Pens mark deal with win
PITTSBURGH — Penguins fans will get the chance to see Sidney Crosby have many more nights like this in Pittsburgh.
Hours after the franchise announced it remain in Pittsburgh for the next 30 years, Crosby had a goal and two assists and scored the deciding goal in the shootout as the Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Tuesday night.
"I think everyone's relieved, including us, that got done and we can put it past us and look forward," Crosby said. "We're all happy for that and the fans obviously showed it tonight. With this team, they just keep coming. But we played a solid game, too."
Erik Christensen also scored in the shootout, Ryan Whitney added three assists and Sergei Gonchar a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who are 4-0-1 in their last five.
Daniel Briere had a goal and two assists and Chris Drury and Jason Pominville a goal and an assist each for Buffalo, which came back from a 4-2 deficit in the third period to earn a point, but still lost for a season-high fourth straight game.
"They were certainly ready and on their game," Drury said. "We didn't generate as much as we need to. I guess when you do that and get a point, it's still a good thing."
The game was played a few hours after Penguins owners and government officials announced an agreement on a financing plan to build a new multipurpose Pittsburgh arena and sign the Penguins to a 30-year lease to play there. Just last week, the Penguins announced they would "aggressively pursue relocation" because Mellon Arena is the league's oldest facility.
Mario Lemieux, a former Penguin in the Hall of Fame and now the team's co-owner, addressed the crowd briefly before the game to a rousing ovation. "I am here to announce," Lemieux said, "that your Pittsburgh Penguins will remain here in Pittsburgh, where they belong."
The noise level and atmosphere stayed at a heightened level for much of the contest — befitting with two of the top five teams in the Eastern Conference facing each other.
"Everyone was just so excited to get the win and do it for these fans," Whitney said. "It's such a great city to play in; everyone couldn't be happier. We're so pumped to be here for a long time and hopefully win championships here.
"It was a fun game to be a part of, it was a playoff atmosphere, and, hopefully, we'll play into June with this atmosphere."
Crosby got Sabres goalie Ryan Miller down and tucked the puck in on the forehand side to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead in the shootout. Marc-Andre Fleury then stopped Thomas Vanek to seal the win.
Five of the past seven Penguins games have gone to a shootout, with Pittsburgh winning four of them. The past five Pittsburgh contests have been decided after regulation.
The Penguins have earned at least a point for the 23rd time in their past 27 games on the day it secured its future in the city it has spent 40 years in.
"It's awesome," Fleury said. "The crowd's been with us the whole time and to get news like that. I think everyone in the room was happy and the fans, too, I think. They're a tough team to beat and guys were pumped to go play."
