New York. All the dams broke in Pittsburgh last night.
The Penguins and Panthers put the goals on each other – and eventually Chris Letang made it 7-6 in overtime.
“If we hadn’t won this crazy match, I wouldn’t have slept last night,” top scorer Ricard Raquel told Sportbladet.
It was evident early on that there would be an oyster dance between Pittsburgh and Florida at PPG Paints Arena.
After just over eight minutes, the visitors led 2-0, but when the opening period ended it was 3-3. Then followed a slightly more normal middle period when each team only scored a goal – but in the last 20 minutes they started to change the lead with each other in the game and minute again. Eventually, it came to overtime and then seasoned veteran Chris Letang—who had just returned from burying his father in Canada—made it 7-6.
– Yes, my God, what a match, Ricard Raquel groaned when we spoke to him afterwards.
– At first it felt like everything bounced wrong and then everything bounced back right. There was no structure, we just chased back and forth the whole time. So even if we win in the end, just forget the effort.
Rijkaard himself scored the 18th goal of the season in the first period and is pleased that he was able to contribute to the win.
– Yes, if we hadn’t won this crazy match, I wouldn’t have slept last night, he continues.
– Those were also very important points that we took. Cheetahs are one of the teams that chase us and the games against those teams we just have to win.
There was a lot of drama in the NHL last night.
In New Jersey, the Devils lost 2-1 to Vegas with just over a minute to go, but then Dougie Hamilton equalized. Then Hamilton himself decided in overtime – just like the Pittsburgh game on Sunday.
Talk about a hero.
– This goal was similar to Sunday’s goal. I just hope I get time to shoot, and yeah, in the end it all worked out well, he says.
One of the goals of the Golden Knights was scored by William Carlsson.
In Philadelphia, the score was 3-3 between the Flyers and Kings after full-time play, after Samuel Vagimo scored a goal for the visitors – the second in his NHL career.
Then Kevin Fiala whipped in a surprise puck for just over a minute into overtime.
– he decides with a great shot, and praises Anzi Kopitar.
Adrian Kempe was credited with the help.
There was also overtime between Detroit and San Jose, after both teams scored two goals each during regular game time—San Jose, of course, signed Erik Carlson after two games.
There, red winger Andrew Cobb has already become a hero after 25 seconds of extra time.
The Buffalo Sabers were among the few Eastern teams to score two points during regular game time, but the win at St. Petersburg came to an end. Lewis was secured first when Dylan Cousins made it 5-3 into an empty net in the last minute.
It was, strong enough, their second straight one-day win, and with it they were suddenly just three points ahead of Washington in the last spot of the cards in the East — and three fewer games played.
– I’m very comfortable, the boys worked hard, says coach Don Granato.
Mathias Samuelsson accounted for the only Swedish point in the form of an assist.
In much the same way, Tampa hit the nail in Minnesota’s coffin when Nikita Kucherov scored 4-2 into an empty net at home at Amalie Arena.
– Introduced our most talented player, Coach John Cooper.
Joel Erickson-Ek scored the Wild’s 17th goal of the season and also had an assist.
Montreal stood very well in the classic encounter with Boston at home at the Bell Center and was still tied at 2-2 midway through the third period.
But the last 10 minutes put the league leaders on higher alert and ensured a 4-2 victory, when David Pasternak himself put a puck into an empty basket.
2-1 became Nashville’s favored score at home at Bridgestone Arena. With those numbers they beat Calgary and Columbus last week – and tonight they did it again against struggling Winnipeg.
– We made sure they mostly stayed in their area, and that was “our plan,” says Tanner Janow, who scored the decisive goal early in the third period.
Philip Forsberg provided assistance.
Niklas Backstrom missed Washington’s away game against Colorado due to a non-COVID-related illness – and it ended up being another loss for the D.C. team. The Avalanche won 3-2 and that means the Caps are now faltering about falling below the playoff mark again.
Anaheim won its final battle over Arizona 5-2. Jacob Silverberg got help.