NHL Last Night: Grinder Matt Cooke Scores Twice in Penguin Win Over Anaheim

When the Pittsburgh Penguins need a couple of goals in a hurry, they know who to count on: Matt Cooke.

Wait, Matt Cooke?

Normally a third-line grinder, Cooke scored twice in a 43-second span in the Crosby-less Penguins' 3-1 home victory over Anaheim on Friday night.

"To be counted on offensively is a real treat for me," Cooke said. "I was an offensive player in juniors and, you know, there's not always room for everybody to be an offensive guy, so I tried to find a role for myself to keep myself in the league. But given the opportunity, I feel like I can help out and chip in."

With Crosby out after apparently injuring his left knee Wednesday night, Cooke — who has seven goals in 42 games this season and 93 in 625 career NHL games — played on the top line with NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin and Petr Sykora.

"He's such a warrior, so it's nice to see those types of players get rewarded and score some important goals," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "I know the guys were pushing for him at the end to score his hat trick."

In other NHL games Friday night, it was: the New York Rangers 3, Chicago 2 in overtime; New Jersey 2, Columbus 1; Philadelphia 3, Florida 2 in a shootout; Atlanta 4, Toronto 3 in overtime; and Edmonton 3, Colorado 2.

In Pittsburgh, Cooke scored late in the first period and early in the second, Hal Gill also scored, and Malkin had two assists. The Penguins had lost eight of their previous 10 and were playing with a depleted lineup.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 21 saves, allowing only Ryan Getzlaf's power-play goal.

The Ducks have lost four of their last five.

"We've got to be ready from the start of the game, and I don't think we were today," Anaheim forward Samuel Pahlsson said.Rangers 3, Blackhawks 2, OT

At Chicago, Chris Drury scored his second power-play goal of the game at 2:23 of overtime, tipping in Wade Redden's shot to give New York its third straight victory.

Brandon Dubinsky also scored, and Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves for the Rangers, 11-4 in overtime and shootouts and 17-8 in one-goal games.

Chicago's Brent Seabrook tied it on a 5-on-3 power play with 4:29 left in the third. Jonathan Toews also scored for Chicago, and Nikolai Khabibulin made 19 saves.Devils 2, Blue Jackets 1

At Columbus, Ohio, John Madden scored a controversial goal, and Kevin Weekes made 26 saves in New Jersey's second straight victory.

Travis Zajac scored the tying goal just 1:13 before Madden's disputed goal. Manny Malhotra scored for Columbus, and Steve Mason made 26 saves.

On the winning goal, David Clarkson's shot appeared to be covered by Mason for a second or two before the puck slid free. Madden beat defenseman Fedor Tyutin to the loose puck while Columbus' Marc Methot was pushed into the goal post and dislodged it — an instant before Madden jammed the puck across the goal line. Referee Don Koharski signaled a goal immediately, and the call stood after a video review.Flyers 3, Panthers 2, SO

At Sunrise, Fla., Simon Gagne scored the only goal in the shootout, and Philadelphia's Antero Niittymaki stopped all three Florida shooters.

Niittymaki ended the shootout when he blocked Nathan Horton's wrist shot.

Gagne also scored in the first period, and Jeff Carter added his NHL-leading 30th goal of the season. Niittymaki made 32 saves in regulation and overtime.

Bryan McCabe and Jay Bouwmeester scored power-play goals for Florida.Thrashers 4, Maple Leafs 3, OT

At Atlanta, Rich Peverley scored with 1:09 left in overtime, and assisted on both of Ilya Kovalchuk's goals for the Atlanta.

Bryan Little also scored to help the Thrashers end a two-game losing streak and win for only the third time in 11 games.

Toronto blew a 3-0 first-period lead en route to its fifth loss in six games. Lee Stempniak, Dominic Moore and Niklas Hagman scored for the Maple Leafs.Oilers 3, Avalanche 2

At Denver, Shawn Horcoff broke a tie with 6:35 left, and Mathieu Garon made 37 saves for Edmonton in his 200th NHL game.

Steve Staios and Tom Gilbert also scored to help the Oilers snap a five-game losing streak at Pepsi Center and hand the Avalanche their third straight loss. Tyler Arnason and T.J. Hensick scored for Colorado.

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