Penguins fall to Hurricanes as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin held in check
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Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake (53) returns to the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake, right, celebrates with Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Drew O'Connor (10) celebrates with Ryan Graves (27) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) reaches for the puck against Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Joel Blomqvist (30) reaches to make a save against Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Carolina Hurricanes' Martin Necas (88) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
PITTSBURGH — Martin Necas had a goal and an assist, and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 Friday night.
Jackson Blake, a 21-year-old rookie, tied it 1-all with 6:36 left in the first period with his second NHL goal and the first of four consecutive for Carolina. Necas and Shayne Gostisbehere scored on the power play in the second period, and Jack Roslovic extended the lead to three goals in the third.
Frederik Andersen made 26 saves for the Hurricanes. Jesperi Kotkaniemi had two assists.
Drew O’Connor scored his third goal in six games for the Penguins, providing a short-lived lead at 12:20 of the first. Joel Blomqvist had 34 saves.
Hurricanes: The defense was suffocating, allowing little space when the Penguins managed to gain possession. It held Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin without a shot on goal.
Penguins: Blomqvist gave up more than three goals for the first time. The 22-year-old rookie played for the fourth time in six games with three starts. Tristan Jarry, the regular starter, has struggled with a 5.47 goals-against average and .836 save percentage in three starts.
Carolina took advantage of a four-minute power play after Andrei Svechnikov took a high stick from Michael Bunting with 3:56 left in the second period. Ahead 2-1, Gostisbehere took a one-timer from the point, scoring in a second straight game for the two-goal lead.
Carolina had a 24-10 shot advantage through two periods. They’ve allowed no more than 27 shots on goal through three games this season. The Penguins had 43 shots against the Sabres on Wednesday.
The Penguins play at Winnipeg on Sunday, beginning a four-game road trip in Western Canada.
