In a five-goal third period for the Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each scored twice in a five-goal, on Tuesday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, who regrouped from down two goals for a 6-3 win against the New Jersey Devils.
For the Penguins (34-30-11) Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson also scored, throughout a six-game point streak who are 4-0-2, on Monday at the New York Rangers including a 5-2 win. 23 saves were made by Alex Nedeljkovic.
Within three points of the Washington Capital, the Penguins moved, in hand who had one game, from the eastern for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup. On Tuesday, who lost the Capitals 6-2 at the Buffalo Sabres, on Thursday host the Penguins.
Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan uttered, “I thought it was a blustery effort by our guys.” “Early we could tell we didn’t have a lot of zeal. A lot of juice tonight we just didn’t have. Where sometimes you play against the schedule It was one of those nights. Last night that game in New York took a lot out of our guys.
“We dug in and we hung in there. A lot of credit given to our players by me”
Curtis Lazar, Timo Meier, and Jesper Bratt scored, for the Devils (36-35-4) Nico Hischier and John Marino each had two assists, and three of five who have lost two straight. 15 saves were made by Jake Allen.
In the wild-card race, the Devils are six points behind the Capitals.
New Jersey coach Travis Green uttered, “The explanation is not easy, mainly after the first two periods.” “In the first two periods, I thought we played almost as ideal a game as we could’ve.” A great deal of life I didn’t give. I don’t think we necessarily lessen, but with some power plays we gave.”
At 6:48 of the third Crosby cut it to 3-2 with a power-play goal, Bryan Rust that hit near the post tap in a pass.
A shot from Jack St. Ivany between his legs by diverting Malkin then tied it 3-3 at 7:55.
At 16:16 Rakell gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead, New Jersey defenseman Simon Nemec passed by redirecting a shot from Marcus Pettersson.
Rakell said, “The power-play goal got us going is a thought by me.” “We know anything can happen by just making it a one-goal. After that play hockey. Just showed that we wanted it and we played with emotions.”
22 seconds scored by Malkin and after Rakell pushed it to 5-3 on another deflection, and into an empty-net goal with 2:53 remaining for the 6-3 final 39th of the season Crosby scored.
Crosby said, “I think just hopelessness.” It was going to be an uphill climb there thought by me. To get one on the other powerplay was good. I’m just putting pucks to the net. With a huge tip ‘Geno’ comes up, and after that ‘Raks’ and again Geno. So, I was thinking of we got a lot of momentum there.”
At 7:54 of the first period, Karlsson put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0, off Nemec’s skate in the slot from above the right face-off that hit New Jersey forward Erik Haula and deflected with the help of a wrist shot scored.
At 19:43 when his one-timer averted off the stick of Pettersson Meier tied 1-1 on the power play. In 16 games it was the 14th goal.
At 9:42 of the second period with a snap shot over Nedeljkovic’s glove from just outside the line Lazar gave the Devils a 2-1 lead.
Lazar said, “The other team’s got skill, it is the NHL.” “They’re not moving to roll over easy. They’re proceeding to try to make it hard on us.”
