The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Ottawa Senators 5-4 in overtime last night at Canadian Tire Centre.
Forwards Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson each had a goal and assist, and forward Brady Tkachuk and defenseman Thomas Chabot each had three assists for the Sens. Goalie Cam Talbot made 15 saves to help the team improve to 20-21-3. The Sens were also 4-for-9 on the power play.
Forward Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists, forward Sidney Crosby had three assists, and goalie Casey DeSmith made 35 saves for the Penguins, who were outshot 40-19 in this game, and fell to 22-15-7.
It is the first time Ottawa had 4+ power-play goals in one game since they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-2 on December 17, 2005. The Sens scored six power-play goals that game.
Forward Josh Norris had two shots on goal in 19:04 of ice time since he returned from injuring his shoulder on October 22nd. He missed 38 games.
In the first period, forward Jason Zucker opened the scoring just over six and a half minutes in, tapping home a rebound to make it 1-0 Penguins. Just over a minute later, forward Alex DeBrincat would get things all tied up at 1-1 on the power play with a low shot that beat DeSmith. Exactly two minutes later, forward Tim Stutzle would score another power-play goal to give the Sens a 2-1 lead. He reached 20 goals for the second straight year and played a whopping 26:29 of ice time. Both of these goals came during a double-minor high-stick that was called on Penguins forward Jeff Carter. At 15:53, forward Evgeni Malkin would tie the game up at 2-2, also putting home a rebound. Sidney Crosby’s assist would give him his 50th point of the season. It is the 16th time he has recorded that many points in a season. Only Alex Ovechkin has more seasons with 50+ points among active players with 17. Crosby now has 21 goals and 52 points in 44 games this season.
Just over three minutes into the second period, defenseman Mark Friedman would give the Penguins the 3-2 lead, beating Talbot with a one-time shot. Forward Drake Batherson would tie the game up at 3-3 on the power play off a backhand tap-in just over nine minutes into the period.
At 10:57, forward Shane Pinto scored on the power play to give the Senators the 4-3 lead. It was his first goal in 15 games. At 12:33, forward Rickard Rakell tied the game up at 4-4 with a power play goal.
Twenty-five seconds into overtime, forward Brady Tkachuk would win the game for the Senators off a wrist shot that beat DeSmith. Tkachuk tied defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Mike Hoffman for second on the Ottawa overtime goals list. It was his 6th career overtime goal. Only forward Mike Fisher has more in franchise history, with 7.
This was the first of two matchups between the teams this week. The teams will take each other on again tomorrow (today when this gets posted) in Pittsburgh.
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