Pens’ Sidney Crosby ties game, then sinks Ducks in OT

Sidney Crosby scored his second goal of the game at 2:35 of overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 win against the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.

Crosby drove to the front of the net and had time to wait out goalie Lukas Dostal before lifting the puck high in the net for his third goal of the season. Before Thursday, his only previous goal was also an overtime winner on Oct. 16 against the Buffalo Saves.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves for the Penguins, who ended a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).

Alex Killorn scored and Dostal made 44 saves for the Ducks, who went 1-2-1 on a four-game road trip.

Dostal, who came into the day with the best save percentage (.943) and fifth-best goals-against average (2.00) in the NHL, was coming off a 40-save effort in a 3-1 road win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier chased the puck down in the corner of the Pittsburgh zone and passed to Trevor Zegras behind the net. He made a one-touch feed to Killorn, who was coming through the slot and scored on a one-timer for a 1-0 lead at 15:50 of the first period.

That score held up until Crosby scored at 1:47 of the third period.

Matt Grzelcyk took a wrist shot from the left point that looked to be going wide, but Crosby stuck out his stick blade and the 37-year-old forward and 10-time All Star redirected the puck between the pads of Dostal to tie it 1-1. Crosby has 23 overtime goals in his career, second in NHL history behind Alex Ovechkin (26).

Gauthier had an open side of the net with under two minutes left, but his shot hit the back of Nedeljkovic and caromed away.

Penguins forward Blake Lizotte made his team debut after recovering from a concussion sustained in the preseason and played 5:39.

–Field Level Media