abcnews
Ville Koivunen netted the game-winner at 3:44 of overtime, completing a late rally as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Saturday night. Koivunen fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that beat goaltender Juuse Saros.
Rickard Rakell had tied the contest with 1:06 remaining in regulation, converting a cross-ice feed from Sidney Crosby. The assist was Crosby's 1,111th of his career, moving him into a tie with Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque for the most assists with a single franchise in NHL history.
Connor Dewar also found the back of the net for Pittsburgh, which extended its point streak to 10 consecutive games and has now earned points in 23 of its last 27 meetings with Nashville dating back to Oct. 21, 2010. Goaltender Arturs Silovs made 24 saves for the Penguins, who have won two straight following a four-game skid. Pittsburgh was without Evgeni Malkin (illness) and Egor Chinakhov (lower body); Chinakhov has now missed four of the last five games.
Steven Stamkos and Jayden Struble scored for Nashville. Stamkos is now two goals shy of passing Dino Ciccarelli for 19th place on the NHL's all-time goal list. Saros turned aside 34 shots for the Predators, who have lost two in a row and five of six. Nashville was shut out 6-0 at Boston on Thursday.
Struble gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 6:40 of the second period when he beat Silovs from the right faceoff dot. Jack Drury nearly extended the lead to 3-1 at the end of the second, diving at a loose puck and pushing it across the line, but time expired before it crossed. That set the stage for Rakell and Koivunen to complete the comeback in the third period and overtime.
Key Analysis
The Penguins' resilience was on full display as they battled back from a third-period deficit without key contributors Malkin and Chinakhov. Crosby's historic assist not only tied a prestigious record but also sparked the late surge. Nashville, meanwhile, continues to struggle, having dropped five of its last six games. The Predators will look to bounce back when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, while Pittsburgh will next host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday.
Originally reported by abcnews.