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SPORTS Monday 26 March 2018

Rust's OT winner gives Penguins season sweep of Flyers

By WILL GRAVES have won a club-record 11
AP Sports Writer overtime games at home.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney The Flyers tied it on Sean
Crosby crystallized the Pitts- Couturier's goal with 43
burgh Penguins' hot run seconds left in regulation,
against the Philadelphia but the Penguins controlled
Flyers with the kind of goal the extra period. Rust end-
that he and few others on ed it when his 13th goal of
the planet can create. the season gave the Pen-
The Pittsburgh captain then guins their first sweep of
sealed his team's first sea- Philadelphia since 2007 in
son sweep of its cross-state what could be a playoff
rival in 11 years with a pass preview.
that wasn't nearly as flashy Crosby's second other-
but just as effective. worldly goal in a week
Bryan Rust put his stick gave the Penguins the
down in front of the Phila- lead 17 seconds into the
delphia net just in time to third period. The two-time
redirect Crosby's feed past MVP scored on an inten-
Petr Mrazek 2:25 into over- tional double tap against
time to give the Penguins a Montreal last Wednesday.
5-4 victory on Sunday. That one showcased his ex-
Pittsburgh pulled within quisite hand-eye coordina- Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) deflects the puck past Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Petr
three points of first-place tion. Mrazek (34) for the game-winning overtime goal during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Sun-
Washington in the crowd- This one showcased his day, March 25, 2018.
ed Metropolitan Division strength. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
and two points clear of Phil- Crosby collected the puck
adelphia after improving to high in the Philadelphia Gostisbehere and Mrazek's Couturier exacted a bit of good game overall. For
16-1-1 in its past 18 games zone, used his left hand to glove. revenge when he knotted sure, it's disappointing not
at PPG Paints Arena. keep Couturier at bay while "I was trying to skate into it late to assure the Flyers of coming out of here with
"We did some good things, using his right to dangle the space, get open and just at least a point to pull them two points, but we can
especially the second and puck before he skated to kind of watching him do his into a third-place tie with build on this and maybe do
third, created a lot and the left dot and ripped a thing," Rust said. "I'm not sur- Columbus. a little better in little areas.
found a way to win," Crosby wrist shot over Philadel- prised. He is who he is for a "It's a big point," Couturier Overall, I think we can build
said of the Penguins, who phia defenseman Shayne reason." said. "We played a pretty on this and keep going."q

Deadline additions help streaking Sharks surge into playoffs

By JOSH DUBOW playing as well as anyone all sorts of teams, speed and Los Angeles in the race picking up points as we
AP Sports Writer in the NHL down the stretch teams, teams that can for home-ice advantage in close out the season in or-
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The with a seven-game winning play hard down low. I think the first round. der to secure a spot. It's
San Jose Sharks head back streak that is the team's lon- we've got the personnel It's a far cry from last March good to get in that playoff
to the Midwest for their fi- gest in five years. that we're able to match when a six-game losing mindset right now."
nal road trip of the season During this streak, they up with those. We're doing streak cost San Jose a Kane has provided a ma-
looking like a far different have managed to win things in practice to pre- chance at the division title jor lift since his arrival in a
team than the one that wide-open games as well pare for them." and the team was knocked deadline deal with Buffalo
stumbled its way through a as tight checking ones and The Sharks are in prime po- out in the first round of the on Feb. 26. He has stepped
tour of the Central Division have managed to negate sition with just two weeks playoffs by Edmonton. Now onto the top line with cen-
just last month. the speed of teams such as left in the regular season. they're playing their best ter Joe Pavelski and pro-
They have the midseason Vegas as well as deal with They have moved within hockey in March. vided a scoring threat and
additions of Evander Kane more physical play like they six points of first-place Ve- "We're a desperate team," some needed toughness to
and Eric Fehr to thank for had Saturday in a 5-1 win gas in the Pacific Division Kane said. "We need all help make up for the ab-
that. over Calgary. with seven games remain- the points we can get. We sence of Joe Thornton, who
With Kane provide a scoring "I think that's something ing, giving them an outside haven't clinched a playoff has missed two months with
threat and physical play as we're trying to pride our- shot at a division title. But spot yet. The teams that a knee injury. Thornton has
a top-line wing and Fehr so- selves on," defenseman perhaps more importantly, are right behind us keep started skating again, but
lidifying the fourth line and Brenden Dillon said. "Play- they entered Sunday six winning. We have to keep there is no timetable for his
penalty kill, the Sharks are offs you're going to meet points ahead of Anaheim pushing forward and keep return.q