clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Penguins vs. Flames Recap: late goal earns a point, Pens lose in OT

The Pittsburgh Penguins don’t get blown out in a back-to-back situation, but they still do lose in OT. Tristan Jarry strong in his first NHL start of the season

By Hooks Orpik
NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins at Calgary Flames Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Lineups

Two changes for the Penguins - Tristan Jarry gets his 2nd career NHL start (and first of the season) and Carl Hagelin slots back in for Josh Archibald.

1st period

What happens early is basically...nothing. Which is a great thing! In almost every night of the back-to-back games where the Pens get blown out, they start games very slow and seemingly end up down 2 or 3 nothing by the time of the first television timeout. This time, 0-0. Progress!

Pittsburgh gets an early power play but can’t score. Mike Smith making saves and also actively warring with Patric Hornqvist. Hagelin gets a partial breakaway but Smith is there again. Shots are 15-3 Pens at one point. End up 19-8 for the period.

2nd period

Not much more going on. The Pens take and kill off 3 penalties. Jarry looks pretty solid and steady back there. Shots 14-10 Flames on the period, in large part due to the 3-0 penalty edge. Score still 0-0.

3rd period

The defensive battles continue

Kris Letang gets his stick up and takes a penalty with a little over 4 minutes remaining and it doesn’t take the Flames long to finally cash in. Sean Monahan throws the puck to the net where it bounces off the skate of a Pens defender and goes in. 1-0 Calgary late.

The Pens pull Jarry and find a way to tie it. Looked like Evgeni Malkin was probably offside but too late, Letang redeems himself for the penalty by throwing a point-shot on net that may have glanced off Hornqvist but at press time is given to Letang to tie the game with 1:12 left. UPDATE: goal changed to Hornqvist officially.

Overtime

The Pens control play for a little but mismanage the puck and Mark Giordano ends the game in OT firing a puck over the glove of Jarry to end it 2-1 for Calgary.

Some Thoughts

  • Interesting OT wrinkle, each of the 4 previous Pittsburgh OT’s this season it was Jake Guentzel starting the session with Sidney Crosby and Letang. This time it was Conor Sheary taking Guentzel’s place.
  • Pens finally scored on their 41st shot of the night, boy they’ve been making opposing goalies look good lately. Take nothing away from Mike Smith though, he’s been excellent all season and tonight was no exception.
  • Jarry wasn’t half bad himself, looked more like career start 200 instead of 2. Didn’t end up getting the win, but it wasn’t his fault and for once Pittsburgh finally got solid goaltending on the second night of a back-to-back.
  • Not too many thoughts on a late night, glad to see this wasn’t a typical blowout, the Pens looked pretty good. 44 shots on goal for the night. Only 1 power play. Found a way to score late to earn a point in the standings for the night.

One more game to go on this seemingly never ending road trip and the Pens only get one day off and play the 3rd game in 4 days on Saturday night in Vancouver.

More From PensBurgh