reduced the deficit with a goal from Dustin Jeffrey at 5:32.
Max Pacioretty brought the lead back to the Canadiens at 10:34, giving an impression that the Penguins would taste defeat.
Things began turning the other way round as the Penguins snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by initiating a comeback in the final period.
Jeffrey scored his second goal of the game to reduce the deficit to one goal.
Later at 17:17, Malkin scored his 25th goal of the season to level the score, forcing the game into an extra period.
After the goalless extra period, the game went into a shootout and no one but Malkin could score there.
"He's able to do a lot of things that a lot of guys aren't able to do", Jeffrey said about Malkin. "He seems to be scoring those timely goals for us. What he's been doing lately for us, it's just unbelievable".
The Penguins are now going to face Washington Capitals on Sunday, while Canadiens will play against Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
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