Late game collapse costs Canucks victory
Posted January 7, 2014 10:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Kris Letang scored with 1:11 left in regulation, Sidney Crosby tallied 16 seconds later and then Crosby had the only goal in the shootout as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4.
The Canucks had taken their first lead of the game earlier in the third period, thanks to quick goals from Chris Higgins and Zack Kassian.
Vancouver trailed 2-1 heading into the final frame, but Chris Tanev beat Marc-Andre Fleury with a point shot that deflected on its way to the net at the 7:39 mark.
Higgins was sprung for a breakaway with a beautiful pass from Jannik Hansen, and he deked before sliding the puck through Fleury’s five-hole to put the Canucks up 3-2.
Just 17 seconds later Vancouver doubled its lead. Higgins threw a pass towards Kassian but it was high. Kassian knocked the puck out of mid-air to himself and then backhanded it past Fleury for his eighth goal of the season.
Both of the Penguins late goals were scored with the goalie pulled for the extra attacker. Crosby also registered an assist on the Letang goal as he got his first two NHL points in Vancouver.
Crosby scored as the second shooter for the Penguins in the shootout, while Kassian, Mike Santorelli and Higgins were unsuccessful for Vancouver.
Brian Gibbons opened the scoring for Pittsburgh with a breakaway goal in the first period, and then Evgeni Malkin made it 2-0 early in the second.
Jason Garrison scored with 4:25 left in the second to get Vancouver on the board.
The Canucks have lost a season-high five straight games. Three of the losses have come in overtime or a shootout.
Eddie Lack made 31 saves as he was the Canucks’ starter for the fifth time in six games.
Vancouver will be back in action at home to the St. Louis Blues on Friday.
