Sidney Crosby Breaks 32-Period Scoreless Run
Sidney Crosby is able to now cross his name off the list of elite NHL players that never scored an overtime goal in the playoffs.
That list is long and full of Hall of Fame players such as Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe did not score one nor did Mark Messier.
On Monday, Crosby’s overtime goal evened the NHL Eastern Conference Finals best of seven series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins at 1-1.
The goal by Crosby also snapped his goal scoring drought at eight games matching the longest in the same postseason. It is the first goal for Crosby in the playoffs since the first round in Game 4 against the New York Rangers.
Prior to Monday, 22 different Pittsburgh players had scored an overtime playoff goal, including Michel Briere, Darius Kasparitis and George Ferguson. Crosby also broke a record held by Ferguson for the quickest goal in overtime at 40 seconds.
The only Pittsburgh player to have scored a goal in overtime during the conference finals prior to Crosby was former Penguins star Jaromir Jagr to win Game 1 of the 1992 conference finals versus Boston.
Pittsburgh is now 3-1 this postseason in games that have gone to overtime. The three wins all ended within seven minutes of overtime.
The three wins in overtime ties a record for the franchise of most wins during overtimes in one postseason dating back to 2001 and the 2009 Stanley Cup winning season.
Pittsburgh is 4-0 now in the postseason following a loss. The Penguins snapped a losing streak of five games in the Eastern Conference finals.
Other Notes
Matt Murray became the first goaltender 21 years old or younger to win a game in overtime during the conference finals since 1993 when Felix Potvin won for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The goal scored by Matt Cullen was his second in a NHL conference finals. His first came while playing for Carolina in 2009 during Game 3 versus Pittsburgh.
A goal by Phil Kessel raised his total to 35 points in 35 playoff games during his career. He is one of just five players averaging one point per game during the postseason since the start of the 2008 postseason. Kessel, as well as Crosby and Evgeni Malkin a former Penguins player make up three of those five players.
Pittsburgh is dominating this series with regard to shot attempts. The Penguins had 70 shots during Game 1 to just 41 for Tampa Bay. In Game 2, the Pens had 69 while Tampa Bay just 44.
