Letang Scores In Shootout To Lift Pens Over Hurricanes 2-1
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Kris Letang scored on the final shot of a shootout, Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 on Friday night.
The win was Pittsburgh's eighth in 10 games and gave the Penguins a 2-1-1 lead in the season series.
Andrej Nestrasil scored late in the third period for the Hurricanes to send the game to the extra period.
Phil Kessel scored Pittsburgh's regulation goal in the second period.
The game was part of the Hurricanes' three-day celebration for the 10th anniversary of their 2006 Stanley Cup championship. Captain Eric Staal and goalie Cam Ward are the only members of that team still active with the club.
Ward made 25 saves for Carolina, which is 1-1-2 in its last four games.
Kessel put the Penguins ahead at 15:43 of the second by squeezing a shot between Ward and the post from the bottom of the left circle. Former Hurricane Matt Cullen - also a member of that Hurricanes Stanley Cup team - assisted on the goal.
Nestrasil weaved into the right circle during a rush and tied the game with a shot from there. Joakim Nordstrom had the assist on the goal with 5:18 left.
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NOTES: Carolina will host the New York Islanders on Saturday night in the second of a three-game homestand, and then on Sunday will play an alumni reunion game featuring many of the Cup champions. ... The Penguins visit Florida on Monday night before returning home on Thursday night against Detroit. ... Carolina D Justin Faulk (lower body) was out, while C Brad Malone and C Riley Nash were healthy scratches. ... Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin (lower body) missed his fifth straight game, while LW Sergei Plotnikov and D Ian Cole were healthy scratches. ... The teams' final meeting will be on St. Patrick's Day in Pittsburgh.
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