Final - OT
Despres gets Pens past Devils in OT
Jan 31, 2015 - 3:36 AM Newark, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Simon Despres scored with 2:39 remaining in overtime and Pittsburgh rallied to post a 2-1 victory over New Jersey at Prudential Center.Holding the puck near the right-wing boards, Brandon Sutter passed to Kris Letang, whose own backhanded dish landed on the stick of Despres at the point. His harmless flip to the net beat a screened Cory Schneider to complete a comeback from one goal down late in regulation.
Chris Kunitz registered a power-play goal with 3:11 remaining for the Penguins, who won for the second time in their last seven games. Marc-Andre Fleury needed to make only 13 saves.
"Our energy on the bench was high and our attitude was don't get down, keep going," said Kunitz. "It may be one of our best efforts all year of playing that 60-minute game."
Steve Bernier tallied for the Devils, who had won two in a row. Schneider ended up with a season-high 41 saves in defeat.
The hosts had a chance to seize control early, as Max Lapierre and Steve Downie were whistled for simultaneous infractions, giving the Devils a full two-minutes 5-on-3 at 6:39 of the first period. New Jersey came up with two shots and nothing close to a goal.
Schneider made 14 saves to keep the game scoreless while his offense mustered four. The second period passed with only nine combined shots, six to the Penguins.
Despres swept a loose puck out of the crease after Devils veteran Patrik Elias whiffed just under two minutes into the third.
Bernier snapped the scoreless deadlock at 6:08 of the third, when his wraparound try at the left post slipped by Fleury's pad and crossed the goal line.
Schneider slid to deny Sidney Crosby in front just prior to the midway point, seconds before Crosby hit the post on a wide-open chance at the right side of the crease.
Pittsburgh tied the game shortly into a power play as Kunitz converted a Crosby rebound. That was the only time the visitors punctured Schneider, who didn't wilt under a 20-shot barrage in the third.
"No penalty at that time is a good penalty. It gave them life. Couldn't afford to do that," said Devils defenseman Peter Harrold, who committed a high- sticking foul with 3:29 to play.
Game Notes
Letang, who recorded an assist on all the Penguins' goals in a 5-3 win over the Jets on Tuesday, picked up helpers on each of his club's markers on Friday ... The Penguins allowed seven shots against in the first two periods, their fewest since also giving up seven to the Panthers on Feb. 21, 2001 ... Schneider stopped 40 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Bruins on Jan. 8 ... Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff did not play, and has returned to the Steel City for concussion testing after taking a hit from Caps forward Alex Ovechkin late in Wednesday's 4-0 loss.
- PITTSBURGH: 2
NEW JERSEY: 1
Final - OT
Jan 30 9:39 PM - PITTSBURGH: 2
NEW JERSEY: 1
End of OT
Jan 30 9:39 PM - PITTSBURGH: 1
NEW JERSEY: 1
End of Regulation
Jan 30 9:32 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
NEW JERSEY: 0
End of 1st
Jan 30 8:36 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
NEW JERSEY: 0
End of 1st
Jan 30 7:43 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
NEW JERSEY: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Jan 30 7:08 PM
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