NHL Scores: Penguins score three in 61 seconds to down Rangers, Lightning power past Blackhawks, and more
Anthony Scultore
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The Rangers were coming in looking confident and got a huge boost when injured defenseman Jacob Trouba came back early from a broken thumb. They even scored a little over a minute in to take a 1-0 lead.
Then the wheels feel off the bus.
NHL Scores: Penguins top Rangers, Islanders in sole possession of first
It started for the Penguins (14-9-1) with a goal by John Marino right after a PP expired. Just 39 seconds later Kasperi Kapanen scored on a breakaway followed by a Sidney Crosby goal just 22 seconds after that. In 61 seconds of the first period, they in essence beat the Rangers (10-10-3). When it was all said and done the Pens had a 5-1 victory.
“A big problem for us tonight was our defensemen on these flips, we were just way too puck-conscious in the neutral zone, not really alert,” David Quinn said after his Rangers mental lapse. “Gave up three or four breakaways tonight because we’re playing the puck and not keeping our body between the net and the offensive player. Just basic things. Our mentality has to change in that scenario.”
The Islanders (15-6-4) now hold sole possession of first in the East as they dispatched the hapless Sabres (6-14-3) again by a 5-2 score. Meanwhile the Capitals (14-6-4) got a big goal from Alex Ovechkin and downed the Flyers (12-7-3) 3-1 to stay within two points of the Islanders. And shockingly the Devils (8-11-2) shutout the Bruins (13-6-3) 1-0 thanks to Scott Wedgewood’s 40 saves.
NHL Scores: Lightning score six unanswered, Hurricanes down Panthers
The Blackhawks (13-8-5) were cruising with a 3-0 lead by the early goings of the second period. Then the Lightning (17-4-2) turned on the power and scores six unanswered – including four on the man advantage. Yanni Gourde led the offense with four points (2G, 2A) and Tampa beat Chicago 6-3.
“We’re down by three goals, we need to get things going,” Tampa’s offensive star Gourde said. “Pretty obvious if we don’t turn the ship around at that point, we’re not going to win that game. We started working better, put a few shifts together, scored a few goals to give us momentum, and it kind of carried on.”
It was a big win for Tampa because they now own sole possession of first place. They got help from the Hurricanes (17-6-1) who took out the Panthers (15-5-4) by a 4-2 score and ruining Keith Yandle’s 1000th game. Vincent Trocheck picked up his 15th of the season and the Canes now hold second place alone. The top three teams are separated by one point in the standings.
Finally in Central Division action, the Predators (11-14) won a shootout over the Stars (7-8-5) by a 4-3 count. Pekka Rinne picked up the win for Nashville.
Remaining scores:
- Senators (9-17-1) edge Flames (11-12-3) in a shootout 4-3