Tanev OT goal helps Penguins hand Avalanche first loss of season

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Brandon Tanev scored a shorthanded goal in overtime, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday.

Crosby extended his point streak to seven games to start the season and Matt Murray made 26 saves for the Penguins (5-2-0), who have outscored their opponents 19-9 during a four-game winning streak.
"I think we're just working together," said Crosby, who leads Pittsburgh with 12 points (four goals, eight assists). "I don't think anybody is having to defend on their own. ... I think our effort and our work ethic has got to be there, and if it's not, we're a much different team."
WATCH: [All Avalanche vs. Penguins highlights]
Nathan MacKinnon scored in the third period for the Avalanche (5-0-1), who could have started the season with six straight wins for the first time since 2013-14. MacKinnon is on a six-game point streak to start the season, with nine points (three goals, six assists).
"I didn't love our game tonight. I'll be honest with you," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I actually liked our first five minutes, or whatnot. I thought we had some jump. Then we took the penalties and [Pittsburgh] gained a lot of life out of that. ... I felt like all of our lines were a little bit in-and-out. Just not good enough to come on the road and win."

Philipp Grubauer made 30 saves for Colorado, which was the last undefeated team in the NHL.
"I don't think we're happy with the outcome or how we played," Grubauer said. "Maybe today was a little bit of a reality check. Have to move on. The next game is coming quick."
Tanev carried the puck into Colorado's zone and took a shot that redirected in off the stick of Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog at 3:57 of overtime. He is the second player in Penguins history to score a shorthanded overtime goal, joining Mario Lemieux (Jan. 22, 1996, in a 7-6 win against the Boston Bruins).
Tanev, who agreed to a six-year, $21 million contract with Pittsburgh on July 1, scored his first goal with the Penguins.
"It almost goes into slow motion there, but it was fortunate enough to take a generous bounce for me," said Tanev. "I think there's obviously a little more space on the ice [during a 4-on-3 penalty kill]. You want to take advantage of that."
Matt Calvert put the Avalanche ahead 1-0 with a snap shot from the slot at 3:16 of the first period.

Crosby tied it 1-1 on a 4-on-4 at 17:22 of the first with his 450th NHL goal. After chipping the puck into the air off Erik Johnson's stick along the far wall, Crosby caught it and dropped it while skating past Johnson before going forehand to backhand around Samuel Girard for a shot under Grubauer's glove.
Jake Guentzel gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 15:30 of the second period with a wrist shot over Grubauer's glove. He has five goals in his past four games.
MacKinnon tied it 2-2 at 2:56 of the third. Mikko Rantanen found MacKinnon in front of Pittsburgh's crease for a wrist shot over Murray's glove.

They said it

"I think we're learning a lot about ourselves. We didn't have the greatest second period. ... We were able to flip the switch in the third and kind of bring it back." -- Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar
"We have the privilege of watching [Crosby] night in and night out. Sometimes we marvel at what he does out there. That goal was one of them. He's just such a great competitor. He's got the best 200-foot game in hockey. I think that's why he wins the way he does. He's a great leader." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan

Need to know

Avalanche forward J.T. Compher had one shot in 14:10 in his return from missing three games with a lower-body injury. ... With his assist on MacKinnon's goal, Rantanen extended his point streak to six games to start the season. He has 10 points (four goals, six assists) during that stretch. ... Makar was held without a point for the first time in his rookie season. He had six assists in his first five games. ... Penguins defenseman Kris Letang's six-game point streak ended. ... Penguins forward Jared McCann did not play after being listed as a game-time decision with a lower-body injury. Pittsburgh was also without forwards Evgeni Malkin (lower body), Alex Galchenyuk (lower body), Nick Bjugstad (lower body) and Bryan Rust (upper body). ... Penguins rookie forward Sam Lafferty was second-line center in his fifth NHL game, and defenseman Juuso Riikola played left wing on their fourth line. ... Linesman Michel Cormier was kept out of the game for precautionary reasons after falling backward into the boards at 1:59 of the second period. He remained down for a few minutes before being helped up and through the Penguins' tunnel.

What's next

Avalanche:At the Florida Panthers on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FS-F, ALT, NHL.TV)
Penguins: Host the Dallas Stars on Friday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ATTSN-PT, FS-SW, NHL.TV)