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.