Penguins Fight Back, Carolina Jinx Remains; Another OT Loss

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Pittsburgh Penguins (17-17-7) claimed a two-goal lead in the first period before being overrun by Carolina Hurricanes (24-14-2) in the second period. Their 2-0 lead became a 3-2 deficit by the end of 40 minutes, but a 3-3 tie at the end of regulation.

For the second consecutive game on the three-game trip, the Penguins needed extra time.

However, 90 seconds into overtime, Carolina’s Sebastian Aho swatted a rebound out of the air for the 4-3 overtime winner at the Lenovo Center Sunday. The Penguins’ winless streak in Carolina remained in tact, as the team hasn’t won in Carolina since Dec. 20, 2018.

After 40 minutes, the Penguins had just 10 shots on goal, including a pair of largely ineffective power plays. Carolina reduced the Penguins’ recent surge to a standstill.

Yet the Penguins earned a tying goal early in the third period when Karlsson finished extended time in the offensive zone with a rocketed shot from the left wall at 1:51 of the third.

Seth Jarvis scored a pair of goals in the second period. The first was the result of Matt Grzelcyk’s errant stretch pass, which Sebastian Aho intercepted. Grzelcyk’s defense partner Karlsson didn’t slide to cover the slot on Carolina’s rus,h and Jarvis (10) had plenty of space to snap a high wrister past Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic at 4:15 of the second.

It appeared the Penguins were attacking later in the second period after Bryan Rust intercepted a pass in the defensive zone and rushed to the Carolina zone. However, Rust’s drop pass for Sidney Crosby went to the wrong team, and Carolina transitioned four-on-two. There were no Penguins defenders to cover defenseman Jalen Chatfield (4) in the slot, and Chatfield easily beat Nedeljkovic at 12:45 of the second.

Bad luck befell the Penguins and Crosby later in the second period. Crosby lost an edge, which allowed Carolina to keep the puck in the offensive zone–Jarvis (11) was open in the slot and scored his second on a backhand deke.

In a stunning turnaround of traditional routines, the Penguins, not Carolina, started strong, scored on the first shot of the game, created odd-man rushes in the first period, and erased a third-period deficit.

After a Carolina mixup in the offensive zone, the Penguins’ third line transitioned quickly to offense with a three-on-one. Winger Drew O’Connor executed the center drive to take the defenseman to the net, and center Kevin Hayes (5) zipped a wrist shot through Carolina goalie Dustin Tokarski’s five-hole at 3:47 of the first period.

Just 81 seconds later, the Penguins claimed a 2-0 lead via defenseman Erik Karlsson’s virtuoso assist. Karlsson kicked the puck between his skates back to himself at the blue line and skated past the forward to deep in the zone. As the defenseman approached, Karlsson slid a perfect pass through the defenseman’s feet to Michael Bunting in the slot. Bunting (12) had time to settle the puck and pick the corner past Tokarski at 5:08.

Plays like that are the reason Karlsson makes $11.5 million per season. The Penguins needed a few more Sunday, and Karlsson came through with the tying goal.

Nedeljkovic stopped 24 of 27 shots, while Carolina protected Tokarski until the third period. The former Penguins goalie stopped 16 of 19 shots. The Penguins more than doubled their shot total in the third period, getting nine on net.

Penguins Notes

Kevin Hayes had six faceoff wins, but the best winning percentage of the Penguins centers. Hayes also had a third period breakaway, which Tokarski stopped.

Coach Mike Sullivan switched the defensive pairing from practice on Saturday. Owen Pickering played on the third pair with P.O Joseph. Marcus Pettersson played on the top pairing with Kris Letang.