In his first game of 2023, Quebec defenseman Kristopher Letang scored four points, including the deciding goal in overtime, in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 7-6 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.
• Also read: The Canadian lost to the Bruins 4-2
Going neck-and-neck in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Panthers and Penguins certainly didn’t please their respective head coaches by forgetting defensive play.
No fewer than six goals were scored in the first half, including the first for the 35-year-old Montrealer, who has been absent in recent weeks with a lower body injury and the death of his father.
Letang showed his versatility by repelling Brian Dumoulin’s shot to make it 3-2 and a few minutes earlier setting up Rickard Rakell’s 18th goal of the season. In doing so, Letang became the 23rd defenseman in Bettman League history to have 400 career points.
He then became Evgeni Malkin’s accomplice at the end of the third period, when the Russian striker hit the target with a fierce shot at reception.
Following Malkin’s success, Carter Verhaeghe brought both teams back to first place with his second and 25th of the season — a new all-season record for the former Tampa Bay Lightning.
However, the one nicknamed “Tangier” ended the debate in overtime by beating Alex Lyon with a precise slapshot.
Danton Heinen, Drew O’Connor and Sidney Crosby completed the scoring for the Penguins. For the latter, it’s a 15th goal in his last 17 games against the Florida side.
Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad responded for the visitors.