NHL Wednesday: Tampa Bay takes down Los Angeles in shootout

Crosby took advantage of the St. Louis turnover in open ice to tie the game 1-1 with minutes to spare in the first period. No matter what the circumstance, if you leave Sidney Crosby alone in front of the net, he will make you pay. Crosby then came back in the second period and halfway through the frame, tipped home a Malkin shot on the power play with perfect stick placement. The captain’s nine shots led the team by a mile in the game and though he only scored the Penguins first two tallies, he was clearly felt all over the ice.

The Penguins are far from a perfect team. There are too many questions on their offensive depth and defensive talent, but the struggles they have had this season are quite a surprise to many who believed them to contend at the top of their division. A scoring Sidney Crosby is not only good for the Penguins, but it’s good for the league. An NHL that lacks the dominance of Crosby is like missing an integral piece of the league itself. The sooner Crosby returns to form, the better off everyone will be.

Goaltenders always run the risk of getting taken out whenever they leave the goal crease or the trapezoid behind the net. Often, netminders can escape and play the puck without much harm, but other times a player with a full head of steam can turn their adventure out of their net more dangerous.

The goal also gave Crosby a tally against every single team in the NHL for his career, besides his own of course.

Crosby’s second was a really nice tip on a power play. The captain got his stick on the puck and deflected it up and over Allen for what was the 2-1 leading Penguins goal midway through the game.

Yakupov was helped off the ice and so far there has been no official word from the Oilers as to the extent of his injury.

The Predators get multiple stabs at the puck, as it lands at the feet of Buffalo goaltender Linus Ullmark. Fisher ultimately gets the final attempt, slipping by the Sabres defense to get a quick wrist shot off that beat Ullmark blocker side.

It’s not a pretty goal by any means, but if it kickstarts Nashville’s scoring again, they will certainly take it.