Jesse Ylönen scores his first NHL goal late in the second, but Montreal concedes two goals in the third, allowing the Penguins to walk away.
Article content
PITTSBURGH – The Canadians and the Penguins kept the streaks alive Tuesday night, but that was good news just for the penguins.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The home team defeated the Canadiens 5-2 for their fifth win in a row, while the Canadiens’ winless streak extended to seven games (0-6-1).
The second period has been a problem for the Canadiens this season and they made it difficult for them as they provided the Penguins with four power games, including a 5-on-3 lead for 1:43.
They were outscored 18-8 in the frame, but managed to get into the intermission only 3-2 after Jesse.
Ylönen scored his first NHL goal in what appeared to be a desperate shot from the point with three seconds to go.
The goal should have given the Canadiens a boost, but Brian Dumoulin restored the Penguins’ two-goal lead at 28 seconds into the third period and Brian Boyle scored in the middle of the period for the final margin.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Penguins scored on just one of their five power plays, going 2-0 when Evan Rodrigues scored on a shot from the left wing circle 6:45 in the second period. Kris Letang received an assist on goal for his 600th NHL point.
The Canadiens responded 14 seconds later. Jonathan Drouin scored his fifth goal of the season when he beat Tristan Jarry with a club punch, but the heavy lifting on the goal was provided by Laurent Dauphin, who won a battle along the end boards and found Drouin up front. .
The Penguins were up by two goals when Montrealer Mike Matheson scored on a shot from the spot at 11:27.
Montreal’s penalty, which ranks 30th in the NHL, was put to the test early in the second period.
Joel Armia left to grab the stick and, 17 seconds later, he was joined by Alexander Romanov who tripped Letang. The Penguins had three shots on goal, but Allen was up to the task.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Penguins opened the scoring at 14:07 in the first period when Kasperi Kapanen showed off his baseball skills. Jeff Petry, who returned to the lineup after missing four games with an upper body injury, couldn’t get all he wanted on a punt pass and Rodrigues cut the puck into the high slot.
Rodrigues threw the puck into the air and Kapanen was on the side of the net and headed the puck home with a pennant wave. Jeff Allen began to protest that Kapanen hit the puck high with a high stick, but it wasn’t close enough to warrant a video review.
After a slow start, each team had a chance to score before Kapanen’s goal.
Nick Suzuki had the first good scoring opportunity of the game, but hit the post. The Penguins responded with a 2v1 run, but Allen slid down the crease to stop Jason Zucker after he received a pass from Danton Heinen.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Mike Hoffman also hit a pole in the first period.
Pittsburgh had the only power play in the first period and Allen stopped Sidney Crosby on the only shot. He also stopped Cosby on a last minute getaway. Crosby finished with two assists for the 400th multi-point game of his career.
The Canadiens were missing defender Chris Wideman. He returned to Montreal on Tuesday to be with his wife, Caroline, who was expecting the couple’s first child.
-
Stu Cowan: Watching the Crosby Ballpoint star weave his magic as a timeless gift
-
Canadiens Notebook: More Line Changes As Coach Looks For A Spark
-
What the Puck: Losing culture begins to permeate Canadians
Reference-montrealgazette.com