Pens Rookie Tournament Game One Recap

Anton Zlobin played in his 1st game since October 31st, 2014 in the opening game of the 2015 Rookie Tournament for the Penguins. (Photo from 2014 Rookie Tournament)

Several standouts in London as the Penguins won the opening game of the 2015 Rookie Tournament in exciting overtime fashion. After Montreal's Charles Hudon hit the post early in the 3-on-3 overtime, Daniel Sprong was sent on a breakaway the other way and beat Zachary Fucale to give the Pens the 4-3 win.

Scott Wilson, Ty Loney and Oskar Sundqvist also tallied goals for the Penguins in the win and Matt Murray had a strong performance in net. Some other standouts included Dominik Simon, Conor Sheary and Jean-Sebastien Dea. Check out some in-game tweets online (@H_P_Hockey) for more insights from today's game.

A quick recap and scoring summary after the jump.


RECAP

The Penguins prospects held a distinct advantage in play in the first 15 minutes of the game, holding at one point a 7-2 shot advantage and taking a 1-0 lead 10:09 into the opening frame. Matt Murphy got the puck to J-S Dea, who got behind his man and sent a beautiful pass from the left wing across to Scott Wilson atop the crease on the right wing for a roof job goal to open the scoring.

Matt Murray wasn't tested much at all until back-to-back penalties late in the 1st period saw Montreal on a two-man advantage. Murray made several nice stops and the Pens got some great penalty killing work from forward Oskar Sundqvist to keep the Pens in front 1-0.

While the Pens controlled the first 20 minutes of play, it was the Canadiens with the edge in the middle frame. They crashed the crease of Matt Murray early and often, twice tying the game before the Penguins pulled ahead by a goal.

First, it was Ty Loney re-gaining the Pens lead at 2-1 after being hauled down on a breakaway. Loney still managed to get to his backhand and get the puck past Zach Fucale.

After Daniel Carr tied the game at 2-2, it was Oskar Sundqvist finishing off a nice feed from Dominik Simon to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead heading to the 3rd.

The two teams played a tight-checking third period, but a too many men penalty with 2:41 to play gave Montreal the power play they needed to tie the game and force overtime.

It was the Penguins pulling it off in an exciting 3-on-3 overtime session with Sprong scoring on the breakaway moments after Montreal's Charles Hudon beat Matt Murray but caught the post.

Roster Notes - Penguins

Matt Murray (saves-shots) got the start in net for the Penguins prospects this afternoon against Montreal. Tristan Jarry served as the backup.

Evan Wardley looked good in the first two periods, but was taken out by a questionable low hit early in the third period. He didn't return.

Lines

Scott Wilson - Jean-Sebastien Dea - Daniel Sprong
Dominik Simon - Oskar Sundqvist - Tyler Biggs
Conor Sheary - Kameron Kielly - Ty Loney
Anton Zlobin - Sahir Gill - Jaden Lindo

Mickael Beauregard - Derrick Pouliot
Matt Murphy - Clark Seymour
Nat Halbert - Evan Wardley

Matt Murray - Tristan Jarry

Scratches: Josh Archibald, Adam Krause, Miles Liberati, Matia Marcantuoni, Harrison Ruopp & Bryan Rust

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

PIT: Wardley, major (fighting)
MTL: Thrower, major (fighting)
10:09: PIT - Wilson (1) - Dea, Murphy
15:32: PIT - (PP) Halbert, minor penalty
16:25: PIT - (PP) Wardley, minor penalty
18:16: PIT - Murphy, major (fighting)
18:16: MTL - Gregorie, major (fighting) 

2nd Period

7:22: Addison (1) -
9:11: MTL - (PP) Bozon, minor penalty
12;38: PIT - Loney (1) - 
17:30: MTL - Carr (1) - 
17:43: PIT - Sundqvist (1) - Simon

3rd Period

8:55: MTL - (PP) Scherbak, minor penalty
17:19: PIT - (PP) bench minor, too many men
18:51: MTL - PPG Bozon (1) - 

Overtime

1:18: PIT - Sprong (1) -