|
 Danny Briere recorded two goals and an assist - including the
tying tally in the third period - while Brendan Gallagher, Max
Pacioretty and defenseman Alexei Emelin also scored as the Canadiens
handed the Penguins only their third home loss in 19 contests
(16-1-2) and halted a five-game losing streak in Pittsburgh.
Desharnais also notched two assists while Peter Budaj made 27 saves
before turning aside all three shots in the bonus format.
James Neal, defenseman Olli Maatta, Brandon Sutter and captain
Sidney Crosby each registered a goal and an assist for the Penguins,
who fell to 23-4-2 at Consol Energy Center. Blue-liner Deryk
Engelland also scored and Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves for
Pittsburgh.
The Canadiens erased the Penguins' final lead when Briere answered a
goal by Crosby 1 1/2 minutes earlier by scoring with 5:54 left in
regulation and Montreal on a five-minute power play. Sutter's
short-handed tally at 7:16 of the third gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead
before Montreal knotted it 24 seconds later on Emelin's long wrist
shot through a screen.
[to top of second column] |
Neal and Engelland countered Gallagher's opening goal to give the
Penguins a 2-1 lead after one period. Briere tied it just over six
minutes into the second before Maatta and Pacioretty traded
power-play tallies, with the latter burying a one-timer from the
right faceoff dot 57 seconds after the former's blast from the point
midway through the session.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Neal registered his 300th career point and extended
his point streak to six games while LW Jussi Jokinen collected his
400th NHL point with an assist on Maatta's tally.. ... Pacioretty's
goal was his 27th of the season, leaving him six shy of his career
high established in 2011-12. ... Penguins D Kris Letang, speaking to
the media Thursday for the first time since suffering a stroke in
late January, said he will undergo more testing in the next two to
three weeks before any decision can be made regarding a possible
return.
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