Penguins win 3-1, tying series with Canadiens,
Zucker gets winner in another nail-biter; Murray stands tall as Penguins even series
TORONTO — Any remnants of the Montreal Canadiens’ feel-good glow from their series-opening overtime win against the Penguins were quickly dashed Monday night.
The fifth-seeded Penguins took advantage of a flat offensive effort from the Canadiens for a 3-1 victory that tied the best-of-five qualifying series at one game apiece.
Sidney Crosby and Jason Zucker beat Montreal goalie Carey Price, and Jake Guentzel added an empty-net goal. Montreal’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi ended Matt Murray’s shutout bid with 2:09 left to play.
The Canadiens went 0 for 3 on the power play, managing only one shot with the man advantage.
“Our best players have to be our best players,” Montreal head coach Claude Julien said. “Tonight, we had some guys that really struggled and a lot of those guys happened to be on the power play.”
The 12th-seeded Canadiens delivered a 3-2 upset win Saturday, but were listless from the start in Game 2.
Crosby gave the Penguins an early lead and Price — by far Montreal’s best player — did well to keep it a one-goal game until Zucker tallied with 5:19 left in the third. Price was pulled after Kotkaniemi’s goal for the extra attacker, but Guentzel sealed the win with 9.1 seconds left.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday night.
“There’s no panic,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said of his team. “They are a confident group. They believe in one another and they control what they can.
“They aren’t going to dwell on the past and they certainly aren’t going to get ahead of themselves.”
The Penguins controlled the early offensive play, and Price had to be sharp right away, denying Zucker after he was sent in alone a few minutes into the game.
The Penguins kept the pressure on and were rewarded when Guentzel’s cross-ice pass found Crosby streaking down the left wing. The Penguins captain snapped the puck between Price’s legs at 4:25.
It was the 188th playoff point of Crosby’s NHL career, moving him into an eighth-place tie with Joe Sakic and Doug Gilmour.
The Canadiens, who were outshot, 14-7, in the first period, nearly scored on a Brett Kulak wraparound attempt midway through the stanza.
The Penguins’ Jared McCann dislodged the net just before Kulak flipped the puck over Murray’s shoulder. After a review, the officials decided it was not a goal.
Montreal came out with more pace in the second period, but could only manage a few decent chances. The best opportunity came when Jonathan Drouin found Joel Armia for a goalmouth redirect, but Murray made a brilliant glove save.
Price, who made 39 saves in Game 1, stoned Kris Letang twice on a scramble midway through the
second period. Murray also had his moments and delivered key saves when needed.
The Penguins outshot Montreal, 38-27.
“Obviously, it wasn’t our best effort,” Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber said. “They were the better team tonight, but Carey gave us a chance.”
As Montreal pressed for the equalizer in the third, Kulak got caught at the blue line to give the Penguins a 2-on-1 break. Conor Sheary broke down the side and found Zucker in front to make it a two-goal game.
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NOTES — The Penguins, the No. 5 seed in the East, again struggled on the power play. They were 0 for 5, leaving them 1 for 12 in the series . ... Montreal, the No. 12 seed, was 0 for 3 with the man advantage . ... A recorded version of “O Canada” was performed by Canadian country singer Brett Kissel. Unlike the Game 1 anthem, the rendition included a French verse . ... Montreal outhit the Penguins, 31-20.