Fleury’s big save rescues Pens

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Photo by: Associated Press

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) makes a save on a shot by Ottawa Senators’ Mika Zibanejad (93) in the first period of a game in Pittsburgh.

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Penguins are continually refining their game with the playoffs approaching.

They looked ready Monday night.

Marc-Andre Fleury robbed former Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson with a sparkling third-period glove save and James Neal scored at 3:05 of overtime, giving the Penguins a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators 2-1.

“I just tried to get my leg, my glove over there and try to stop it,” Fleury said. “I was glad it went in my glove.”

Neal netted his 18th of the season and his first goal in nine games for the Penguins, who won for the 16th time in 17 home games and are now 23-4 at Consol Energy Center. Pittsburgh also avoided back-to-back regulation losses for the first time since dropping three straight in early November.

“When you don’t score you sometimes try to pick corners and be a little too cute,” Neal said. “I was able to find one tonight. It was a good feeling.”

Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson stopped Robert Bortuzzo from the slot in overtime, but the rebound popped out to Neal, who dragged the puck around a Senators’ defender before dumping a shot past an out-of-position Anderson and into an empty net.

“I was trying to be patient with the puck and wait for an opening,” Neal said. “I knew their D-man was going to go down and Anderson was kind of far out when [Bortuzzo] got the puck to the net.”

Ottawa’s Stephane Da Costa and Pittsburgh’s Brian Gibbons scored in the first period.

Ottawa’s best chance to take the lead in regulation came midway through the third period, but Fleury robbed Karlsson with a dazzling glove save.

Fleury, while pushing from post to post, reached high above the cross bar, snagging the fluttering wrist shot from Karlsson, who had a partially wide open net to shoot at.

“I don’t know if there’s a save that beats it,” Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said. “