Landeskog's goals lift Avs to OT win at Pittsburgh
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[October 18, 2016]
PITTSBURGH -- Colorado captain
Gabriel Landeskog tied the score with a power-play goal in the third
period, then batted in a deflected Nathan MacKinnon shot 22 seconds
into overtime as the Avalanche dealt the Pittsburgh Penguins their
first loss of the season, 4-3 Monday night.
MacKinnon's shot from the middle of the ice glanced off Penguins
defenseman Kris Letang, allowing Landeskog to deftly knock it past
goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 27 saves.
Avalanche backup goalie Calvin Pickard gave up two quick scores
midway through the first period but limited the Penguins to just one
more goal, by Trevor Daley midway through the third, while making 28
saves.
Pittsburgh (2-0-1) won its previous two games while starting its
defense of the Stanley Cup. Colorado improved to 2-0-0 under new
coach Jared Bednar, who wasn't hired until two months ago.
Phil Kessel scored on the power play and teamed with Matt Cullen to
give Pittsburgh a two-goal lead with a pair of quick goals midway
through the first period. Colorado came back later in the period
with goals by Jarome Iginla on the power play --the 612th goal of
his career -- and Patrick Wiercioch only 1:23 apart.
Iginla scored during a two-man advantage, but Pittsburgh killed off
another Avalanche five-on-three in the third period, and building
off that momentum, made it 3-2 on Daley's power play goal at 9:12.
Colorado was 2-for-6 and Pittsburgh was 2-for-5 with the man
advantage.
Daley's slap shot from the left point eluded Pickard to the glove
side as center Scott Wilson screened him in front at 9:12 of the
third, just over two minutes after an Evgeni Malkin goal was waved
off because Malkin interfered with Pickard while skating through the
crease. Daley missed the Stanley Cup finals last season due to a
broken leg.
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However, the Avalanche converted with the man advantage themselves
just over three minutes later as Landeskog steered a shot through a
small opening between Fleury's left shoulder and the goal post for
his first of the season.
His second of the season won it.
The Penguins, coming off a pair of one-goal wins in their first two
games, needed only a 36-second span of the first period to open up a
2-0 lead for Fleury, who is back in net as Stanley Cup star Matt
Murray heals from a broken hand.
Kessel, whose regulation goal and shootout score decided the
Penguins' first two games, beat Pickard between the pads with a
wrist shot from the edge of the left circle for a power-play goal
8:57 into the first. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov was off for cross
checking.
Cullen, filling in for Sidney Crosby (concussion) as the Pens'
top-line center, made it 2-0 by scoring off his own rebound in front
at 9:33.
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![](../images/101816pics/sports69.jpg)
Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) carries the puck against
the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime at the PPG Paints Arena.
Colorado won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA
TODAY Sports
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But the Avalanche, trying to avert the slow starts that doomed their
last two seasons, answered later in the first period after the
Penguins drew three penalties in just over four minutes.
Jarome Iginla got his first of the season with five seconds left on
a two-man advantage, taking Nathan MacKinnon's pass from the goal
line to throw a wrist shot past Fleury from the right circle at
16:27.
The Avalanche didn't score on their remaining 54 seconds of power
play time, but Wiercioch teed up a shot from beyond the circles that
threaded its way through traffic and past Fleury at 17:50,
Colorado's second goal in a span of 1:23 -- and Wiercioch's 13th in
213 career games.
NOTES: Penguins C Sidney Crosby (concussion), G Matt Murray (broken
hand) and F Bryan Rust each missed their third consecutive game.
Crosby and Murray skated together before the team's morning skate.
Coach Mike Sullivan said Murray and Rust are close to rejoining
practice, and that Crosby is progressing. ... C John Mitchell (hip)
did not accompany the Avalanche on their four-game road trip that
continues Tuesday night in Washington, when former Capitals G Semyon
Varlamov returns to net. He gave up five goals to Dallas on
Saturday. ... The Penguins play their first back-to-back of the
season Tuesday night at Montreal, which is also their first road
game. ... Colorado scratched Mitchell, D Eric Gelinas and LW Cody
McLeod. Pittsburgh withheld D Derrick Pouliot, Crosby and Murray.
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