The Pittsburgh Penguins got goals from all over the lineup in a much needed bounce back win.
PITTSBURGH - Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning entered their most recent contest on the second halves of back-to-back situations, turning the game into a war of attrition.
The Penguins, though, came in looking to remain in the win column for the second straight game after snapping a four-game losing streak.
Both teams went with their backup goalies but it was the home team who came out with the extra jump.
The Penguins took an early 5-0 lead in shots on goal and carried their momentum into the game’s first goal.
Drew O’Connor deflected a point shot from Marcus Pettersson for his fourth of the season.
If O’Connor keeps up this sort of stellar play, he should earn a regular spot in the Penguins bottom-six down the stretch.
The fourth line looked good throughout the period adding great pressure on the Lighting and piling up a few more good looks.
The Lightning, however, managed to roar back into the contest by scoring a pair of goals from bounces off of DeSmith.
Despite the odd goals, the Lightning entered the first intermission with a 2-1 lead, but the Penguins had the slight edge in shots at 10-9.
A slight edge in shots quickly turned into a rout in the Penguins favor as they posted six goals in the second period alone.
It wasn’t just six goals, either, it was goals from guys that were well past due for some kind of breakthrough.
Teddy Blueger, Jeff Carter, and Brian Dumoulin all helped chip in to give the Penguins a 7-2 lead through two periods.
The last five goals of the period all came in quick succession in the final minutes of the period; the five tallies came in just 4:27, the second-fastest five goal trend in Penguins history.
Sidney Crosby and Jason Zucker also contributed with goals of their own during the onslaught.
The Penguins couldn't take their foot off of the pedal in the third, because the Lightning are a team that can have just as lethal of an offense.
Like clockwork, the Lightning got a goal back on the power play to pull themselves within four.
That would be it for both teams, however, as the Penguins cruised with their six-goal second period to a 7-3 win.
The victory was more than just a blowout victory, it was a huge turnaround win at home after getting embarrassed in a similar fashion last time they played at PPG Paints Arena.
It was a win the Penguins needed to build their confidence back down the final games of the season.
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