Koivunen scores in OT as Penguins rally past Predators 3-2

The Pittsburgh Penguins (5-6-1, 4-1-0 home) rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over the Nashville Predators (3-3-4, 1-1-3 away) Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. Rickard Rakell tied the game with 66 seconds left in regulation, and Ville Koivunen scored 3:44 into overtime for his first career game-winning goal. Pittsburgh has now won two straight after a four-game losing streak. Read more: Koivunen scores in OT as Penguins rally past Predators 3-2.

Nashville strikes first

Steven Stamkos opened the scoring at 9:24 of the first period when a Matthew Wood pass deflected off his skate and past Arturs Silovs. It was Stamkos’ fifth goal of the season.

Connor Dewar tied it just 18 seconds into the second period. Elmer Soderblom fed the puck from behind the net, and after it deflected off Ryan O’Reilly’s stick, Dewar snapped a wrist shot from the right circle.

Nashville regained the lead at 6:40. Nils Hoglander intercepted a Spencer Stastney pass along the end boards and set up Jayden Struble, who scored from the right circle. It was Struble’s first goal since Nashville acquired him from Montreal on October 9.

The Predators nearly made it 3-1 at the end of the second period, but Jack Drury’s goal was waved off because the puck crossed the line after the horn.

Rakell, Crosby make history late

Juuse Saros kept Pittsburgh off the board for most of the third period. The Penguins finally broke through with 66 seconds left in regulation, when Sidney Crosby found Rakell with a cross-ice pass for a one-timer that tied it 2-2.

The assist was Crosby’s 1,111th, tying Ray Bourque for the most assists in NHL history with one franchise. Erik Karlsson also picked up an assist, giving him a team-leading 12 points. He is the only defenseman in the NHL leading his team in scoring outright.

It was Rakell’s second goal in three games after he went the first nine games of the season without one.

Koivunen wins it in overtime

Koivunen ended it at 3:44 of overtime. He briefly lost the puck in the high slot, recovered it, and snapped a shot past Saros for his first career overtime goal. Hendrix Lapierre and Kris Letang assisted.

The assist was Letang’s 39th career overtime point, second-most among defensemen in NHL history behind Karlsson’s 42. Lapierre now has six points (two goals, four assists) in eight games.

Silovs made 24 saves for his fifth win of the season. He has won four straight starts at home, tied for the longest active home winning streak in the NHL. It was also his third straight start, the first time he has done that with the Penguins. Saros made 34 saves for Nashville.

Pittsburgh has earned a point in 10 straight games against Nashville (8-0-2) and has won seven straight home games against the Predators.

Lineup notes

Evgeni Malkin missed the game with an illness. He also missed Friday’s practice. Malkin is tied with Nick Robertson for the team lead with six goals.

Avery Hayes was recalled Saturday and made his season debut, filling Malkin’s spot on the second line.

Ben Kindel, Bryan Rust, Egor Chinakhov, Justin Brazeau, Sam Girard, and Trevor van Riemsdyk remain on injured reserve. Girard and Brazeau took part in the morning skate.

Up next

The Penguins have four days off before hosting the Utah Mammoth on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.

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