PITTSBURGH _ Pittsburgh raised a banner Wednesday. But the Blues raised cain. Alex Pietrangelo scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and then scored again in overtime after the Penguins rallied to tied the game at 4.
The result was a 5-4 Blues win that spoiled the party at PPG Paints Arena, where the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins opened their quest for a three-peat in 2017-18.
The Penguins comeback started when Sidney Crosby scored on a rebound during a 5-on-3 power play. Pittsburgh got the two-man advantage when Brayden Schenn inexplicably grabbed the puck out of the air and threw it down the ice for a penalty at the 13:46 mark of the third period.
Conor Sheary then tied it at 4-all with a goal that beat an out-of-position Jake Allen just 64 seconds later.
In what was an evenly played second period, Pittsburgh drew even with another goal by a defenseman from the point. This time it was Olli Maatta who beat Allen, tying the game at 2 at the 12:38 mark of the second period.
Just 14 seconds later, the Blues were called for their first penalty of the season, a holding penalty against defenseman Robert Bortuzzo.
During a period of 4-on-4 play with each team in the penalty box, another Blues defenseman struck. This time it was Pietrangelo with a goal on a wrist shot from the slot at 15:37 of the second. Vladimir Sobotka and Paul Stastny assisted giving the Blues a 3-2 lead heading into the third.
After falling behind 1-0 on a goal by Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz, the Blues drew even at the 8:31 mark of the period when newcomer Schenn scored his first goal as a member of the Blues. The puck actually went into the net off Schenn's right skate. That prompted a review to see if Schenn intentionally kicked the puck towards the net, but the goal stood with assists going to Carl Gunnnarsson and Jaden Schwartz.
The Blues then quieted the boisterous crowd at PPG Paints Arena with an unassisted Colton Parayko goal with just 2:15 left in the period giving the Blues a 2-1 lead. The puck was stuck in a scrum of players near the halfboards for several seconds, but eventually was knocked out with a backhand by Penguins defenseman Matt Hunwick. The puck went to the high slot where Parayko swooped in and banged it past Pittsburgh goalie Matthew Murray. It was a power play goal, with Maatta off for tripping Magnus Paajarvi.
