On a roll
Penguins extend win streak to nine with overtime victory
Posted: Sunday February 14, 1999 12:16 AM
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Kip Miller (right) and the Penguins avoided being tripped up by Joel Bouchard (center) and the Predators. AP |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are
becoming the NHL's newest cardiac kids.
Kip Miller scored with 1:21 left in overtime to extend the Pittsburgh
Penguins' winning streak to nine straight with a 3-2 victory Saturday night
over the Nashville Predators.
The Penguins have won their last four games by just a goal with the last
three coming in overtime.
It looked like the Penguins still would escape in regulation until
Nashville's Cliff Ronning backhanded the puck past goaltender Peter Skudra
on a sixth-attacker score with 1:00 left to tie the game.
When the Penguins went to the bench before the extra period, they talked
about their recent history.
"This isn't an unfamiliar situation for us," said Kevin Hatcher. "It's
happened the last three games so that doesn't hurt our confidence."
The Penguins struggled and went scoreless on six power plays, including a
5-on-3, and managed only eight shots in the third period. They now are
0-for-25 on the power play in their last five games yet have won all five.
"Our power play could've helped us, but we made it an interesting game like
we always do," said Pittsburgh coach Kevin Constantine.
But Pittsburgh, outshot 32-31 in regulation, went on the attack in
overtime. Jaromir Jagr set up Miller, and he scored his 12th goal from the
right circle through goaltender Tomas Vokoun's legs for the victory.
Nashville coach Barry Trotz credited Jagr with keeping the puck alive for
Miller.
"Jagr bumped it to the middle and ... Miller jumped in the middle lane and
shot the puck through Tomas' legs," Trotz said.
The Penguins looked like they wouldn't need overtime for a change as they
got a goal each from Jan Hrdina and Alexei Kovalev in the first 3:34.
Hrdina stuck a backhander past Vokoun 16 seconds into the game, the fastest
anyone has scored against the Predators.
"We put ourselves in the hole," Trotz said.
Kovalev extended his points streak to nine games with his goal. He scored
his 18th goal this season on a breakaway 25 seconds after a 5-on-3 ended
3:34 into the period.
He now has scored 11 points over the last nine games and has 30 points in
32 games since being traded by the New York Rangers.
Nashville just looked tired most of the game after beating the New York Islanders 2-1
Friday night on the road. Defenseman Bob Boughner re-energized the
Predators in the first with only h
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