Penguins Reverse Natural Order, Subdue Predators, 4-2

Our Penguins did what they needed to do last night. Namely, took care of business. Skating before a throng of 18,198 at PPG Paints Arena, we overcame the Predators (and zebras, too) to score a well-deserved 4-2 victory. In the process keeping our playoff hopes alive.

To the action. As ready to play as we’ve been all season, the Pens tore into the Preds with a rabid first-period assault while piling up a stunning 20-5 edge in shots on goal. We appeared to draw first blood at 6:23 on a power-play goal by net-front demon Michael Bunting. However, the Preds claimed goaltender interference and the would-be marker was promptly taken off the board.

Undeterred, we cashed in 39 seconds later on the same man-advantage. After cruising through the crease, Bunting fired a shot from the lip of the left circle. The puck popped off the pads of Preds netminder Juuse Saros to open space. Circling from behind the net, Sidney Crosby dove headlong to the ice and swatted the rubber home.

Erik Karlsson made it 2-0 good guys at 13:50 with a missile through traffic from center point. Following suit, Kris Letang appeared to net a power-play goal from the top of the right circle at 16:20. Again the Preds challenged, claiming that Lars Eller had interfered with Saros. Again…incredibly so…the war room in Toronto took up their cause and negated the goal.

Perhaps drained from our early exertions, the Pens sagged noticeably in the second period and the Preds took it to ‘em. Veteran Gustav Nyquist scored from a net-front scramble at 7:24 to make it 2-1. Suddenly, it looked like one of those games that could slip through our fingers.

Just as suddenly, we got an enormous goal and from the unlikeliest of sources to boot. With just six goals in his past 64 games and a dozen on the season, it’s fair to say Reilly Smith has been a major disappointment. But the ex-Golden Knight hustled up ice to negate an icing call and struck moments later on a wrister from the slot to restore our two-goal edge.

The Preds kept coming, pulling to within one on a tally off the rush by Filip Forsberg at 17:36.

Three-two, Pens heading into the final period, and the game’s truly up for grabs.

Again, we got a huge goal from an unlikely source. Near the three-minute mark, Karlsson sent a brilliant, no-look, shot-pass to countryman Emil Bemström in the left circle. With linemate Jeff Carter sagely planted in front of but not atop the prickly Saros, the ex-CBJ pulled the trigger on a bomb of a slapper.

Four-two, good guys.

While Alex Nedeljkovic held the fort, the Pens skated on even terms with the Preds the rest of the way. Assuring we’d live to fight at least one more day.

Puckpourri

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Pens ran up sizeable advantages in shot attempts (72-59), shots on goal (38-30), scoring chances (43-20) and high-danger chances (14-8).

Karlsson atoned for a pair of wobbly games to tally a goal and an assist while earning second-star honors. Without fanfare, EK65’s tallied three goals and nine points in his past seven games. He’s 12th in the league in scoring among defensemen with 55 points (11+44).

Crosby (1+1) received top-star billing. Sid recorded his 50^th assist on Karlsson’s goal, the 11^th time in his career he’s reached that mark.

To me, his dive-on-his-belly-play to score a goal typifies his incredible passion and lead-from-in-front style. Tough not to give your all when you see your captain pouring himself out game-after-game.

Sid’s line (with Bryan Rust and Drew O’Connor) drove play to the tune of an 80.65 Corsi.

Nedeljkovic started his 12^th game in a row and stopped 28 of 30 shots, good for a .933 save percentage. For what it’s worth, I would’ve stuck with Ned, too.

Jansen Harkins returned to the lineup after missing 19 games with a broken hand. While I appreciate his hustle and grit, I’d rather see Jesse Puljujärvi in that slot. However, in Mike Sullivan’s eyes, Harkins seems to be the new Dominik Simon.

HELP!

While we did our part with a huge win, we didn’t receive any help from around the league. The Canadiens jumped to a 4-1 lead over the Red Wings but couldn’t hold, succumbing 5-4 to the Motor City sextet in the waning seconds of overtime. The Capitals shut out Boston, 2-0, while inexplicably limiting sniper David Pastrnák and the potent Bruins to just 16 shots on goal.

Who’da thunk it?

Bottom line?

We need the Wings and Caps to lose their finales tonight, preferably in regulation, for us to have a shot. A win by either team knocks us out of the playoff picture.

Go Habs! Go Flyers!

On Deck

The Pens (38-31-12, 88 points) wrap up their season Wednesday night against the Islanders (38-27-16, 92 points) on Long Island. Let’s hope and pray we’ll be playing for more than pride.

GO PENZ!