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SPORTSWednesday 18 May 2016

Crosby’s overtime winner lifts Penguins by Lightning 3-2Â

WILL GRAVES A shot by Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby gets by Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasi- up his second goal of the
AP Sports Writer levskiy for the game-winning goal as Penguins’ Bryan Rust (17) watches in the overtime period series, but the Lightning lost
PITTSBURGH (AP) --Â Sidney of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals Monday, May 16, 2016, in for just the third time in 12
Crosby wasn’t sureBryan Pittsburgh. postseason games.
Rust saw him, so the Pitts- ‘’It’s hard for us to swal-
burgh Penguinscaptain Associated Press low,’’ Drouin said. ‘’You
gave his impromptu line- could have a 2-0 lead go-
mate a quick yell just to appeared destined for an he moved too far to his Sullivan said. ‘’We tried to ing to your building but
make sure. open net before Vasilevs- left when squaring to face play the game the right we’ve got to go home and
kiy stretched his glove out Crosby, giving Crosby all way. That’s what I like the make sure we’re ready.’’
‘’I tried to let him know I to make a save that could the room he needed to most about the group. As
was there,’’ Crosby said. have tilted the balance of score perhaps the second- the game wore on we got The Penguins pointed to an
A deft drop pass from Rust power in the series. most important goal of his better and better.’’ inability to generate quality
and a flick of Crosby’s Instead, it only seemed to life after his overtime win- Matt Cullen and Phil Kes- chances from in close as a
wrist later, the superstar’s lift the Penguins to another ner for Team Canada in sel scored during Pitts- major problem in Game 1.
lengthy postseason scoring level. Pittsburgh dominated the gold medal game of burgh’s two-goal burst to In danger of falling behind
drought was over. So were most of the night, outshoot- the 2010 Olympics. start the game and Matt by two games for the first
the chances of the Pen- ing Tampa Bay 41-21 while That goal proved cathartic Murray rebounded from time in the postseason, Pitts-
guins falling into a deep spending most of the game for his home country. This a shaky start to finish with burgh wasted little time try-
hole against Tampa Bay in in the Lightning zone. Only one could do the same 19 saves, including stuff- ing to make Vasilevskiy un-
the Eastern Conference fi- the brilliant play of the for Crosby’s adopted city, ing Alex Killorn on a break- comfortable, scoring a pair
nals. 21-year-old Vasilevskiy - fill- one in desperate need of away late in the second of early goals on scrambles
Crosby’s shot sailed high ing in for injured starter Ben a Stanley Cup to bookend period of a tie game. from in front to go up 2-0
and hard over Andrei Vasi- Bishop - kept Tampa Bay in the one Crosby helped ‘’It was a huge save, there’s less than 10 minutes in.
levskiy’s stick 40 seconds it. claim in 2009. no doubt,’’ Sullivan said. Then just as suddenly, Pitts-
into overtime on Monday ‘’He was outstanding,’’ ‘’Matt’s history has been burgh’s momentum van-
night, lifting the Penguins Cooper said. ‘’You never The Penguins still haven’t he’s always responded ished. Stralman collected
to a 3-2 victory and tying want to lose your No. 1 guy lost consecutive games of pretty solid when he thinks a pretty cross-ice feed
the best-of-seven series at in (Bishop) but .... Vasi was any variety since January he could have had one from Jonathan Marches-
1. Game 3 is Wednesday probably the reason why and none with the usual al- or would have liked one sault and lifted the puck
night in Tampa. the game went to overtime lotment of men on the ice back.’’ over Murray’s outstretched
‘’It feels good to get re- in the first place.’’ since coach Mike Sullivan’s Anton Stralman scored in glove to cut the lead in half
warded,’’ Crosby said after Vasilevskiy finished with 38 first week on the job back his return to the lineup from with 3:23 to go and Drouin’s
collecting the first overtime stops, but darted toward in December. a fractured left leg and knuckler from the right cir-
playoff winner of his NHL the dressing room after ‘’We just stayed with it,’’ Jonathan Drouin picked cle tied it with 70 seconds
career. ‘’I feel we deserved remaining.
it tonight.’’
Yet the Penguins stuck with
Crosby hadn’t found the it, peppering Vasilevskiy
back of the net since relentlessly in the third pe-
Game 4 of the opening riod and remaining upbeat
round against the New even as the 21-year-old
York Rangers, though Tam- goaltender pushed the
pa Bay coach Jon Cooper game to overtime. Once
downplayed the idea that there, Crosby’s 47th playoff
the two-time MVP was in a goal provided a boost Pitts-
slump, pointing out a cold burgh hopes it can carry
streak for Crosby is a hot south.
streak for most others. ‘’He worked hard all
Yet most others aren’t game,’’ Penguins forward
Crosby. In danger of head- Evgeni Malkin said. ‘’He
ing south down 2-0, Crosby played right and it was
generated scoring chance a tough game. He’s our
after scoring chance, in- leader and we believe in
cluding a backhand in him and we believe in ev-
the second period that eryone here.’’q