:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47644801/GettyImages-496751598.0.jpg)
It had to happen sometime for the Montreal Canadiens. Goaltender Mike Condon had been taking the league by storm with his spectacular play through his first seven games of the year. Carey Price's backup was just as marvelous as the Vezina winning goaltender himself, with a 6-0-1 record backing up a 1.57 goals against average and .940 save percentage coming into Pittsburgh Wednesday night.
The Penguins, coming off a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames last Saturday, were looking to continue their rise up the Metropolitan Division after starting the year at a rocky 0-3. Thirteen seconds in would be all it took to see that the magic run was coming to an end for Condon.
Barely in the lineup long enough to stretch his legs, Pascal Dupuis buried a cross-ice Sidney Crosby pass over the right pad of Condon that set the tone mere moments into the game.
The teams traded goals for much of the evening, until the Canadiens broke through on a weak Marc-Andre Fleury goal on an offering from Brian Flynn, as the puck barely squeezed through the closing arms of the Penguins netminder.
Condon himself didn't have a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, saving 24 of 27 shots. However, he seemed out of position on the tying 3-3 goal late in the third, maybe a hair too far out of the goal crease to stop Patric Hornqvist's rocket of a wrist shot.
For the Canadiens, the loss is a tough pill to swallow on a night where not everything was clicking, but the 4-3 defeat is only their second after regulation this season. They've got a few days to rest up before what should be a manageable three-game home stand versus Colorado, Vancouver, and Arizona.
The Penguins, on the other hand, have to be feeling good about their recent success, as Wednesday night's win marks their 10th win in their last 12 games. Their 0-3 start to the season seems far in the rearview mirror now, just a half a game back from the Washington Capitals for second in the Metropolitan Division.
Scores
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (SO)
Edmonton Oilers 4, Anaheim Ducks 3 (OT)
3 things we learned
1. Despite the win, the Penguins had a #bad second period
After two periods, Pittsburgh wasn't looking so hot. A one-shot period will certainly do that to a team as skilled as the Penguins are. Montreal seemingly took control of the game, outshooting the home team 13-1 despite Pittsburgh ending the first period with a goal from defenseman Olli Maatta with 44 seconds to play. Instead of sucking the life out of Montreal, it gave it to them, and it almost cost the Penguins the game.
The Penguins were credited with one shot in the second period. It came on a failed pass that, quite frankly, was wide of the net.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) November 12, 2015
2. Shawn Horcoff tallies his 500th point against his former team
What a way to get a milestone point than against your former team? The last time Shawn Horcoff played for the Edmonton Oilers was in 2013, but former captain most certainly got the last laugh. The former Oiler captain finished off a nice tap in top shelf on netminder Anders Nilsson that put the Ducks up 2-1 early in the third period.
Horcoff goal pic.twitter.com/q8jMKXT3IR
— Stephanie (@myregularface) November 12, 2015
3. Robots can drop pucks now!
Yeah so a robot dropped the puck in Anaheim. https://t.co/FSvdUBAdaa
— NHL (@NHL) November 12, 2015
Welcome to the future, we have bomb defusing robots dropping ceremonial pucks before hockey games!
Impact Moment
Fleury deserves special mention for taking this stick to the face -- from his own teammate -- like a champ.
Fleury's cut to his left eye in the 1st period. pic.twitter.com/DDSAdMOFIz
— 105.9 The X (@1059thex) November 12, 2015
Stat of the Night
The steak ends. First comeback from a second period deficit for Pens since Jan. 5, 2014.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) November 12, 2015
That was 675 straight days without a comeback win in the third period for the Penguins.