Watch: Phil Kessel Scores In Third Period, Penguins Beat Senators 1-0 In Game 2 To Tie Series

Phil Kessel scored on his lone shot on goal with 6:55 remaining in the third period to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 1-0 Game 2 home victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.

Phil Kessel Scores Game-Winner, Penguins tie series Vs Senators 1-1

The right winger took a pass from Evgeni Malkin and netted a shot after Jean-Gabriel Pageau stopped the first try. Kessel re-fired his own rebounded past Craig Anderson’s left pad to snap his three-game scoring drought and tie the Eastern Conference Final series 1-1.

“Lucky bounce,” Kessel said. “It got blocked. I got it off quick. It went in.”

Kessel’s game-winner was the latest he had ever scored in 60 career NHL Playoff games.

Marc-Andre Fleury recorded 23 saves for his second shutout in his last three starts. He has allowed two goals during that stretch. Anderson stopped 28 shots for Ottawa.

The Penguins were missing three regulars on Monday: forward Patric Hornqvist, right wing Bryan Rust and defenseman Justin Schultz. The latter two left in the first half of the first period. 

Rust exited after taking a hit from Dion Phaneuf in the middle of the offensive zone 4:58 into the game. Then, Schulz crashed into the end boards at 9:30 of the first after attempting to fight Mike Hoffman for a puck behind Pittsburgh’s net. Schultz headed straight to the locker room. The defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins played the remainder of the game with 11 forwards and five defenseman.

Hornqvist did not play due to an undisclosed injury after participating in line rushes during warmups. He skipped practice Sunday and the Penguins’ optional morning skate Monday before being marked as a game-time decision.

Coach Mike Sullivan did not reveal any updates on Rust, Schultz or Hornqvist after the game. Forward Conor Sheary replaced Hornqvist on the third line and was also moved to the first line after Rust left in the opening period.

Carl Hagelin, meanwhile, returned for Pittsburgh. The forward, who had also been labeled a game-time decision, sat out the previous two games with a lower-body injury.

Jake Guentzel missed a great scoring opportunity for the Penguins in the second period. Crosby won a face-off and immediately fed his teammate, who raced toward the net. Guentzel went on a breakaway and, all alone in front, fired a shot over Ottawa’s goal and into the netting with 7:58 left in the second.

Ottawa’s first shot of the third period came on a backhand from forward Zack Smith with 4:54 remaining. The Senators’ previous shot came with 3:47 left in the second period.

The Senators were shut out for the first time since a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 24 (a 36-game stretch). Ottawa forward Viktor Stahlberg missed his second straight game due to an undisclosed injury.

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals is Wednesday at 8pm EST in Ottawa.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 15: Phil Kessel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins shoots the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the third period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 15, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena