Penguins rally to edge road-weary Jets in a shootout

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan isn’t thrilled with what he’s seeing on the ice lately.

The scoreboard is one other matter.

Kasperi Kapanen and Jeff Carter scored 9 seconds aside within the third interval to erase a two-goal deficit and Sidney Crosby scored the one purpose of the shootout because the Penguins rallied by road-weary Winnipeg 3-2 on Sunday for his or her fifth straight win.

Pittsburgh trailed for greater than 40 minutes and spent far an excessive amount of time chasing the Jets round PPG Paints Area. It’s not a super recipe for a group that desires to make a deep playoff run.

Nonetheless, Sullivan’s group is competing amid the errors. For now, he’ll take it.

“I believed it was a high-event recreation on each side and happily we discovered a option to win,” he stated. “However I don’t assume it was the sport that we wish to play most nights.”

One other spectacular efficiency by All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry, a lucky bounce off Kapanen’s skate and a miscue by Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck let the Penguins escape anyway.

Kapanen started the comeback by redirecting a move from Evgeni Malkin to carry Pittsburgh inside a purpose 6:55 into the third interval. The din had barely died down when Carter tied it after he knocked down Hellebuyck’s clearing try and laced a shot into the open internet earlier than Helleybuyck may scramble again into place.

“We all know we didn’t play the precise approach the primary two durations,” Penguins defenseman Kris Letang stated. “We went again to work. If we play a 60-minute recreation the best way we did on the finish, we’re going to be on the precise facet of issues.”

Jarry, an All-Star for a second time, made 27 saves. He turned away a number of odd-man rushes within the first two durations, after which made a sprawling cease on Blake Wheeler in extra time.

Eight months faraway from a meltdown within the playoffs in opposition to the New York Islanders, Jarry is without doubt one of the causes Pittsburgh is within the thick of a decent race atop the Metropolitan Division on the season’s halfway level.

“He’s a man that lives within the current,” Letang stated of Jarry. “He’s going to concentrate on doing the precise factor within the second.”

The victory could have been essentially the most unlikely of the Penguins’ present seven-game run at dwelling that started after a loss to Montreal on Nov. 27.

Kyle Connor scored his twenty second purpose of the season for the Jets. Wheeler scored in his second recreation again from a lower-body damage that pressured him to overlook greater than a month.

Hellebuyck made 36 saves, however Winnipeg completed 3-3-2 throughout a three-week journey that started on Jan. 2 and included contests in three totally different time zones.

“We had been in an excellent recreation in the present day,” Jets interim coach Dave Lowry stated. “I just like the resiliency that our group confirmed.”

Regardless of taking part in their second recreation in lower than 24 hours, the Jets hardly regarded fatigued. Not a lot for the Penguins who — regardless of being given Saturday off following a win in Columbus on Friday night time — regarded a step gradual at instances in opposition to a group that hasn’t performed inside its personal area in 5 weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wheeler wasted little time giving the Jets the lead, taking a lead move from Mark Scheifele and flicking a backhand over Jarry’s glove 3:28 into the primary interval.

Winnipeg had an opportunity to double its benefit twice late within the interval however Jarry turned away breakaways by each Connor and Wheeler.

Connor earned a measure of revenge 8:11 into the second when he collected a cross-ice feed from Paul Stastny and buried a laser from the precise circle for a 2-0 lead.

Hellebuyck saved Pittsburgh at bay till halfway by means of the third when Kapanen’s skate created his ninth purpose. Carter added his twelfth on a shot from the nook simply above the purpose line.

“I simply had a late choice as a result of it regarded prefer it was going to be icing for a second,” Hellebuyck stated after falling to 1-3-2 in his final six begins. “Then after I determined, my solely play was to place it behind the web they usually simply have a man facet open proper there. Simply looks like my luck proper now.”

NOTES: Letang appeared in his 900th recreation with the Penguins, becoming a member of Crosby, Malkin and Corridor of Famer Mario Lemieux as the one gamers to succeed in that milestone in franchise historical past. … Letang’s career-best 10-game level streak got here to an finish. … Pittsburgh misplaced C Teddy Blueger within the first interval after successful by Winnipeg defenseman Brendan Dillon in opposition to the glass left Blueger bloodied.

UP NEXT

Jets: Play their first dwelling recreation since Dec. 19 on Tuesday when Florida visits on Tuesday night time.

Penguins: Proceed a six-game homestand on Tuesday night time in opposition to Arizona.