Crosby lifts Penguins to shootout victory against Hurricanes

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby scored his 19th goal of the season and the lone goal in the shootout, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 23 saves for the Penguins (15-13-3), who have won four of five.

“I thought we did a pretty decent job,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “We didn’t give up any sort of dangerous odd-man rushes, 2-on-1s and things of that nature. I thought we had numbers back for a lot of the night. I thought in the second period, we had a few shifts where we had some extended time in our defensive zone.

“Other than that, I thought we were somewhat patient with our puck possession and just willing to play a north-south game. I think that’s an important aspect of playing against a team like Carolina.”

Pyotr Kochetkov made 24 saves, and Teuvo Teravainen scored for the Hurricanes (17-12-4), who are 3-0-3 on a six-game point streak but have lost three of four past regulation.

"[The Penguins] played hard,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “They blocked a lot of shots (27). They were in the lanes. We were in the box. So, we couldn't get any flow going. Third period, we were a little flat, I think, just because a lot of guys hadn't gotten going. Give [them] a lot of credit. The killers worked really hard tonight.”

Crosby scored in the second round of the shootout. Nedeljkovic made saves on Stefan Noesen, Andrei Svechnikov and Teravainen.

The Penguins were 0-2-2 against the Hurricanes last season.

"Divisional games are big,” said Crosby, the Pittsburgh captain. “Last year, all the games, they look very similar to that. We didn't find a way to win them. So, to kind of get over the hump and get on the winning side, I think that's big. Hopefully, that will boost our confidence in a tight game like that.

“We're going to see a lot of those, so we've got to get a comfort level playing that type of game. Hopefully, can build off a game like this.”

Crosby put the Penguins ahead 1-0 at 8:51 of the first period, his fourth goal in the past four games. Rickard Rakell sent a spinning backhand pass to the right of the crease, where Crosby chipped it in glove side.

Martin Necas came close to tying it at 13:42 of the second period, shooting off the left post on a rebound.

"They put a lot of pucks on net. They don't make it easy on you,” Nedeljkovic said. “They're a hard-working team, and I thought we did a good job matching their intensity tonight. We came ready to go too, and played a really good game and found a way to win.”

Teravainen tied it 1-1 at 14:52 with a sharp angle shot that went in off the skate of Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. Teravainen ended a nine-game goal drought.

Pittsburgh was 0-for-5 on the power play, including a 4-on-3 at 3:46 of overtime.

"Penalty kill did an unbelievable job getting us that point with five penalty kills, the one in overtime,” Carolina forward Jack Drury said. “So, I think a lot of credit goes to our penalty kill today.”

Crosby had a chance to win the game when Kochetkov made a sprawling pad save with 28 seconds left in overtime. He then hit the post on a slap shot seconds later.

"I think one of the big things for us is not giving up as many Grade A chances,” Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin said. “I think when you've got five guys on the ice doing it the way that we do it, you don't give as many of those up.

“[Kochetkov] made some big saves when he had to but, for the most part, I think we're not giving up as many Grade A chances and keeping pucks out of our zone."

NOTES: The Penguins extended their home point streak to five games (4-0-1). ... Nedeljkovic started for the third time in four games in place of Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in a 7-0 loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. … Crosby’s shootout goal was his 44th in the NHL, tying Zach Parise for the seventh most on record. They trail Jonathan Toews (52), Patrick Kane (49), Frans Nielsen (49), T.J. Oshie (49), Joe Pavelski (47) and Radim Vrbata (45). ... Crosby passed Maurice Richard (109) and tied Mark Messier for the ninth-most game-opening goals in NHL history (110).