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 They kept it that way -- barely -- thanks to the perseverance of the
Pittsburgh Penguins.
Chicago built a two-goal lead on goals by centers Artemi Panarin and
Jonathan Toews, and needed overtime to win 3-2 on Panarin's second
goal.
It was the Blackhawks' fourth win in a row. They are 17-0-1 when
they have a lead going into the third period. The only exception was
a 3-2 overtime loss Nov. 28 against Los Angeles.
Center Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang scored in the third
period for the Penguins.
"I think we could be better in the third," Chicago defenseman Duncan
Keith said. "They were pressing. We made a few mistakes, but they
have a good team. They have some firepower and they're going to get
their chances. I thought it was a good win."
Panarin's winner came at 3:47 of overtime when he placed a shot
under the crossbar for his 13th goal of the season.
"He's patient," Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford (34 saves) said
of Panarin. "He's got a great shot. He seems like he's getting
better as the season goes here. Definitely dangerous all over the
ice."
The Blackhawks have not won regulation in Pittsburgh since a 5-2
decision Feb. 22, 1997 at the now-razed Civic Arena. The Penguins
are 7-0-5 against Chicago at home since.
Pittsburgh fell to 4-5-2 since Mike Sullivan took over as coach,
although the club is 4-1-2 in its past seven games and 2-0-2 in its
past four.
The Penguins had scored five goals in each of their previous two
games, a departure from their struggles to score most of the season.
That recent run of offense bolstered Pittsburgh when it trailed 2-0
after two periods with a trail of missed chances, including a Crosby
backhander that missed the net, a miss on a half-empty net by right
winger David Perron and a few shots off the posts.
"Those five-goal games that we had weren't flukes," Crosby said.
"Those were things that we earned. The puck luck we got, we
deserved. If we keep getting the chances we got tonight, those will
be more common.
"We just stuck with it and tried to finish out the game and win a
period. We were able to get that point and could have easily gotten
the second one. ... That could be a point that means a lot later
on."
The first period was tight, with the teams registering seven shots
apiece, and scoreless.
Panarin gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 8:47 of the second period off of
a two-on-one with right winger Patrick Kane. With Pittsburgh
defenseman Ben Lovejoy defending, Kane got a pass across to Panarin,
who one-timed a shot from the lower part of the left circle past
goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (27 saves) on the short side.
Kane's assist gave him a four-game point streak. He also earned an
assist on the winner, increasing his league-leading total to 59
points.
Chicago increased its lead to 2-0 with 1:14 left in the second
period when Toews batted in a rebound from a crowd around the
crease.
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That extended Toews' point streak to five games (three goals, two
assists) and gave him seven goals in nine career games against
Pittsburgh.
The Penguins closed to within 2-1 at 5:54 of the third period on
Crosby's goal. Letang wove through the neutral zone and dished to
right winger David Perron near the right point. Perron left a drop
pass for Crosby, who lifted a shot to the far side over Crawford's
shoulder.
"It was a good shot," said Crawford, who had his bid for a second
shutout in a row and league-leading seventh on the season thwarted.
"I didn't really pick it up that great, but it was a pretty quick
release and quick shot. I guess you just have to forget about that
one. Guys are going to make nice shots sometimes."
That extended Crosby's goal streak to four games. He has at least a
point in 15 of his past 20 games.
Letang tied it 2-2 with 2:50 remaining in regulation. Crosby won a
faceoff back to Letang, whose shot from the left point glanced off
Kane's body and past Crawford.
"That's a team that is really good with the puck," said Letang, who
has a string of three multiple-point games. "They wear you down by
controlling the game, having the puck on their stick, and they're
scary offensively. It was a great point, well deserved. We would
rather have two points, but that's the way it is."
NOTES: F Richard Panik, acquired by Chicago on Sunday for F Jeremy
Morin in a trade with Toronto, has not joined the Blackhawks as he
sorts out visa issues. Coach Joel Quenneville said he doesn't know
when Panik will be available. ... D Rob Scuderi, acquired by Chicago
Dec. 14 for D Trevor Daley in a trade with Pittsburgh, was in the
lineup after being scratched two of the previous three games. ...
The Blackhawks scratched D Michal Rozsival and LW Brandon Mashinter.
... For Daley, it was the first time he played against a former NHL
team. ... Pittsburgh scratched D David Warsofsky and LW Scott
Wilson. The Penguins remain without RW Beau Bennett (undisclosed
injury). ... The teams complete a home-and-home Wednesday in
Chicago.
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