Pittsburgh 5, Nashville 4
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 19, 2024
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees:
Eric Furlatt, Brandon Schrader
Linesmen:
Shandor Alphonso, Kilian McNamara
Attendance:
17159
By Field Level Media
Bryan Rust scored his second goal of the night 1:07 into overtime to cap a four-point night, Sidney Crosby had a goal with three assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the host Nashville Predators 5-4 on Thursday.
Rust, who opened the scoring for Pittsburgh, ended it when he snapped a wide-open shot past Nashville's Juuse Saros (15 saves) to give the Penguins their first lead and their eighth win in 11 games (8-2-1). Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson each had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh, which has played three straight overtime contests, winning twice.
Brady Skjei had a goal and an assist for Nashville, which has five points in four games following its 0-5-3 slide.
With game tied 3-3, Nashville went ahead when Ryan O'Reilly's 20-foot saucer pass got to Skjei, who snapped the puck past Pittsburgh netminder Tristan Jarry (22 saves) with 12:16 to go in regulation. However, Pittsburgh answered on Karlsson's slap shot with 8:24 left in regulation.
Nashville opened the scoring 3:51 into the contest. On the transition, Filip Forsberg slid the puck into the slot for Jonathan Marchessault to get by Jarry just 3:51 into the contest.
Pittsburgh didn't record its first shot on goal until Rust's with 6:47 left in the first. But with 3:39 left before the first intermission, Rust pushed in the puck after getting a slot pass from Rakell, who was set up by Crosby.
The Predators regained the lead with 2:03 to go in the first. On the power play, Luke Evangelista was in the right spot to put home a rebound.
Nashville made it 3-1 at 3:40 into the second. With Forsberg helping again, Steven Stamkos smoked a wrister by Jarry. However, the Penguins tied it with two goals within a two-minute span of the second period.
With 12:06 to go in the period, and on the power play, Crosby chipped in Karlsson's shot toward the net for his first goal since Nov. 23.
Just 1:14 later, off a Nashville turnover, Crosby sent the puck over to Rakell, who threw it at the net, where it fluttered past Saros.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Pittsburgh |
|
Nashville |
Bryan Rust 4 |
Points |
Brady Skjei 2 |
Bryan Rust 2 |
Goals |
Brady Skjei 1 |
Sidney Crosby 3 |
Assists |
Filip Forsberg 2 |
Sidney Crosby 1 |
Power Play Goals |
Luke Evangelista 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Tristan Jarry .846 |
Save Percentage |
Juuse Saros .750 |
Tristan Jarry 22 |
Saves |
Juuse Saros 15 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Pittsburgh
|
20 |
5 |
1-3 |
4-5 |
10 |
27 |
Nashville
|
26 |
4 |
1-5 |
2-3 |
6 |
23 |
Upcoming Games
-
Nashville will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Predators have a W/L % of .222 after a win and .292 after a loss.
-
Pittsburgh will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Penguins have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .474 after a loss.