CALGARY, Alberta — This one hurt badly. Not just because the Pittsburgh Penguins needed a win to keep pace with their playoff rivals but because they had it firmly within their grasp. They led 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining but were tied 3-3 with nine minutes left.
And they lost 4-3 in regulation to the Calgary Flames when defenseman Kris Letang committed another mistake, gifting the Flames a three-on-one and the game-winning goal with 54 seconds remaining.
The loss put the Penguins nine points behind the Philadelphia Flyers with only four games in hand. It put them 10 behind the Tampa Bay Lightning with five in hand.
While the math means they’re close, the odds say otherwise. Yet another defeat snatched from sure victory and two losses in a row during a stretch in which president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas is making his final decisions regarding the team’s direction at the NHL trade deadline.
Letang was on the hook for a few mistakes Sunday, two of which directly led to goals.
“It started with me,” Letang said. “(I made) a mistake on a one-on-one. I should not let that happen, and that gave them momentum.”
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