Penguins 2, Devils 1 (overtime)

Some news and notes, numbers and quotes from the Penguins’ 2-1 overtime victory against New Jersey at the Prudential Center Friday night:

*** Defenseman Simon Despres’ wrist shot from the high slot eluded New Jersey goalie Cory Schneider at 2:21 of overtime to give the Penguins the victory and end a run of five consecutive losses at the Prudential Center. “I just tried to put it on net,” he said. “It wasn’t the hardest shot, but it went in.”

*** The victory lifted the Penguins to within one point of the first-place New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division.

*** Schneider was sensational for most of the game, and finished with 41 saves. The Penguins, though, never got frustrated, even though they were unable to beat him until Chris Kunitz converted a Sidney Crosby rebound at 16:49 of the third period. “Our team was very resilient,” coach Mike Johnston said. “They stuck with the game plan. They didn’t flinch when we were down.”

*** Steve Bernier gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 6:08 of the third period when he scored on a wrap-around, New Jersey’s 10th shot of the game.

*** The Penguins did some of their finest defensive work when the Devils had a two-man advantage for a full two minutes in the first period. New Jersey managed just two shots on goalie Marc-Andre Fleury while Steve Downie and Maxim Lapierre were in the penalty box. “It was a huge momentum swing in the game,” coach Mike Johnston said.

*** Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff is being evaluated in Pittsburgh for a possible concussion after a run-in with Washington’s Alex Ovechkin Wednesday and did not play against the Devils. Coach Mike Johnston expects to update his status Saturday.

*** Fleury’s victory was just his second in his past 12 decisions in Newark. He is 2-9-1 during that stretch.

*** Winger Beau Bennett was a healthy scratch after generating just one point, a goal, in the previous eight games. “I just thought his last couple of games could be improved,” Johnston said. Mark Arcobello took Bennett’s spot in the lineup.

*** Penguins center Evgeni Malkin missed his fourth consecutive game because of an unspecified injury. There is no word yet on whether he has clearance to get back on the ice this weekend.

*** Even though they never led until Despres scored the game-winner, the Penguins’ overall performance was one of their best of the season, and their finest in a long time at the Prudential Center. “We’ve had games in this building where we really haven’t given ourselves much of a chance and still lost close ones,” Crosby said. “This one had a much different feel.”

*** The Penguins allowed the first goal for the fifth time in their past six games.

*** Kunitz, on wondering if Schneider was going to steal a point or two single-handedly: “Sometimes, the best team might not win every night. But if you play the right way the majority of the time, the percentages say you’re going to come out on top. If we play more games with that effort and that level of putting pucks to the net and keeping them away from our net, we’re going to win quite a few games.”