Sidney Crosby hadn't scored a goal in a career-high 9 games going into last night's contest with the Buffalo Sabres at HBSC Arena.
After 60 minutes last night, it looked as if he'd stretch that record to 10 games.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he bunted a shot by Evgeni Malkin out of the air and past Sabres' goaltender Ryan Miller about 45 seconds into overtime to complete a Penguin comeback from a 3-2 deficit and give them their 2nd win in the last 3 games.
The play had to withstand a 2-minute video review -- and it was close -- but it held up, and the Penguins were able to leave the miserable weather in Buffalo feeling a little better about themselves than when they arrived.
In addition to his assist on Crosby's game winner, Malkin padded his NHL-leading point total with 2 other helpers. The Penguins' also received a strong offensive game from rookie defenseman Alex Goligoski, who scored twice and added an assist.
Pascal Dupuis scored the other goal for the Penguins, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 32 Sabre shots.
The Penguins have little time to enjoy the win, because they are back in action tonight at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tonights' game will be interesting on several fronts.
First, it is the first game in Pittsburgh for Lightning players and former Penguins Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, and Adam Hall. Of course, Mark Recchi will be returning to Pittsburgh again, but he's done that several times before. It should be a particularly emotional game for Malone.
Tonight's contest will also mark the return of Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney, who hasn't seen game action since game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals last year. After off-season surgery to correct a foot deformity, Whitney has missed the first 33 games of the season. He played in one game conditioning assignment in the AHL with the Baby Penguins over the weekend -- scoring an assist on the power play -- and is expected to boost the Penguins' man advantage.
What will be interesting is to see which defenseman sits out so Whitney can play. I'm fairly sure Orpik, Letang and Scuderi won't be the guys taking a seat. I think Goligoski will probably stay in the lineup as well. That leaves Eaton or Boucher as the candidates for a scratch.
One other note that I neglected to mention last week during this hectic holiday season -- the Penguins traded former prospect Jonathan Filewich to the St. Louis Blues for a 6th round draft pick. Filewich was once thought to have a future with the Penguins as an up-and-down 3rd line banger along the wall, but he never demonstrated any kind of scoring touch in his 4 years in the AHL. The writing has been on the wall for him the last several years as many of his Baby Penguin teammates were called up to the big club before him. The Penguins won't miss him.
Recap tomorrow.
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