Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins downed the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Tuesday, but there was no NHL rematch between Canada’s Olympic hero Crosby and US goalie Ryan Miller.
Crosby was playing two days after beating Miller for the game-winning overtime goal for Canada in the Vancouver Games gold medal match.
But Sabres coach Lindy Ruff chose to start backup Patrick Lalime, saying Miller had earned a night off after the emotionally draining Olympic tournament — in which Miller earned Most Valuable Player honors.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“I’m a little spaced from traveling, the time change,” Miller said. “We were up there for two weeks and everything’s thrown off just a bit ... I’ll get my rest but there’s not much of a choice. We’ve got to keep playing.”
Crosby said it wasn’t too difficult getting right back to work in the NHL so soon after the Games.
“It’s not bad — going on a long flight and getting here and getting right back in the swing of things,” he said. “I’ll try to manage my rest as we go along here, but I felt all right considering all that.”
PHOTO: AFP
The Olympic buzz created by the memorable Canada vs US final was clear from the standing ovations given Miller and Crosby in pre-game introductions.
“It was a good tournament,” Miller said prior to the game. “Hopefully, it made some hockey fans here in the United States.”
For once Crosby drew fewer cheers in his NHL home arena as US hockey fans cheered loud and long for Miller — who played a key role in getting the Americans into the Vancouver final.
Crosby, who led Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup crown last year, said that scoring the winning goal for Canada on home ice in the Olympics was “amazing.”
“I’ll leave it up to other people to decide, but for me it was a pretty proud moment,” Crosby said. “Being in Canada, playing hockey growing up as a kid and dreaming of playing for your country, then having it work out that way, it’s still pretty amazing to think about.”
Ruslan Fedotenko had a goal and an assist for the Penguins and Crosby set up Sergei Gonchar’s 200th career NHL goal.
Buffalo went into the contest just one point out of the Northeast Division lead but lost for the seventh time in eight games.
KINGS 5, STARS 1
At Dallas, Alexander Frolov had a goal and two assists, and Jonathan Quick stopped 31 shots as Los Angeles downed Dallas.
Quick allowed only a power-play goal and improved to 11-1 in his last 12 games, setting a Kings record with his 36th win of the season.
Marty Turco had 17 saves in his 500th game for the Stars.
RANGERS 4, SENATORS 1
At Ottawa, Ryan Callahan had two goals as the New York Rangers scored three times within 2:02 late in the second period of a victory over Ottawa.
Callahan scored 22 seconds into the second to tie it at 2. He added his second of the game during New York’s three-goal outburst late in the middle period, which chased Ottawa’s Brian Elliott from the net.
Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves for New York.
Milan Michalek scored his 21st for Ottawa.
CANADIENS 4, BRUINS 1
At Boston, Glen Metropolit tied the game early in the third period, and Maxim Lapierre scored the go-ahead goal for Montreal as the Canadiens scored four times in the final period to beat Boston.
Mathieu Darche had a goal and an assist for Montreal, scoring to make it 3-1 with 2:30 left. Carey Price stopped 23 shots for the Canadiens.
ISLANDERS 5, BLACKHAWKS 3
At Uniondale, New York, Blake Comeau had his first career hat trick and sparked a four-goal, second-period rally to lift the New York Islanders over Chicago.
Comeau, Jon Sim and Richard Park scored three goals in a 4:39 stretch in the second, helping the Islanders win for the just the third time in 12 games.
US Olympian Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists. Brian Campbell and Dustin Byfuglien also scored, but the Blackhawks lost for the first time in five games.
THRASHERS 4, PANTHERS 2
At Atlanta, Rich Peverley scored and added an assist to reach 100 career points, and Johan Hedberg made 34 saves as Atlanta defeated Florida.
Colby Armstrong, Todd White and Pavel Kubina also scored for Atlanta.
Stephen Weiss scored for Florida and David Booth, who missed 45 games with a concussion, had his first goal since Oct. 24 and had an assist.
Backup goaltender Scott Clemmensen made his first start since Dec. 27 and made 35 saves.
CANUCKS 4, BLUE JACKETS 3, OT
At Columbus, Ohio, defenseman Christian Ehrhoff scored 1:33 into overtime as Vancouver rallied to beat Columbus.
Kyle Wellwood scored the tying goal, his eighth, with 5:19 left in regulation.
Alexandre Burrows and Pavol Demitra also found the net for Vancouver. Andrew Raycroft finished with 27 saves, filling in for Roberto Luongo.
Andrew Murray, Antoine Vermette and Derek Dorsett scored for Columbus.
BLUES 5, COYOTES 2
At Glendale, Arizona, Andy McDonald scored his team-leading 20th goal and T.J. Oshie added a goal and an assist to help St Louis beat Phoenix.
David Backes had a goal and an assist and Jay McClement also scored for the Blues.
Joel Perrault scored his first goal and Matthew Lombardi also had a goal for the Coyotes.
In other NHL action it was:
• Predators 4, Oilers 3
• Devils 4, Sharks 3
• Flyers 7, Lightning 2
• Hurricanes 5, Maple Leafs 1
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