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PHN 5-Minute Penguins Postgame, Crosby, Depth and DeSmith in OT Win

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Despite Sidney Crosby’s 500th career goal, fittingly assisted by Evgeni Malkin, the Pittsburgh Penguins trailed 4-2 later in the third period. Then two goals in 18 seconds, including the first goal of the season by defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, vaulted the Penguins to overtime. Just as poetically as Malkin assisting on Crosby’s milestone goal, his other longtime teammate, Kris Letang, fooled Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart by looking at Crosby on a two-on-one.

Instead of passing, Letang ripped it past Hart. Overtime game-winner on a historic night.

Crosby scored. Dominik Simon and Ruhwedel scored. And Jake Guentzel scored the Penguins’ second power-play goal, too. It was almost for naught if the Penguins didn’t roar back in the third period.

The Penguins outshot Philadelphia 34-27 and held a decisive advantage for most of the game, but critical mistakes wound up in the back of their net.

“I thought in the second period, in particular with those first 12 minutes or so, we had an extended offensive zone time. And sometimes when you have extended zone time like that, if you’re not careful, it can get too good to you,” Sullivan said. “And then, all of a sudden, you lose the defensive conscience. We have to be able to play with the puck in a responsible way. And just making sure that we don’t turn into a high-risk team…”

In the second period, the Pittsburgh Penguins became a highwire act when they dominated the puck and zone time but gave up three goals by making some bad decisions. But as they’ve done many times this season, the Penguins rose to the occasion, and Sidney Crosby just smiled after winning the game in which he scored No. 500.

“I was just happy and excited. I was just kind of been hovering around it here for a few games. So it was a lot of fun to be able to do it at home and the guys coming on the ice like that–That’s something I’ll definitely always remember,” Crosby said.

After Crosby scored his 500th goal, the team lept from the bench to mob him. Later, Crosby’s parents were shown on the video board, and PPG Paints Arena erupted in Crosby chants, again.

“He just represents everything that’s right about our game. His humility, the way he carries himself, his work ethic, his team-first attitude and approach,” Sullivan said. 

On the negative side, Casey DeSmith allowed four goals on 27 shots, which will do nothing to quell questions about his place on the team, in addition to the Pittsburgh Penguins faulty play that required a third period comeback.