Final
Crosby hurt as Lightning blank Penguins
Jan 19, 2008 - 5:24 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing WriterPITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The showdown between two of the top three scorers in the league ended in disappointment for the Pittsburgh Penguins in more ways than one.
Superstar Sidney Crosby, the reigning league MVP and scoring champion, sustained a high ankle sprain and left the game in the first period as the Penguins dropped a 3-0 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.
Johan Holmqvist made 27 saves en route to his second career shutout, former Penguin Andre Roy recorded a career-high three points and Chris Gratton registered a goal and an assist for the Lightning, who have won two of three.
"We got out there and played a strong game," Holmqvist said. "We stayed pretty disciplined and did a lot of things better than we have in the past and scored some key goals at key times. Pittsburgh's a great team and has been really hot lately, so it was a big win for us."
The Penguins, who had gone 9-0-1 in their previous 10 contests, had their six-game home winning streak snapped.
But the bigger blow was the injury to Crosby, who was pulled down by Tampa Bay defenseman Paul Ranger - drawing a slashing penalty on the play - while driving to the net. The Penguins captain slid feet-first into the end boards, jamming his right foot at 7:37 of the opening session.
Crosby was able to leave the ice under his own power but was unable to put weight on his right leg and was helped to the locker room by team personnel. He did not return and will re-evaluated Saturday to determine how much time he will miss.
"Obviously, it is a huge loss," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "There is no team that can deal with losing the best player in the league. He is the heart and he is our leader. We are going to face adversity and we are going to have to battle through it."
Entering Friday, Crosby was tied with Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk for the league lead in scoring with 63 points. Both Crosby and Lecavalier were kept off the scoresheet in this one, although Crosby played only 4 1/2 minutes.
"Obviously, Sidney is a big part of that team," said Lecavalier, a fellow first overall draft pick. "But for them to win, someone else is going to have to lead, and I think (Evgeni) Malkin can do that."
"That's hockey," Malkin said through an interpreter. "There's always going to be injuries during hockey, so we're going to try to do our best."
Without its top player, Pittsburgh was unable to get anything past Holmqvist, who turned aside 10 shots in each of the first two periods and seven in the third for his first blanking of the season.
Kyle Wanvig scored his first goal since January 20, 2006 - and only the sixth of his career - by converting a nice pass from Roy while in the slot just 4:34 into the contest.
Just over six minutes later, the Lightning's fourth line struck again as Roy set up Gratton for a backhander that appeared to handcuff goaltender Ty Conklin, giving Tampa Bay a 2-0 advantage with 9:09 left in the opening period. Roy, who had not recorded an assist all season, collected two in a span of 6:17.
"I think everyone contributed tonight," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "From our goaltender on out, it was a contribution by everybody."
Roy's fourth goal of the campaign at 5:32 of the third put away the game. The rugged left wing fired a wrist shot from the slot past Conklin to cap his three-point effort and double his season total.
"Obviously, I'm happy," Roy said. "(Pittsburgh) is a team that kind of gave up on me and didn't really see me as part of their system. It wasn't like I was trying to get revenge or anything, it just happened that way."
Conklin, who finished with 31 saves, lost in regulation for the first time this season. The journeyman fell to 10-1-1 since being recalled from the minors last month to replace the injured Marc-Andre Fleury.
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 2 0 1 3
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: TAM - KYLE WANVIG 1 (ANDRE ROY, CHRIS GRATTON) 4:34
TAM - CHRIS GRATTON 7 (ANDRE ROY, SHANE O'BRIEN) 10:51
2ND PRD: NONE
3RD PRD: TAM - ANDRE ROY 4 (BRAD RICHARDS, MARTIN ST. LOUIS) 5:32
POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: TAM -
Jan 18 10:00 PM - NHL
TAMPA BAY 3
PITTSBURGH 0
3RD PRD: TAM - ANDRE ROY 4 (BRAD RICHARDS) 5:32
Lightning vs. PenguinsJan 18 9:36 PM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 2 0 2
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: TAM - KYLE WANVIG 1 (ANDRE ROY, CHRIS GRATTON) 4:34
TAM - CHRIS GRATTON 7 (ANDRE ROY, SHANE O'BRIEN) 10:51
2ND PRD: NONE
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAM 16 4
Jan 18 9:11 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 2 2
PITTSBURGH 0 0 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: TAM - KYLE WANVIG 1 (ANDRE ROY, CHRIS GRATTON) 4:34
TAM - CHRIS GRATTON 7 (ANDRE ROY, SHANE O'BRIEN) 10:51
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAM 16 16
PIT
Jan 18 8:16 PM - NHL
TAMPA BAY 2
PITTSBURGH 0
1ST PRD: TAM - CHRIS GRATTON 7 (ANDRE ROY, SHANE O'BRIEN) 10:51
Lightning vs. PenguinsJan 18 8:01 PM - NHL
TAMPA BAY 1
PITTSBURGH 0
1ST PRD: TAM - KYLE WANVIG 1 (ANDRE ROY, CHRIS GRATTON) 4:34
Lightning vs. PenguinsJan 18 7:45 PM
Related News
- The week ahead: Penguins have opportunity for big — and important — week Dec 26
- Pens Points: Holiday Hangover Dec 26
- Celebrating the holiday with the Penguins’ Christmas-themed videos of the past Dec 24
- Pens/Sens Recap: Pittsburgh plays well in one period, salvage one point in Ottawa Dec 23
- Gamethread: Pens @ Sens Dec 23
- Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators 12/23/2023 - Lines, how to watch Dec 23
- Thoughts on Thoughts: Pens looking for defense, Crosby tinkering with stick pattern Dec 22
- Penguins weekly stock report: Alex Nedeljkovic gets on a roll Dec 22
- Pens Points: Surviving the Storm Dec 22
- Penguins/Hurricanes Recap: Crosby only Pens’ goal scorer in game, shootout to lead team to victory Dec 21
- Gamethread: Hurricanes @ Penguins Dec 21
- Penguins players visit patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital Dec 21