Pettersson's OT goal lifts Penguins past Canadiens  | NHL.com (2024)

Recap: Canadiens @ Penguins 1.27.24

Pettersson took a pass from Rickard Rakell on a 2-on-1 rush and beat Jake Allenwith a wrist shot from the right face-off circle.

“I don’t think I’m going to get a lot of chances to score in overtime, but it felt huge,” Pettersson said. “Going into the break, earn two points, battle back once again but this time come out on the right side. It brings some juice into the break, so to speak. Got to take advantage of it.”

Lars Eller scored in his 1,000th NHL game, and Jake Guentzel also scored for the Penguins (22-17-7), who had lost three in a row and five of six (1-2-3). Tristan Jarrymade 25 saves.

Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky scored, and Allen made 30 saves for the Canadiens (20-21-8), who have lost four of five.

“We played hard. We played strong. We just didn't get the result,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “Recharge. Just recharge. Get ready for a push."

Allen has allowed at least three goals in five straight starts, losing four.

"Obviously, we want a ‘W,’” Allen said. “But guys competed hard, played hard. Continuation from our last game. A lot of compete. A lot of effort. We got one of the two (points), but guys still should keep our heads high heading into this bye week, enjoy the week off and get regrouped here."

MTL@PIT: Pettersson fires in top-shelf goal for OT winner

Guhle put Montreal ahead 1-0 at 15:53 of the first period, taking a pass through the slot from Mike Mathesonfor a wrist shot alone at the backdoor.

Eller tied it 1-1 at 4:05 of the second period with a wrist shot from the slot after Valtteri Puustinen’s shot went off Matheson’s skate in front.

“The most important thing in my mind was getting the two points,” Eller said. “That’s what I’m the most happy about. These points were crucial for us going into this break with a little bit better feeling getting three out of four in the last two (games). It wasn’t our best game. We were fighting it a little bit.

“We’re never quitting. We’re never giving up. We find a way, even when we’re not playing at our best, to come back into games and get points. That’s huge. Just happy, most of all, about the two points.”

Slafkovsky gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead on a power play at 12:23 when his wrist shot deflected in off Penguins defenseman Ryan Gravesin the crease.

"That's what I've been looking for my whole life,” Slafkovsky said. “I want to be the difference maker. I want to be the man. I'm working myself up there. Hopefully, one day, I'll be there."

Guentzel tied it 2-2 at 10:03 of the third period, tapping in a spinning backhand pass from Sidney Crosby, who has nine points (five goals, four assists) on a seven-game point streak.

“It was incredible. It’s one of the better ones that we’ve seen in a while,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of the pass. “He has eyes in the back of his head. I don’t know how he knows he’s there or saw him. We grow accustomed to it. He makes so many plays, but that one was certainly a highlight-reel goal.

“We had quality looks. It seemed like a struggle to find the back of the net. I really liked our game in the third period. I thought the guys played real determined and we got a lot of momentum. Just a huge goal at a key time to give us an opportunity to get the win.”

NOTES: Crosby reached 50 points (27 goals, 23 assists) in a 17th NHL season. ... Eller is the first Denmark-born player to play 1,000 NHL games. He is the ninth player to score at least one goal in the first and 1,000th game of his career, joining Marian Gaborik, Milan Hejduk, Alex Kovalev, Evgeni Malkin, Joe Nieuwendyk, Gilbert Perreault, Jean Ratelle and Luc Robitaille. ... Montreal forward Cole Caufield had the secondary assist on Guhle’s goal to extend his NHL career-long point streak to nine games (six goals, six assists). ... Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher began a five-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech on Thursday. ... Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson’s point streak ended at 10 games (one goal, 10 assists).