Updated 06.57 | Published 06.55
NEW YORK. The turn of the season – or the collapse of the season?
There are several ways to label the utter stunner of San Jose winning tonight’s road game against Pittsburgh – despite trailing 5-1 with twelve and a half minutes remaining in the third period.
What is clear, however, is that John Klingberg decided with a furiously nice goal in overtime.
– I have never been part of such a comeback, says the hero to Sportbladet after the 6-5 victory.
Yes, how one perceives the improbability of what happened at PPG Paints Arena certainly depends on where one’s sympathies lie, but the facts are as follows.
5.25 into the third period, Anthony Mantha made it 5-1 for the home team, on an assist from, among others, Erik Karlsson, and the match was decided.
But it wasn’t at all.
In a power play just over two minutes later, John Klingberg reduced the score to 5-2. Then William Eklund made it 5-3 with less than six minutes remaining – and with the goalkeeper picked out in the final minutes, the visitors managed to squeeze in two more goals.
“Never been involved”
Then the extra time lasted for just under three minutes before John Klingberg thought it was time to decide with the best looking goal of the week. He feinted away Sidney Crosby himself, pat-pat-played his way with Macklin Celebrini and finally pushed the puck behind Arturs Silvos.
– Well, I’ve never been part of such a comeback, says the hero Klingberg when we reach him after the spectacular resolution.
– To be 5-1 down when there is so little time left and still win… it’s really nice to be able to participate and contribute at a time like this.
However, it has become a pleasant habit for the 33-year-old Gothenburger to “join in and contribute” at the end. He has accounted for a total of seven points in the last four games and is probably a piece Sam Hallam should take a closer look at before the selection of the Olympic squad.
“Some inappropriate words”
While the sharks were of course ecstatic after their pickup, the penguins were all the more distressed after their total collapse.
– There are some inappropriate words you could use to describe what happened, notes Erik Karlsson.
– We played incredibly well until fifteen minutes remained. Then we stopped and just tried to kill time and this league is too good for that, no matter who you face. You have to pay.
Alex Wennberg was again one of the main players on the ice and contributed with three assists, while “Lill-Fimpen” had one in addition to his goal.
