Pens crumble in third period
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From Mirror, wire reports
WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton scored a pair of quick third-period goals to help the Winnipeg Jets defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 Sunday to remain the only unbeaten NHL team.
The victory extended Winnipeg's franchise-record, season-opening win streak to five games.
Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Vladislav Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter, into an empty net, also scored for Winnipeg (5-0-0).
"The effort we had today was the way we should play every night," Sidney Crosby said. "We just got to find a way to be a bit smarter. But yeah, we were definitely competing a lot more and got rewarded because of it. We've got to find a way to bring that every night."
Appleton had an assist along with his goal. Nikolaj Ehlers, Colin Miller and Josh Morrissey each contributed two assists.
Pittsburgh (3-4-0) led 2-0 in the second period with goals from Lars Eller and one from Kevin Hayes. Eller scored a second goal to tie the game at 3 early in the third period before Winnipeg scored three in a row to secure the win.
"I thought we did some good things. Obviously, we're giving too much up," Crosby said. "We can't give up what we're giving up and expect to win consistently. So, defensively, we got to find another level."
Both teams had backup goaltenders making their first starts of the season.
"I think it starts with just the right mindset," Head Coach Mike Sullivan said. "I think we're quick to try to jump on the offense when we don't have the puck, and we end up putting ourselves and our teammates in tough spots. So, I think we've got to have more of a mindset of playing defense first and recognizing when we don't have control, or there's a question of control."
Eric Comrie made 38 saves for Winnipeg, while Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 31 shots for Pittsburgh.
Takeaways
Jets: Winnipeg is getting scoring from all lines and different players. Twelve players have goals this season.
Penguins: Pittsburgh's question marks in net continued with the third different starter in as many games. Tristan Jarry (healthy scratch) had started last Wednesday's game against Buffalo but was pulled in favor of rookie Joel Blomqvist, who got the nod to start Friday's game versus Carolina. Nedeljkovic was called up from a conditioning stint in the AHL to start against the Jets.
Key moment
After Eller tied the game at 3 1:39 into the third, Jets captain Lowry won the faceoff, then capitalized on a puck that bounced off Appleton to score for the 4-3 lead at 4:20. Appleton found the back of the net at 7:41.
Key stat
Connor has scored a goal in three straight games and is on a five-game point streak (four goals, one assist).
Up next
The Jets head out on a three-game road trip, beginning Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, while the Penguins play the second game of a four-game road trip at Calgary Tuesday.