Penguins tie, now winless in 16 straight
CHICAGO (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins couldn’t snap their winless streak, even against the struggling Chicago Blackhawks. Eric Meloche scored a first-period goal but Pittsburgh went without a win for the 16th straight game, tying the Blackhawks 1-1 Sunday.
“It’s tough for everybody.” Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux said. “Every time a team is not winning, it’s a difficult period. We’re just trying to make the best of it.”
The Penguins are 0-14-2 during their slide, which is two shy of the team record.
Eric Daze scored a first-period goal for Chicago, which is winless in its last three games (0-2-1). The Blackhawks have won just six of their last 29 games (6-19-2-2).
Daze had a chance to give the Blackhawks the lead after a Pittsburgh turnover with 7:44 left in the third period but his point-blank shot was high. Kyle Calder had another chance with 2:15 left in regulation but Pittsburgh goaltender Sebastien Caron made a pad save on Calder’s backhander from in close.
A deflected shot by Chicago’s Mark Bell hit the post with 1:18 left in regulation.
Midway through overtime, Blackhawks defenseman Jon Klemm took a shot that deflected high off the right post.
“We were pretty good in the first (period) and even better in the second,” Chicago coach Brian Sutter said. “Then we had a couple of glorious chances to win it.”
Caron made 33 saves. Chicago’s Craig Andersson had 27.
Andersson, who grew up in suburban Chicago, made his first home appearance with the Blackhawks. He earned his first NHL point in his fourth game.
In an 8-1 loss at Colorado on Saturday, Andersson allowed five goals on 22 shots before being pulled midway through the second period.
“He was a little nervous in the first period and that was only natural,” Sutter said. “I thought he got better as the game went on.”
Daze opened the scoring with 5:13 left in the first period by driving down the slot and deflecting a pass from Andrei Nikolishin between Caron’s legs.
Meloche tied it with 2:06 left in the first. He beat Andersson with a quick shot from the slot after taking a centering pass from Lemieux.