Crosby Ends Scoring Drought with OT Game-Winner, Evens Series at 1-1

Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal 40 seconds into overtime to tie the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.

The goal ended an eight game goalless streak for Crosby, who hadn’t scored since Game 4 of the first round. Brian Dumoulin got the puck to Bryan Rust, who found a wide open Crosby in the slot. Crosby fired the puck up high just under the crossbar to even the series. Crosby’s goal was the fastest goal in Penguins overtime history, with George Ferguson previously holding that record, scoring an overtime goal at 47 seconds on April 14, 1979.

Pittsburgh got off to a fast start and Andrei Vasilevskiy had to make a pad save eight seconds into the game on Chris Kunitz. The Penguins built off the early chance and followed it up with a goal by Matt Cullen. Cullen started the play on a 2-on-1, got the puck over to Eric Fehr, who took the shot. Vasilevskiy made the save but left a huge rebound that Cullen found and put up over the goaltender’s shoulder. The Penguins didn’t slow up after the first goal and kept pushing.

Brian Boyle blocked a shot, but the puck was kept in the offensive zone by defenseman Ian Cole. Cole managed to get the puck over to Phil Kessel, who made the cross-ice pass to Carl Hagelin. Hagelin took the shot, which got knocked down in front and over to Nick Bonino, who found Kessel who ripped one past Vasilevskiy. Pittsburgh was out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Lightning just wouldn’t go away.

Tampa Bay had just killed off its first penalty of the game when Victor Hedman made a nice pass to Jon Marchessault. Marchessault spotted Anton Stralman cross- ice, made the pass and Stralman roofed one just under the crossbar to make it a 2-1 game. It was Stralman’s first game back from a broken fibula and his first goal of the postseason. The Lightning took another penalty, but subsequently killed it off.

Matt Carle got the puck to J.T. Brown, who made a quick touch pass to Jonathan Drouin. Drouin skated into the Penguins zone, and sniped one past Matt Murray. Drouin’s game tying goal came with just under 50 seconds left in the first period. It was Drouin’s 11th point of the postseason. The teams went to intermission tied at two.

In the second period, each team had some chances but nothing got past either goalie. Sidney Crosby had the best chance of the period but Vasilevskiy made a nice glove save before the puck crossed the goal line. The Penguins controlled the play for the last 10:00 or so of the period. The Bolts were held without a shot for over eight minutes in the second. In the closing seconds, Alex Killorn had a nice chance but Murray was there to make the save.

Pittsburgh absolutely dominated the third period after Mike Sullivan made an adjustment during intermission. Conor Sheary was benched for the period due to his poor play and not being able to generate anything. Sullivan went with 11 forwards and a bunch of different line changes. The Penguins out-shot the Lightning 16-6 in the third period. Vasilevskiy once again was the busier goalie in the third period and kept the game tied at two.

The Penguins came out and continued their dominance from the third period to grab the eventual game winner.

The series will travel to Tampa Bay for games three and four. Game 3 is on Wednesday, May 18, with a puck drop time of 8 p.m. The game can be seen on NBCSN.