Pittsburgh 4, Calgary 3
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 21, 2013
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Referees:
Jean Hebert, Dave Jackson
Linesmen:
Brad Kovachik, Matt MacPherson
Attendance:
18663
By SportsDirect Inc.
Penguins 4, Flames 3: Captain Sidney Crosby scored his 20th goal and added two assists to extend his point streak to 10 games as Pittsburgh posted its season-high seventh straight victory overall and 10th consecutive at home.
Pascal Dupuis and Harry Zolnierczyk tallied 79 seconds apart in the first period and defenseman Matt Niskanen also scored for the Penguins, who have won six straight contests versus Calgary. Chris Kunitz and blue-liner Robert Bortuzzo notched two assists apiece and Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 27 shots for his league-leading 21st win.
Mike Cammalleri netted his team-best 11th goal while Jiri Hudler and Paul Byron also tallied for the Flames, who dropped the last four contests of their five-game road trip (1-2-2).
After Byron trimmed Calgary's deficit to 2-1 early in the second period, Crosby restored Pittsburgh's two-goal advantage in scintillating fashion with 5:16 remaining in the session. The superstar deked Flames defenseman T.J. Brodie in the neutral zone before ripping a shot over the glove of Karri Ramo (19 saves) for his third multi-point effort in a row and 16th this season.
Niskanen gave the Penguins a 4-1 lead with 1:05 left in the second by ripping a point shot past Ramo, but Cammalleri answered 19 seconds later by burying a blast from the left faceoff circle. Hudler brought the Flames within one 63 seconds into the third as he elevated a shot from the slot, but Fleury held the fort from there.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Crosby has collected seven goals and 11 assists during his point streak. ... Calgary LW Curtis Glencross suffered a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return. ... Flames D Kris Russell exited his 400th NHL game in the third period after a collision with Penguins LW Zach Sill. ... Pittsburgh G Jeff Zatkoff signed a two-year contract extension prior to the contest.
Top Game Performances
Calgary |
|
Pittsburgh |
Paul Byron 1 |
Points |
Sidney Crosby 3 |
Paul Byron 1 |
Goals |
Sidney Crosby 1 |
T.J. Brodie 1 |
Assists |
Sidney Crosby 2 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Karri Ramo .826 |
Save Percentage |
Marc-Andre Fleury .900 |
Karri Ramo 19 |
Saves |
Marc-Andre Fleury 27 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Calgary
|
30 |
3 |
0-3 |
3-3 |
8 |
24 |
Pittsburgh
|
23 |
4 |
0-3 |
3-3 |
8 |
33 |
Upcoming Games
-
Pittsburgh will play their next game on the road against Ottawa. The Penguins have a W/L % of .778 after a win and .545 after a loss.
-
Calgary will play their next game at home against St. Louis. The Flames have a W/L % of .231 after a win and .435 after a loss.