NASHVILLE – Phil Kessel scored 41 seconds into overtime to lead the Penguins to a 2-1 win against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena.
Penguins coach Mike Johnston had dug deep into his bag of tricks to somehow halt the mystifying lack of production from a lineup built to score.
He juggled lines.
He broke up the Sidney Crosby- Kessel top line duo.
The Penguins were 8:33 from stealing a major road win in regulation until former Penguins sniper James Neal – who has had no problem scoring this season – buried the equalizer for the Predators at 11:27 of the third period finishing his own rebound in tight to force overtime.