Penguins Flip Switch for Win Over Devils
A five-goal third period keeps the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff hopes alive for their second straight win.
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their road trip with a stop against the New Jersey Devils. While an illness has forced some changes to the Penguins lineup, they have historically struggled in New Jersey.
In the second half of a back-to-back and playing Alex Nedeljkovic in goal for the second night in a row, the Penguins were going to have their hands full. It would be a huge contest for both teams as they looked to keep their playoff hopes alive.
First Period
The Devils seemed to have momentum right away, taking an early lead in shots over a tired and sick Penguins roster. Despite the attack, the Devils couldn’t beat Nedeljkovic.
On just their second shot of the game, Erik Karlsson snapped a seven-game run with no points to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes. Karlsson’s shot deflected off a Devils’ defender, but it was a much-needed lucky bounce for him and the team.
Through the rest of the opening period, the Penguins didn’t muster much more offense, and the Devils took advantage of a late power play chance.
With under a minute remaining in the period, Reilly Smith went to the box for holding, but the Devils didn’t need much time. A one-time shot from Timo Meier beat Nedeljkovic to tie the score with about 18 seconds remaining in the period.
At the end of one, the score was tied at one, but the Penguins only notched four shots on goal to the Devils 10.
Second Period
The Penguins started the second period just as slowly as they finished the first, failing to record a shot through the first few minutes of play.
With their foot firmly on the pedal, the Devils took advantage of a brief defensive mishap to take a 2-1 lead. Both Karlsson and P.O. Joseph dipped behind the Penguins net leaving Curtis Lazar open for his first goal in two months.
The Penguins didn’t have much of an answer, and in the final minutes of the second period, the Devils took a two-goal lead. An easy breakaway chance put the Devils up 3-1, and they took that lead into the second intermission.
Third Period
Entering the final frame, the Penguins needed a huge period to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Penguins have often struggled in third periods, but from behind, they turned their game up a notch. Sidney Crosby scored early in a power play opportunity to pull the Penguins within one. For a struggling power play unit, that was a huge goal for the Penguins.
About a minute later, Evgeni Malkin deflected a Jack St. Ivany shot to suddenly knot the score at three. Not only did St. Ivany's shot help pull the Penguins to even, but it counts as his first point in the NHL.
A bad hit from Malkin on Simon Nemec turned up the heat between the two teams. Despite the level of heat, the Penguins took over. Rickard Rakell deflected a Marcus Pettersson for three unanswered goals and a 4-3 lead.
They made it a fourth unanswered when Malkin picked up his second goal of the night. The Penguins took hold of a 5-3 lead with a little over three minutes to play and complete control in their favor.
Now down by two, the Devils pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, but Crosby took no time securing the empty net tally. The goal gave the Penguins their fifth of the period and all but sealed their second straight win.
With only a handful of games remaining in the season, the Penguins are keeping their playoff hopes alive.
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