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Kennedy propels Penguins past Senators

Oct 5, 2008 - 1:05 AM STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Ticker) -- Tyler Kennedy scored his second goal of the game with 25 seconds remaining in overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins opened the regular season with a 4-3 triumph over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

Evgeni Malkin added a shorthanded tally and defenseman Rob Scuderi scored for the first time in 96 contests for Pittsburgh, which will look to complete a two-game sweep when the teams meet again Sunday at the Globe Arena as part of NHL Premiere 2008.

Jason Spezza had a goal and an assist and Shean Donovan and Dany Heatley also tallied for Ottawa, which is looking to rebound after being swept by the Penguins in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals last season.

In overtime, Kennedy stripped Spezza of the puck at center ice, raced up the left wing and - using defenseman Jason Smith as a screen - unleashed a shot which sailed past goaltender Martin Gerber for the game-winner.

"I'm glad to get it off my back for one, and for the second I'm just excited to help the team win and get the season on a roll here," Kennedy said.

"He (Spezza) just kicked the puck up and I just tried to get the puck toward the net and shoot as hard as I can. I try to get as many pucks on the goal as I can, and tonight they went in."

Kennedy opened the scoring 40 seconds into the contest after skating out from behind the net and quickly wristing a sharp-angle shot which sailed past Gerber and under the crossbar.

While Kennedy tallied twice in one game, Scuderi found the back of the net for the first time since February 16, 2007 in a 5-4 triumph over the New Jersey Devils.

With Ottawa clinging to a 3-2 lead just 3:57 into the third period, Scuderi took a brilliant cross-ice feed from captain Sidney Crosby. The blue-liner quickly unleashed a shot which sailed past an out-of-position Gerber to level the contest.

For Scuderi, it was his third goal in 220 career games.

"It was a longshot," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said with a laugh. "He's a good defensive defenseman, but it's nice to see that kind of contribution. It was a big goal for us."

Although the Penguins received a shorthanded goal from Malkin, the team struggled with the man-advantage. Pittsburgh, which was woeful on its five power-play opportunities in the first period, finished 0-for-7 in the game.

"Obviously, on the power play, we could have been more productive - but we're not going to panic," Therrien said. "We've got quality people on our power play. We'll make adjustments."

"They've been giving a lot of teams trouble with their penalty killing," Crosby said of Ottawa. "You have to be patient against them. There's no doubt we need to be better. We've had a successful power play in the past. It takes practice and it takes execution."

Defenseman Filip Kuba had two assists and Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson had a team-high six shots in his return to his native Sweden.

"It was a pretty neat night," Alfredsson said. "It was definitely a special experience.

"With it being a regular-season game, there was a lot more intensity out there. Both teams wanted to win today. There were a lot of chances being traded, especially in the third period."