Sidney Crosby scored in regulation, then produced the only goal in a shootout to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-1 win over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Crosby, Pittsburgh’s second shooter in the tiebreaking competition, swung to the left, moved into the slot while dribbling the puck, then clanked a shot in off the right post.
Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped Carolina’s Stefen Noesen, Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen in the shootout.
The Penguins earned their second win in a row and their fourth in the past five games.
Nedeljkovic, Pittsburgh’s backup goalie making his second straight start and third straight appearance even while No. 1 Tristan Jarry is healthy, made 23 saves through regulation and overtime.
Teravainen scored the only goal for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of four (1-0-3). They had won five in a row against Pittsburgh, including one game earlier this season.
Carolina goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, who was 3-0-1 in his previous four starts as he fills in for Frederik Andersen, made 24 saves through regulation and overtime.
Crosby opened the scoring with his team-leading 19th goal, giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead at 8:51 of the first period.
He finished a hit in the right corner, then took off toward the net a couple steps ahead of Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei. At the top of the slot, Rickard Rakell shoveled a heavy backhander toward the net. In stride, Crosby deflected the puck over Kochetkov’s glove.
Carolina tied it when Teravainen scored at 14:52 of the second period.
After the Hurricanes surged with a few strong shifts in a row, and with the Penguins stuck on the ice with long shifts after an icing call, Jack Drury, from the high slot, got the puck to Teravainen. From the lower part of the left circle, Teravainen threw the puck toward the net. It bounced off Nedeljkovic’s pads, off Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang and past the goalie’s left skate to make it 1-1.
–Field Level Media