Flames edge Penguins in shootout
PITTSBURGH -- Kris Versteeg scored the only goal of the shootout Tuesday as the Calgary Flames pushed past the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena.
The Flames (28-25-3) have won four of their past five games.
Goaltender Chad Johnson made 31 saves to halt a three-game winning streak by Pittsburgh (33-13-6) and keep Penguins center Sidney Crosby from reaching the career milestone of 1,000 points.
Crosby was involved in the first goal of the game, but surely not in a way he would have wanted. His giveaway led to a breakaway by Michael Ferland. With Crosby and defenseman Brian Dumoulin chasing, Ferland raced down the slot and beat goaltender Matt Murray to the glove side for a 1-0 Calgary lead at 16:19 of the second period.
Michael Frolik upped the Flames' lead to 2-0 1:44 later. He and linemates Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund executed a zone-wide give-and-go, and Frolik put a one-timer inside the left post.
Crosby got career point No. 998 with a secondary assist at 5:51 of the third when Chris Kunitz swept the puck inside the left post to make it 2-1.
The point also moved Crosby into a tie with Edmonton's Connor McDavid atop the NHL scoring. They have 60 points apiece.
Pittsburgh tied it 2-2 at 15:06 of the third when Jake Guentzel scored short side from the bottom of the left circle.
Murray made 28 saves, but his home record fell to 7-1-2.
Crosby 's 1,000th point might come on the road. Pittsburgh plays Thursday at Colorado and Saturday at Arizona before returning home for a game next Tuesday against Vancouver.
NOTES: Pittsburgh C Evgeni Malkin (lower-body injury), who missed his fifth straight game, has returned to practice but has not been cleared to take contact. ... Penguins LW Carl Hagelin (concussion) has skated the past two days after being injured Saturday. ... Penguins C Sidney Crosby played in his 753rd game, tying him with Jean Pronovost for third all-time in club history. ... G Matt Murray started in the Pittsburgh net for the ninth time in the past 10 games despite a strong performance and a win Saturday from G Marc-Andre Fleury (one goal on 23 shots at St. Louis). ... Flames G Chad Johnson started for the first time in five games. ... Calgary RW Garnet Hathaway (upper-body injury) returned after missing nine games. ... Flames D Jyrki Jokipakka, who had played the previous three games, was replaced in the lineup by D Brett Kulak, who did not play the previous three games. ... Calgary also scratched C Lance Bouma and C Freddie Hamilton; Pittsburgh scratched D Chad Ruhwedel.