Pittsburgh Penguins End Two Game Skid
By Drew Shetler
Entering Wednesday’s night game against the Ottawa Senators the Pittsburgh Penguins were looking for a spark to end their two game losing streak. They got good news as they learned before faceoff that Kris Letang and Matt Niskanen would be back in the lineup.
February 13, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing James Neal (18) skates up ice with the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
There was up and down action from both teams in the first period with the Senators getting the better scoring opportunities only to be denied by great saves from goaltender Marc Andre Fleury. While the Senators dominated the first half of the period it was the Penguins taking over in the second half, scoring first on a goal by Pascal Dupuis his fifth goal of the season.
The Penguins took a 1-0 lead into the locker room and out shot the Senators 15-10.
The Senators tied it at in the second period goal by Stephane Da Costa, his first of the season. Twenty four seconds later the Senators took the lead 2-1 on a goal by Jim O’Brien, his fourth of the year. The Penguins continued to work and were awarded a power play. A power play that they used to tie the game at two on a goal by James Neal, his ninth of the year and his sixth on the power play. Sidney Crosby got an assist on the goal, his 400th career assist.
The Senators got a power play when Paul Martin took his third penalty of the game, and got great chances but Fleury was up to the challenge and kept the game tied at two going into the third period.
It didn’t take the Penguins long to recapture the lead in the third period. Just 1:52 into the period Neal scored his second of the game and tenth of the season. The Penguins would increase their lead to 4-2 on a goal by Crosby, his sixth of the season. Crosby basically put it into an empty net with great passing from all five Penguins.
Penguins get a much needed win with a 4-2 victory over the Senators. They face the Winnipeg Jets on Friday.