PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jesper Fast scored 9 seconds into the third period to break a tie, Sebastian Aho followed with his 22nd goal of the season and the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Sunday to move into first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Staal also scored for Carolina, which never trailed in the first meeting of the season between the teams that entered the day tied atop perhaps the league's most competitive division. Antti Raanta made 31 saves to pick up his 100th career victory.
Evan Rodrigues scored his first goal since Jan. 6 to get Pittsburgh within one with 1:12 remaining, but the Hurricanes held on.
Bryan Rust scored his eighth goal in his past eight games and Sidney Crosby added the 501st goal of his career. Tristan Jarry finished with 26 stops for Pittsburgh and played well despite a series of breakdowns in front of him early on that allowed the Hurricanes to control play for significant stretches.
The Penguins and Hurricanes have spent most of the past two months shadowboxing each other. Carolina sprinted to the division lead following a scorching start in November only to be slowly reeled in by Pittsburgh.
Their first meeting in more than two years provided a litmus test of sorts for both sides. The game comes near the start of a challenging three-week stretch for the Penguins that began with a listless loss to Toronto last Thursday and includes three matchups with the Hurricanes as well as showdowns with Tampa Bay, Florida and the New York Rangers.
Carolina wasted little time showing off the kind of high-end skill that has fueled its season-long stay at or near the top of the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes spent most of the first period creating multiple breakaway or odd-man rushes that Jarry fended off until Kotkaniemi broke through 15:18 into the game when he collected a loose puck in the slot and fired it high over Jarry's glove.
Staal doubled the lead just 9 seconds into the second period when he found himself in the right spot following a shot by defenseman Brett Pesce. Pittsburgh's Jeff Carter's attempted clear from the slot smacked off Staal and slid into the net.
The Penguins emerged from their funk midway through the second period. Rust poked home a rebound off Kris Letang's shot 14:43 into the period gave Pittsburgh some life. Crosby followed with his 15th of the season a little less than three minutes later when he smoked a slap shot from the left circle just over Raanta's outstretched left pad.
The momentum, however, did not carry over to the third. Brady Skjei stepped in front of a pass by Pittsburgh's Brian Dumoulin in the neutral zone and slipped the puck to Nino Niederreiter while Fast streaked down the right side. Fast buried Niederreiter's centering pass to immediately put the Penguins back on their heels.
Aho made it a two-goal game with a one-timer from the left circle on the power play with just under six minutes to play. Rodrigues’s first goal in 19 games with Jarry pulled led to a few tense moments in the final seconds before the clock expired to give the Hurricanes a win in a game that could serve as a preview of things to come in the playoffs.
NOTES: Carolina D Brendan Smith exited in the first period and did not return after taking a puck to the ear while sliding to block a shot. ... Pittsburgh honored Crosby with a plaque commemorating his 500th career goal during a pregame ceremony. Crosby became the 46th player in NHL history to reach the milestone in a win over Philadelphia last Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Hurricanes: Travel to the other side of Pennsylvania to face Philadelphia on Monday night.
Pittsburgh: Have a few days off before hosting New Jersey on Thursday night.
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