Pens rally in third, upend Canadiens in OT

League: NHL


Posted on: 28 Jan, 2024 at 03:12 AM

Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Pettersson's goal at 2:43 of overtime Saturday gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-2 win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens.

On a two-on-one with Rickard Rakell, and Montreal's Nick Suzuki defending, Pettersson scored from the right circle on a lofted shot to the short side. Pettersson also had an assist.

Lars Eller, who was playing in his 1,000th game, and Jake Guentzel scored in regulation, and Rakell had two assists for the Penguins, who snapped a three-game losing streak (0-2-1).

Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry made 25 saves to improve to 5-1-1 in his career against Montreal.

Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky scored for the Canadiens, who have lost four of five (1-3-1).

Montreal goaltender Jake Allen made 30 saves.

Guhle gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 15:53 of the first. His defense partner, former Penguin Mike Matheson, drew both Penguins defensemen as he moved from the left point into the left circle. That left Guhle alone for a backdoor play. Matheson got the pass through and Guhle had an easy tap-in from just beyond the right post.

Eller, who was the focus of a pregame ceremony, tied it at 4:05 of the second. Rakell took the puck deep below the right circle, then fed Valtteri Puustinen in that circle. Eller moved toward the right hash marks and got the rebound. His shot sailed past the stick of a flailing Allen.

On a power play, Slafkovsky restored Montreal's lead at 12:23 of the second. Set up on another backdoor play by Sean Monahan, Slafkovsky let loose a shot from the bottom of the right circle. The puck caromed in off the shin pad of Ryan Graves to make it 2-1.

A dazzling assist by Sidney Crosby led to Guentzel's tying goal at 10:03 of the third. From the left point, Pettersson fed Crosby in the right circle. Crosby, with Guhle closely marking him, sent a blind, spinning backhand toward the far post, where Guentzel redirected it behind Allen to make it 2-2 on yet another backdoor play.

--Field Level Media