Pens fall in OT to Avalanche

Associated Press

pittsburgh

Jared Bednar’s streak is just chugging along.

Gabriel Landeskog redirected a shot by Nathan MacKinnon past Marc-Andre Fleury 22 seconds into overtime to lift the Colorado Avalanche and Bednar, their first-year coach, by the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Monday night.

Landeskog tied the game with 6:32 left in regulation with a power-play goal and his second of the night handed the defending Stanley Cup champions their first loss of the season.

“It was a lucky bounce in overtime,” Landeskog said. “I think I just took a swing at it.”

The Avalanche remain unbeaten since Bednar replaced Patrick Roy in August. The won all six of their exhibitions and improved to 2-0 in the regular season, though Bednar’s own personal winning streak stretches back even farther. The Bednar-led AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters ripped off nine consecutive victories last spring on their way to the league’s Calder Cup title, meaning Bednar has walked into the postgame dressing room victorious 17 straight times.

Not that he’s counting.

“I didn’t think we had our best stuff tonight, that’s for sure,” Bednar said. “I think they outplayed us for the bulk of the game, but we found a way to create enough chances to kind of fight back after a slow start.”

Jarome Iginla and Patrick Wiercioch also scored for the Avalanche, who never led until Landeskog’s game-winner. MacKinnon had two assists and Calvin Pickard stopped 28 shots for Colorado.