PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby netted his second goal of the match just 2:35 into overtime, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, thereby halting a dismal six-game losing streak for his team.
Crosby broke free and faced off against Lukas Dostal, skillfully pausing before sending the puck soaring above the Ducks’ goaltender, marking the 93rd game-winning goal of his impressive career.
In goal for Pittsburgh, Alex Nedeljkovic recorded 22 saves as the team dominated in shots, outpacing Anaheim 46-23. Dostal, however, was exceptional, stopping 44 shots to keep the Ducks competitive, though it ultimately wasn’t enough to secure a win.
The Ducks scored first, with Alex Killorn netting his second goal of the season. Anaheim concluded their four-game Eastern road trip with a disappointing record of 1-2-1.
Entering the third period, Anaheim was in the lead until Crosby tied the game, redirecting a shot from Matt Grzelcyk just 1:47 into the final frame.
Key observations from the game revealed that the 24-year-old Dostal has built on a solid finish from the previous season, showcasing consistency under intense pressure from the Penguins with over 40 saves for the third time in just six starts this season.
For the Penguins, this much-needed victory provided a much-welcome boost after a challenging October, occurring in front of one of the smallest crowds ever at PPG Paints Arena.
A pivotal moment in the matchup saw Nedeljkovic performing exceptionally well during the closing moments. He denied Trevor Zegras with support from defenseman Marcus Pettersson with 4:25 left, thwarted Cutter Gauthier on a breakaway shortly after, and blocked a last-second redirect from Pavel Mintyukov, forcing the game into overtime.
A noteworthy statistic was revealed: Pittsburgh boasts a remarkable record of 85-12-5 when Crosby scores at least twice during his tenure with the team.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will kick off a six-game homestand on Sunday against the Blackhawks, while the Penguins are set to host the Canadiens on Saturday.