The Penguins seemed to be cruising Saturday afternoon, entering the third period with a 4-1 lead over Tampa Bay, but they gave up that lead and had to dig deep for a game-winning goal by Michael Bunting to win, 5-4. With the win, they leap-frogged into the second Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference, and they are closing in on third place in the Metro Division with five games left to play.
Sidney Crosby opened the scoring for the Penguins in the first period with his 40th goal, and Evgeni Malkin scored twice and Kris Letang once in the second period. But the Lightning struck for three goals in the first ten minutes of the third. Nicholas Paul, Anthony Duclair, and Steven Stamkos scored (Stamkos had also scored in the second period) got the goals to tie the game.
The New York Islanders won their game to take over third place in the Metro while the Flyers were beaten in their game and dropped to a fourth place tie with the Penguins. But the Penguins hold the tie-breaker edge over the Flyers for the second Wild Card.
The Penguins play the Maple Leafs tomorrow night in Toronto.
