Greg Cronin was ejected, but his Anaheim Ducks still found a way to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 thanks to a great late play from Mason McTavish on Monday night at PPG Paints Arena.
The visitors’ head coach was chased from the game by the officials after they decided not to allow a goal in the second period. Cronin was initially penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, then the referees had enough and sent him back to the locker room.
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Evgeni Malkin scored on the ensuing power play, then Radim Zohorna gave the Pens the lead early in the third period. However, McTavish filled the Ducks with a sense of pride. He scored two goals, including one short-handed, with just 13 seconds left in the third period. The center player then came out of the penalty area and gave Tristan Jarry no chance with his wrist shot in the upper area on a breakaway.
The Ducks goaltenders did a great job at the other end of the ice. After a spectacular save from Sidney Crosby at the very end of the first third, John Gibson had to make way for Lukas Dostal due to injury. His second was busy, stopping 33 of the Penguins’ 35 shots.
End of sequence for Johansson
In Tampa, the Seattle Kraken worked hard to find a solution to the Jonas Johansson conundrum, beating the goalie in overtime to secure a 4-3 victory over the Lightning.
Jared McCann secured the decisive victory in extra time with his fifth goal of the season. He prevented the Swedish goalkeeper from scoring his third win in a row. Johansson did everything he could after two straight shutouts, blocking 40 pucks.
The Kraken took advantage of a good option in the first period by taking a 3-1 lead. However, Quebecer Alex Barré-Boulet took charge of the Lightning’s comeback with a goal and an assist.
Four of Seattle’s 10 games this season required overtime.
A very difficult game for the Panthers
In Boston, the encounter was heartbreaking in more ways than one for the Florida Panthers, who were facing the Bruins for the first time since their first-round clash in the last playoffs.
This time the Big Cats were unable to surprise the mighty Bostonians and lost 3-2 in overtime despite scoring the first two goals of the game.
The Panthers lost forward Sam Bennett early in the game after he appeared to be hit in the left ankle. The veteran collapsed in pain after a fight near the opponent’s net. It was his first meeting of the season.
Defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson was rocked by Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins’ star guard had just scored the equalizer when he tackled the former Arizona Coyotes captain. His shoulder blow directly to the head earned him a dismissal.
It was Pavel Zacha who ended the game in overtime.