Penguins prevail in record-breaking shootout to edge Habs

Field Level Media|published: Wed 13th December, 22:33 2023

Dec 13, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (87) forechecks Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) during the first period at the Bell Centre. credits: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Jansen Harkins, the 24th shooter, beat Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault blocker side to give the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 win on Wednesday following the longest shootout of the NHL season.

Pittsburgh goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who made 39 saves in regulation and overtime, stopped nine of 12 shots in the shootout. Montembeault, who made 27 saves, stopped eight of 12 in the shootout.

Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist, Jake Guentzel scored and Erik Karlsson had two assists for the Penguins, who won their second straight game while experiencing the longest shootout in franchise history.

David Savard, Jayden Struble and Sean Monahan scored for the Canadiens, who blew two two-goal leads in losing their second straight game.

Savard opened the scoring at 6:24 of the first. He picked off the puck near the left point and beat Nedeljkovic far side from near the hash marks for a 1-0 Canadiens lead.

At 12:21, Struble pushed it to 2-0. The puck took a few caroms and bounces in a crowded low slot before Struble shot it inside the right post.

Pittsburgh struck 1:27 later to close it to 2-1. After Drew O'Connor's shot was blocked, Crosby got the puck and chipped it high inside the left post.

That was Crosby's 1,531st career point, tying him with Paul Coffey for 14th all-time in the NHL.

Montreal got a power-play goal 1:32 later. A shot by Mike Matheson leaked under Nedeljkovic, and Monahan reached in to poke the puck over the line to make it 3-1.

Guentzel's power-play goal at 5:36 of the second closed it to 3-2. He scored from the slot on a one-timer off a backhand pass from Crosby.

The assist gave Crosby sole possession of 14th place in points.

Crosby tied it with a power-play goal at 11:02 of the second, sending a blast from the center point that deflected in off a Canadiens player.

That allowed Crosby to tie Mark Recchi for 13th place all-time with 1,533 points.

Crosby nearly gave the Penguins the lead at the end of the second, but the puck went in a split second after the buzzer.

—Field Level Media

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