On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed a rollicking 4-3 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario that was vital to their hopes of reaching the postseason.
But they lost arguably their most vital component to that endeavor as forward Sidney Crosby left the contest prematurely.
After recording a single shift in the second period, Crosby left the contest after the 19-minute, 22-second mark of the second frame. Via social media, the team announced Crosby would not return to the contest. Afterwards, coach Dan Muse told reporters in Ottawa that Crosby was being evaluated for an undisclosed injury.
Shootout goals by forwards Egor Chinakhov and Ben Kindel were the difference in Thursday’s result as the Penguins improved to 3-10 in shootouts this season.
With the win, the Penguins (36-20-16, 88 points) moved into second place of the Metropolitan Division, inching ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets (38-23-11, 87 points).
Goaltender Stuart Skinner unofficially made 26 saves on 29 shots in regulation and overtime, then allowed only one goal on three attempts in the shootout as his record improved to 21-14-9.
Senators forward Drake Batherson opened the scoring 4:28 into regulation, netting his 29th goal of the season during a power-play sequence.
The Penguins responded at 13:46 of the opening frame via forward Rickard Rakell’s 16th goal.
From behind his own net, Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven tried to bank a stretch pass off the right wing wall, only to have it intercepted at the point by Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson. Chugging up to the near half-wall, Karlsson slid the pass to the high slot, where a ready Rakell raised his stick and raked a one-timer that roasted goaltender Linus Ullmark’s blocker.
Senators forward Nick Cousins restored a lead for his team 110 seconds into the second period with his ninth goal.
Karlsson continued to offer elevated play and tied the score again with his 12th goal less than two minutes later at the 3:45 mark.
Corralling a loose puck on the left half wall of the offensive zone, Rakell danced through stick checks from former Penguins forward Lars Eller and Michael Amadio, then fed a pass across the ice to Karlsson. Advancing into the right circle, Karlsson gripped and ripped a wrister past Ullmark’s blocker on the far side. Kindel, absorbing some of Crosby’s duties as the top-line center, provided a screen on the sequence.
Rakell supplied the Penguins with their first lead of the contest by scoring on a five-on-three power-play scenario 103 seconds into the third period.
Penguins forward Noel Acciari, getting a rare shift on the power-play in Crosby’s absence, won a draw in Ottawa’s right circle against Senators forward Ridly Greig. That allowed Rust to tap the puck toward the near point for Karlsson. Surveying his options for a moment, Karlsson slid a pass toward the left dart, and Rakell smacked the tar out of a one-timer, beating Ullmark on the near side.
Batherson matched Rakell with his second goal of the contest at 3:58 of the third period by sweeping a loose rebound in the crease past Skinner’s right skate.
The Penguins issued yet another coach’s challenge for goaltender interference that wound up being unsuccessful. They have failed on all nine challenges they have issued for goaltender interference this season.
Batherson scored the Senators’ lone shootout goal.
Note: Penguins forward Anthony Mantha was in the lineup a day after being withheld from practice in Cranberry because of an undisclosed injury. … Penguins forwards Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Both were healthy scratches.
