Penguins' power-play drought continues in loss to Preds

Field Level Media|published: Tue 28th November, 22:59 2023

Nov 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators right wing Michael McCarron (47) and Pittsburgh Penguins defense John Ludvig (7) exchange hits in a fight during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. credits: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Filip Forsberg went coast-to-coast to score 14 seconds into overtime Tuesday, giving the Nashville Predators their sixth straight win, 3-2 over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

Michael McCarron scored twice and Forsberg also added an assist for the Predators.

Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros made 29 saves.

Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust each scored their 10th goal of the season for the Penguins, who came back from a two-goal deficit to tie it in the third. They have lost five of seven (2-4-1).

Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry made 23 saves in the loss, getting beaten glove side on Forsberg's winner.

McCarron opened the scoring at 10:20 of the first. Tyson Barrie let loose a shot from the right point. McCarron, in the low slot, deflected the puck downward and under Jarry's blocker.

The assist was Barrie's 499th career point.

With 1:22 left in the first and the Predators in a delayed penalty situation, McCarron struck again. Philip Tomasino took a shot from the bottom of the right circle. McCarron, in the same spot as he was on his first goal, pounced on the rebound and swiped it inside the left post to increase the lead to 2-0.

Malkin drew a hooking penalty early in the second but the Penguins did not convert. They went 0-for-2 on the evening, leaving them scoreless over their last 21 power plays.

Less than three minutes after the penalty expired, Malkin struck to close it to 2-1. Reilly Smith, moving toward the right side, sent a backhanded pass to Malkin in the left circle. Malkin roofed the puck far side at 5:49 of the second.

That gave Malkin 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 19 career games against Nashville.

McCarron and Pittsburgh rookie defenseman John Ludvig fought less than a minute after Malkin's goal, at 6:44.

Rust, in his return after missing three games because of an unspecified injury, tied it at 2:26 of the third. Off a feed from Ludvig, Rust scored from the top of the right circle on a wrist shot through traffic. The assist was Ludvig's first NHL point.

—Field Level Media