Pittsburgh Penguins show determination with seventh straight victory over St. Louis Blues 3-2 in SO
Pittsburgh Penguins ended the first half of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season in a major way with their seventh straight victory, this time over the St. Louis Blues, 3-2, in a shootout decider to keep the points coming and overtaking
the fifth number spot in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at the Scottrade Center in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States.
Marc-Andre Fleury was one of the major contributors of the night with his 32 save performance and falling short on only two to keep his team alive while St. Louis’, Brian Elliott, also played very well by blocking 37 of 39, but an extra goal in shootout
took the match out of their hands.
"Just some unbelievable, acrobatic saves, flash of the pads", Penguins’ coach, Dan Bylsma, said. "In the shootout again he comes up just big enough".
James Neal scored the inaugural goal of the night in the opening minutes of the second period during their only power play advantage of the 20 minute phase as David Backes was booked for holding with a minor penalty.
Steve Sullivan added the second straight for the Penguins, giving them a comfortable lead midway through the contest while Patrik Berglund finally put St. Louis on the scoreboard with less than five minutes remaining till the final period kicked off.
Berglund was the man that kept the momentum high for St. Louis with his 12th of the season, that too, on a breakaway shorthanded at the 5:04 mark of the third period, giving the Blues a crucial equaliser and forcing an overtime extension for another
chance at winning.
Evgeni Malkin fired off the first shootout goal after St. Louis missed on both of theirs while T.J. Oshie levelled it on their third and final attempt.
Chris Kunitz made Pittsburgh’s fifth attempt count and took the match with St. Louis having missed their deciding shot earlier.
"What we can take away from this is the way that we raised our level as the game went on", Oshie said. "Last night against Detroit, that's where we fell down. That's where we struggled. They kicked it up in the second period and third period and we didn't
respond. I think tonight, we were that team. We were the team that was kicking it in".
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