Penguins/Predators Recap: Crosby, Karlsson help keep Pittsburgh’s playoff chances alive

Pregame

For the 12th game in a row, it’s Alex Nedeljkovic who gets the starting call in net. Jansen Harkins is also back in the lineup after a long stint on IR for this can’t lose game.

First period

The Penguins get a power play early on. Michael Bunting gets in tight and scores but the Predators object with a goalie interference challenge. They win it.

Sidney Crosby gets the first goal soon after, with a lunging effort to smack the puck in for his 42nd goal of the season.

Pittsburgh keep up the pressure and scores again. Crosby bumps a pass over for Erik Karlsson to wire from distance. 2-0.

History repeats with a second disallowed power play goal for Pittsburgh. This time Nashville challenges over Lars Eller in the crease to negate a Kris Letang strike.

Great first period for the Pens, who were playing like the season was on the line (which it was). 20-5 go the shots. Pittsburgh puts four pucks by Juuse Saros, though only two stood up as legal goals.

Second period

The Predators claw back into the game, Gustav Nyquist finds the puck in a scramble and knocks it in to make it a 2-1 score.

The Pens take momentum back by answering 57 seconds later. The third line is buzzing and swirling around the zone, Eller sets up Reilly Smith for his 13th goal of the year.

Nashville keeps it close with a goal late in the frame. Filip Forsberg shows his puck skills and wrist shot with a laser for his 48th tally on the year.

The tables flip on the shot counter, 16-8 for NSH in the second, and the Pens only have a one goal lead to show for it through 40 minutes.

Third period

Pittsburgh keeps the pressure on and starts the period out right. Karlsson’s fake shot freezes the defense and his cross-ice pass is right on the money for Emil Bemstom to fire home. 4-2 lead.

The lead holds up and the Pens bring it on home to keep their season alive.

Some thoughts

• The Penguins had to win and they took care of their business. But there was no help in the out of town scores; Detroit scored late to force OT and won there and Washington won their game as well. So status quo remains for the teams ahead of the Pens, with all teams having one more game to go and Pittsburgh still needing DET and WSH to stumble.
• Fitting that somehow even when the power play scores, they still can’t do that correctly. The two disallowed goals hurt, but hey, credit and kudos for getting bodies and the puck into the blue paint and seeing what would happen. That’s usually better than the typical Penguin power play these days.
• Crosby shrugging the overturned goal off and scoring on the power play takes a lot of sting out of it. Huge goal to set the tone and capitalize.
• Erik Karlsson had himself a night: 1 goal, 1 assist, 7 SOG (9 total attempts), 25:49 played. That’s the kind of performance that they probably had penciled in for more games than they’ve received out of him, but better late than never there.
• Crosby’s night mirrored Karlsson’s: 1 goal, 1 assist, 7 SOG (10 total attempts), 2 takeaways, 78% faceoff wins, 20:53 played. No surprise when the games mean the most that the captain steps up and does what it takes.
• Nice to see Bemstrom score his third goal with the Pens. Too often he’s been invisible.
• Many (including here personally) had to be wondering what Alex Nedeljkovic had left in the tank for his 12th straight start and several iffy performances lately. 28 saves on 30 shots left no doubts that the team went in the right direction for who their ride or die goalie has turned into.

One more game to go for Pittsburgh, on Wednesday in Long Island. By then (based off the results of WSH/PHI and DET/MTL tomorrow) we will know if the Pens have been eliminated from postseason contention (with a Capitals or Red Wing win spelling the end of the line for Pittsburgh) or if the door is still open for them to win or even lose in OT/SO and be able to claim the final playoff spot of the year.