Penguins’ Kessel reaches 300 goals in win over Jets
Phil Kessel’s 300th career goal at 1:07 of overtime lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.
Kessel, who also scored the overtime winner against Edmonton on Tuesday, became the 18th American-born player to reach 300 career goals and the second active behind Minnesota’s Zach Parise.
Kessel stripped Patrik Laine of the puck at his own blue line and went the other way on a breakaway. Kessel, with nine points in his last seven games, snapped a wrist shot between the pads of Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck for the winner.
Conor Sheary scored his fifth for the Penguins, who won for the fifth time in six games. Pittsburgh has won seven of nine since losing the first two games of the season.
The Jets continue a stretch of four games in six nights on Friday against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
Pittsburgh also won its 17th straight home game against the Jets dating to March 24, 2007. Overall, Pittsburgh won 17 of the last 20 meetings against the Jets, who last won in Pittsburgh, Dec. 27, 2006, when they were the Atlanta Thrashers.
Matt Murray won his seventh straight since allowing 11 goals on 65 shots in his first two appearances. Murray, who stopped 30 shots, helped Pittsburgh earn points in all eight starts this season.
Josh Morrissey scored his second for the Jets, who had won four of their previous five after being outscored 13-5 in the first two games of the season against Toronto and Calgary.
Hellebuyck, who made 34 saves, saw his fourgame win streak end. He was seeking a personal best five-game streak and the team record for the longest win streak by a goaltender to begin the season.
Pavel Buchnevich scored twice and added an assist, rookie Boo Nieves had three assists and the New York beat winless Arizona in New York. Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov became the seventh set of teammates in NHL history to start the season with point streaks of at least 11 games, and surging Tampa Bay beat Detroit in Tampa, Florida.
Danton Heinen scored both goals and Anton Khudobin made 36 saves to lift the Boston to a win over the San Jose in Boston.
Josh Jooris scored twice, Teuvo Teravainen had a three-point night and Carolina beat Toronto in Toronto.
Radim Vrbata recorded his seventh career hat trick to lift Florida to a victory over Anaheim in Sunrise, Florida.
Jonathan Quick stopped 40 shots for his 46th career shutout, Adrian Kempe and Tyler Toffoli scored 11 seconds apart in the first period and Los Angeles beat Montreal in Montreal. Anze Kopitar and Kurtis MacDermid also scored for the Western Conferenceleading Kings (8-1-1), who beat the Canadiens 5-2 last week in Los Angeles.
JeanGabriel Pageau had a goal and two assists, Erik Karlsson added two assists and Ottawa beat Philadelphia in Ottawa, Ontario.
Eric Staal had a goal and assist, Luke Kunin and Zack Mitchell each scored their first NHL goals, and Minnesota beat New York in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Matt Benning scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:27 remaining and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals as Edmonton finally found their offensive touch in a victory over Dallas in Edmonton, Alberta.