Crosby and Malkin Clutch In Series Tying OT Victory
 Boston 3,  Pittsburgh 4 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | Final | | BOS (1) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | | PIT (1) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
|
,
Mellon Arena,
Pittsburgh, PA
|
Shots BOS 20 PIT 39
Pittsburgh (AP)--
Despite coming out on fire and determined to tie the series heading back to Boston, the Penguins nearly came away with a sour defeat as Boston goaltender
Manny Fernandez was simply amazing this evening in a losing cause, stopping 35 of 39 shots--many of them on his back.
"
I really felt good...its tough to lose though...so we're happy to be headed home tied with these guys...they are good and they come in waves", said Fernandez of the Penguins who out shot the Bruins 39-20 on the night.
The Pens would control most of the first period, taking a 2-0 lead on goals by
Peter Sykora and
Jonathan Cheechoo, only to seemingly choke once again as
Chuck Kobasew and
Phil Kessel would score at 16:58 and 19:42 of the 1st, deflating the Pens heading into the intermission.
"We've got to cut it out with the melt downs. It possibly cost us game one and nearly cost us again tonight. These lapses can be deadly this time of year", stated head coach Mario Lemieux.
Marco Sturm would give the Bruins a 3-2 lead midway through the 2nd period and that lead would stand until
Evgeni Malkin would once again play the hero,
scoring with just 1:27 left in regulation, sending the game into sudden death overtime.
The overtime would last just 52 seconds as
Pavel Bure would set up
Sidney Crosby for the game-winning goal, sending the series back to Boston tied at a game apiece.
"Pavel was really buzzing tonight...well, he has been for the last few games now. He's not getting goals, but 6 assists in 8 games isn't too shabby", said Crosby, whose GW goal in OT was his 6th of the postseason.
The series will now shift to Boston as the Pens look to take the lead in the series after losing consecutive game one's in the first and second rounds.
Key Stats
Crosby Goal (6) Assist GW Goal in OT, 9 SOG
Bure 2 Assists
Malkin Goal (5)
Cheechoo Goal (2)
Fleury 17 saves on 20 shots
Sturm Goal (3)
Kessel Goal (3)
Kobasew Goal (1)
Fernandez 35 saves on 39 shots
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NHL News Wire--The Chase For Stanley
NJ 3
OTT 1
(Series tied at 1)
DAL 4
ANA 2
(series tied at 1)
CHI 1
STL 2
(Blues lead 2-0)