Penguins Survive Big Lead, Barely Hang On for Win

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins (8-12-4) managed to turn their blowout win into a tense third-period game, but ultimately their 5-1 lead was insurmountable, even as they relaxed, allowing the Vancouver Canucks (11-7-3) back into the game. Vancouver scored twice in the third period, including Elias Pettersson’s goal with 1:46 remaining.

The Penguins held onto the lead and earned a vital win, erasing a bleak three-game winless streak. They beat Vancouver 5-4 on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena.

For a good while, it seemed the Penguins rid themselves of the self-destructive behavior and malaise that had dogged them since the start of the regular season. Not only did the Penguins avoid allowing a goal on the first shot, but they obtained a two-goal lead and then scored the next goal post haste. They even converted a power-play goal in the first period as the good feelings spread.

Depth players spotted the Penguins an early lead. Defenseman Ryan Shea, who was paired with Jack St. Ivany in a reprisal of last season’s successful pairing late in the season, executed a perfect bank shot-pass off the back wall. The puck caromed to Blake Lizotte (3), who shoveled it past Vancouver goalie Arturs Silovs, who had lost sight of the shot because of net-front traffic at 3:59 of the first period.

The Penguins top line showed off for much of the first period, creating zone time and scoring chances. Bryan Rust skated around the perimeter of the offensive zone before finding a seam. His pass to Rickard Rakell was deflected but not stopped, and Rakell (8) chipped the puck into the net from a few feet away at 12:53.

A couple of minutes later, the Penguins power play struck for a 3-1 lead. In a setup more reminiscent of their early season success, Kevin Hayes (4) finished Evgeni Malkin’s rebound at 15:14.

A bit more than two minutes after that, defenseman Erik Karlsson sprung Sidney Crosby on a two-on-one with Rust. Crosby attracted the defenseman and slid the pass to an open Rust (6), who quickly buried the wrist shot at 17:41 for a 4-1 lead.

The Penguins also got the first goal of the second period to effectively put the game out of reach, and once again, it was crisp breakouts that set up the tally. From behind the net, Karlsson zipped a pass to center ice for Crosby, and then Crosby’s cross-ice pass hit Rust in stride. Rust (7) rushed past the defense for a longer but clean top-shelf wrister behind Silovs at 3:40.

Vancouver tied the game 1-1 in the middle of the first period. It was bad luck for the Penguins and good luck for Vancouver. Defenseman Marcus Pettersson blocked Aatu Raty’s shot, but it rebounded quickly back to Raty (2), who didn’t pause, whipping it past Jarry.

Vancouver did add just a bit of drama later in the second period when Pius Suter took advantage of the Penguins’ relaxed zone coverage. Suter (7) blasted a shot past Jarry from the right circle to make the game 5-2 at 13:40 of the second.

These are the Penguins, and any lead is cause for concern.

Later in the second period, Penguins forward Drew O’Connor made perhaps the best save of the game when he lunged and blocked Erik Brannstom’s shot with the shaft of his stick. It would have been a sure goal late in the second period and pulled Vancouver within two goals instead of the three-goal deficit.

In the first minute of the third period, Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes rushed past multiple Penguins defenders and his deflected shot fluttered past Jarry at :40 of the third period.

It was 5-3, and time for concern. However, the Penguins did enough for the remainder of the period to maintain the lead, barely. Pettersson’s (7) goal in the final two minutes of regulation was with the extra attacker.

Karlsson had three assists. Rust had a pair of goals with one assist and six shots on goal in the first 40 minutes to pace all players on the scoresheet. Jarry stopped 23 of 27. Silovs stopped 18 of 23 shots.

Notes:

Owen Pickering was to be in the lineup but was ill and unable to play.

Ryan Graves and Jesse Puljujarvi were the healthy scratches. Matt Grzelcyk was to be scratched until Pickering fell ill.