Snap Shots: Pens 7, Ducks 4
* The Pens improved to 10-1 in their last 11 games. It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win.
Things started ugly for Pittsburgh as the Ducks struck just 87 seconds into the game. By the 12:23 mark of the first period, Anaheim had a 3-0 lead.
But the Pens battled back to tie the game at 3-3 in the second period, and even had to overcome a 4-3 deficit in the third period en route to the victory. Pittsburgh never gave up, even when the game seemed handedly in Anaheim's favor. It was a true testament to the Pens' character. It wasn't exactly how they wanted to win, but they'll take it. And they deserver it.
* It was an inspiring game from Phil Kessel. Honestly, I think tonight was his best game of the season.
Kessel scored the game-winning goal in the third period with an insane individual effort. He pressured Jacob Larsson in the corner. It was the just the two of them. Kessel stole the puck, cut to the net, took a shot, got his own rebound and scored. The hustle and strength on the boards was incredible.
Kessel set up goals by Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin for a three-point night. But he was creating a lot on his own. Kessel had two great shots while streaking down the right wing that didn't go in. And he made an incredible pass to Derick Brassard in the third that nearly led to the game-tying goal. But what really stood out was that Kessel hustled, he was strong on the boards, won puck battles and was a one-man show at times. Kessel literally carried his line and carried this team.
* The Pens line of Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust were outrageously good against the Ducks. They dominate possession time, created chances every single shift and skated circles around Anaheim. If not for some superhuman goaltending by Whitehall native John Gibson, the trio would have posted five goals as a unit.
On an early shift in the game, Gibson stopped Rust twice from point blank while having to make several sprawling saves. It was a sequence where you just can't believe the puck didn't go in. It was more of the same in the second period when the triumvirate had a 90-second offensive zone shift. Again, Gibson somehow kept the puck out.
* Guentzel did break through for three goals in the game, his second hat trick of the season. The first goal was particularly impressive. It started thanks to a great job by Brian Dumoulin to gain the blue line and keep a clearing attempt. He went diagonal to Guentzel in the opposite side. Guentzel patiently waited, causing Gibson to drop to his knees. Guentzel faked a pass, causing Gibson to pull out his stick in an attempt to intercept the pass and thus exposing his five-hole. Guentzel then quickly whipped a shot through the five-hole. It was a chess match and Guentzel finished with a checkmate.
* Phenomenal work by defenseman Jamie Oleksiak on the shift that led to the Pens' third period game-tying goal. He pinched, protected the puck down low like he was Kris Letang and found open players. The offensive zone shift lasted nearly a minute and Oleksiak was a huge part of that. He's a big guy - 6-foot-7, 255 pounds - and doesn't show his offensive flair often, but he reminded everyone what he is capable of.
* Pens defenseman Marcus Pettersson played his first game against his former club in Anaheim. He nearly made it very memorable when he corralled a puck in the slot in the second period. Pettersson's shot however went off of the crossbar, inches from tying the game. He did extend his scoring streak to five games (six assists).
* Daniel Sprong really wanted to a score a goal against his former club. And he did just that in the first period. Sprong found a puck in the slot and quickly snapped it through the legs of Murray for the tally. He celebrated like he scored a Stanley Cup overtime goal. That's how important this game was to him.
