Hurricanes Squeak By Penguins in OT, 3-2

The Penguins deserved a better fate.

They rang up 35 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes and goaltender Cam Ward last night and carried the better of the play for a majority of the game, but were beaten in overtime when Carolina defenseman Anton Babchuk managed to catch Penguins' goalie Marc-Andre Fleury slightly off his angle and hammer a slapshot past him in overtime to give Carolina the extra point.

Up to about 2 minutes left in the 3rd period, when Penguins' RW Bill Guerin got called for a unfortunate rather than malicious tripping call, Pittsburgh had the game right there for the taking.

They staked an early 1-0 lead in the first period on a great individual effort from RW Tyler Kennedy, who stripped Carolina's best defensive forward, Rod Brind 'Amour, of the puck, walked out from the corner, and had the mojo to hold onto the puck for longer than most players would have in that situation, buying himself enough time to get Ward to drop to the ice before roofing a backhander by him.

Outstanding play by TK there. It was his 14th goal. He had one of his best games of the season overall for the Penguins last night.

A quick defensive lapse by the Penguins left Eric Staal alone in front to rap in the tying goal later in the first period, and Chad Larose scored a nice goal near side and high on Fleury when he beat him off the rush in the 2nd period.

The Penguins had a goal disallowed in the 2nd when Guerin beat Ward on a surprise wrist shot from the near boards, but right as that was happening, one of the officials was calling a tripping penalty on Chris Kunitz.

Tough call, but probably the right one.

However, the Penguins didn't wilt. In fact, even though they didn't get one there, they did what they do best in the 3rd period, and that's comeback. Jordan Staal ripped a slapshot by Ward about 4 minutes into the period to tie the score. The puck was definitely tipped -- perhaps by Ruslan Fedotenko -- but the play was all about Tyler Kennedy again.

Kennedy made a nice move along the boards to get by a Carolina defenseman who tried to pinch up on him, then curled and found a trailing Staal in his wheelhouse.

That tie score set the table for Guerin's penalty, then the overtime goal by Babchuck.

Babchuk's goal wasn't a power play marker. In fact, it came about 20-25 seconds after the penalty expired, but the Penguins were never able to get out of their defensive zone following the remaining 12 seconds on the man-advantage Carolina had in the extra period.

They also were the victim of the referree failing to stop play when the puck landed on the mesh behind Fleury and Penguins' defenseman Brooks Orpik slowed down for a second thinking that play would be stopped. It didn't, and Carolina was able to dig the puck out of the net and keep things alive.

The Penguins had their chances to really take over this game in regulation, but a combination of them failing to score and Ward's strong play kept Carolina in it.

Among other key moments were a Sidney Crosby breakaway for 120 feet that Ward stopped rather easily, and a penalty shot by Evgeni Malkin in the 3rd period that Ward also shut down rather effortlessly.

Personally, I would rather have taken a power play than have Malkin -- who is not good at penalty shots -- get his opportunity there.

Maybe that will be a rule change in coming years. There is some talk about that at the league level.

The current standings have the Penguins, with last night's point, in 6th place, 2 behind Carolina with a game in hand, and 2 behind the the Philadelphia Flyers (who also lost last night to the Ottawa Senators, but gained a point for falling in OT). The Montreal Canadiens are 1 point behind Pittsburgh in 7th, while the New York Rangers are 4 behind in 8th place.

The Penguins can clinch a playoff spot tonight by beating the Florida Panthers in regulation. Face off there is at 5 PM. The Penguins are currently 6 points up on Florida and the Panthers have 4 to play, including tonight's contest.

The Panthers won't be eliminated from the race altogether if they lose, but there's obviously more at stake for them in this one than there is for the Penguins.

That said, now isn't the time for the Penguins to get a little losing streak going, so it's important they come out strong tonight. Florida is not likely to be happy after losing to the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-1, on Friday night.

Recap tomorrow.

NOTES:

No word from Penguins' interim head coach Dan Bylmsa whether Fleury will start in goal this afternoon, or whether Matheiu Garon is going to play.

Petr Sykora went scoreless again last night. I believe that's 6 straight games for him now. He only has 4 points in his last 22 games. He may still be battling a shoulder problem, but is really struggling out there. The Penguins need his contributions if they are going to get in the playoffs and stay there. Personally, I'd put Sykora on the power play to try and get him started.