Only six games into the season and the Pittsburgh Penguins have already suffered two crushing defeats. After letting the Dallas Stars score two goals in the final three minutes earlier this month, the Penguins turned a two-goal lead with three minutes to play in regulation into a 4-3 overtime loss in Detroit on Thursday night.
And it was a stunning collapse.
It all started when Red Wings coach Mike Babcock dipped into the Patrick Roy playbook and pulled starting goalie Jimmy Howard with three minutes to play for the extra attacker, a move that was followed by Henrik Zetterberg blowing past Brandon Sutter and beating Thomas Greiss with a quick wrist shot to close the deficit to one. The Penguins would later have an opportunity to regain the two-goal lead with an empty net but failed to score on two different attempts as Red Wings defenders blocked shots, setting the stage for Niklas Kronwall's game-tying goal in the final minute.
Then, with just 44 seconds remaining in overtime, Justin Abdelkader was able to pounce on a turnover and beat Greiss for the game-winner.
It's a huge win for Detroit, and surely a frustrating loss for Pittsburgh. Not only because it's the second time they've lost a game late after appearing to be on their way to a win, but because they were three minutes away from erasing the memory of a disappointing 5-3 loss the night before against Philadelphia.