2016 belonged to Sidney Crosby

By Brian Metzer

http://www.timesonline.com/sports/

January 2, 2017

Sidney Crosby celebrates his first period goal against Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena on December 5, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

The past few weeks have been filled with people, pundits and talking heads complaining about 2016. They were all anxious for a year full of disagreements, polarizing political races, religious upheaval and high profile celebrity deaths to become a blip in the rearview mirror.

One person who might not complain if 2016 were to have hung around a bit longer is Sidney Crosby.

The Penguins’ captain absolutely owned the year and in the process rebooted his career, helped his team to another Stanley Cup Championship and led his country to a gold medal in the World Cup of Hockey.

None of it seemed possible entering December 2015. The Penguins were floundering under coach Mike Johnston and Crosby was the poster child for what was starting to look like a fallen empire.

He had just five goals and 19 points through his 28th game, a 3-2 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 11. The team was five games over .500, but something didn’t look right. That was true about  Crosby as well and general manager Jim Rutherford realized something had to change.

Johnston was fired the next day and replaced with Mike Sullivan. After a short transitional period everything started to fall into place -- including Crosby’s resurgence.

He picked up three goals and eight points in his final six games of 2015 and almost immediately started to look like the player he’d always been as we entered 2016.

Crosby scored two goals in a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders Jan. 2, 2016 and finished the opening month of what might be his finest season a professional with eight goals and 14 points in 11 games. That included 10 points in the final seven games of the month, which turned into an 11 game scoring streak and 22 points before the streak ended Feb. 8.

He finished the season with 36 goals, 49 assists and 85 points, scoring 66 of those points in his final 50 games. He rolled through the final segment of the schedule with points in all but one of his final 21 outings.

That individual success was contagious and bled through the lineup. Every player in the locker room slid into position behind their captain and they roared into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The post-season would be a challenge, specifically because Crosby and his Penguins struggled under the weight of unrealistic expectations since winning it all in 2009. They were supposed to be dynastic in their run to multiple championships, but they were being labeled as underachievers.

Crosby buried that narrative under 34.5 pounds of silver, as he led his team to the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup victory. He did that with his offense -- six goals and 19 points in 24 games -- his stout defensive play and faceoff prowess and a level of leadership that impressed even his biggest critics.

All of it resulted in his being named the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs and reclaiming his spot on top of a sport that seemed ready to write him off six months earlier.

From there Crosby was off to the World Cup of Hockey, where he rolled up 10 points in six games, led Canada to a championship and was named the tournament’s MVP. That performance had many talking about the return of hockey’s king, but it wasn’t quite enough to convince everyone that he was back.

That was obvious when late summer predictions around North America began anointing Edmonton Oilers second-year forward Connor McDavid and not Crosby as this season’s likely league MVP and scoring champion before a single game had been played in the new season. Those voices got even louder when Crosby missed the first six games with a concussion, McDavid jumped out to an early lead in the scoring race, and his Oilers were morphing into a Western Conference playoff contender.

Crosby eventually made his season debut Oct. 25 and scored a goal in a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers. He went on to score eight goals and 10 points in his first six games and has points in all but six of 32 games this season. That consistency has seen him roll up 26 goals and 42 points, totals that rank him first and second respectively in the league.

Even after missing six games Crosby sits just one point off the league lead in scoring and leads the league in goals. His amazing run has him on pace for 62 goals and 100 points.

The 29-year-old has admitted that there were some tough moments over the course of the past several seasons. That was especially true early last season, but he looks to have been reborn.

He is the not only poised to take over the league lead in scoring, but he’s done some otherworldly things over the past 12 months. Crosby has played 75 regular season games in 2016 and leads the league in goals (53) and points (100) over that span. He is second among all players in plus-minus (plus-30), third in power-play goals (16) and tied for the league lead in game winners (10).

One of his most amazing accomplishments might be the fact that he hasn’t gone back-to-back games without a point since Feb. 24-27 of last season. During that span, he has accumulated points in 46 of 52 games, amassing a total of 71 points (37G-34A).

Some will remember 2016 as the year of disruption, discord and division, but for many it will always be the year that Sidney Crosby reemerged to win his second Stanley Cup.

It will be the year he led Canada to the World Cup of Hockey championship and won two different MVP awards.

It will be the year he regained his scoring touch and roared back from a concussion to dominate a league that seemed poised to move on to the next big thing and solidifying a legacy he started building in 2005.

The Penguins won’t play again until Jan. 8 due to the league’s mandated bye week, but even with that delay there’s little doubt that Crosby is the odds on favorite to claim 2017 as his own as well.

Related:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/sports/1427450-2016-another-year-that-saw-sidney-crosby-rule-the-sport-of-hockey

Steelers Rewind: Starless Steelers overcome ugly start to prevail in season finale

By Christopher B. Mueller

http://www.timesonline.com/sports

January 1, 2017

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers (15) gets past Cleveland Browns strong safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun (20) for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (Don Wright/AP Photo)

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/sports/article124104949.html#storylink=cpy

PITTSBURGH -- The setting surrounding the Week 17 AFC North matchup between the Steelers and Browns Sunday afternoon didn't have the makings of a marquee event to begin with.

The Steelers -- having clinched No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs the previous week -- held out Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Maurkice Pouncey to rest before the postseason. The primary goal was just to escape the meaningless game on New Years Day without any drastic injuries. A win over a hapless Browns team with one prior win on its resume would be nice, too, but not a necessity.

The starless Steelers (11-5) remained relatively healthy and emerged victorious, however, as Landry Jones, starting in place of Roethlisberger, connected with Cobi Hamilton for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:54 left in overtime to secure a 27-24 win over the Browns (1-15) in the regular season finale.

"Elements of that were ugly to be quite honest with you," coach Mike Tomlin said after the game. "But there were other elements of it that were quite beautiful. I think that when we took the challenge of pursing victory this week, and the framework in which we had in terms of who was available, I anticipated some of the nuggets that we saw." 

Jones ended with three touchdowns after overcoming an early 14-0 deficit, and improved to 1-1 as a starter this season. Jones connected on pair of 11-yard scores to DeAngelo Williams and Demarcus Ayers in the second and fourth quarter before his ultimate game-winning touchdown to Hamilton. He ended 24 of 37 for 277 yards and a 103 QB rating.

"Landry Jones stayed in the fight and did a great job of leading us down the stretch," said Tomlin. "He had a no-blink attitude and demeanor, and it was good." 

Williams rushed for 67 yards on 23 attempts with an additional one-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Eli Rogers caught a team-high six passes for 61 yards, and Hamilton ended with four receptions for 54 yards.

The Steelers fielded a majority of their defensive starters, but still gave up a whopping 437 total yards to the Browns and their 31st ranked offense. Quarterback Robert Griffin III threw for two touchdowns -- his first two of the 2016 season -- to post his first multi-TD game since 2013. Griffin III finished 29 of 40 for 232 yards.

Cleveland running back Isiash Crowell rushed for 152 yards on 19 carries. The Browns converted 27 first downs, went 8 for 15 on third down attempts. The Steelers gave up four sacks and committed nine penalties for 43 yards.

The Steelers will return to Heinz Field next weekend for the opening round of the playoffs against the Dolphins.

TURNING POINT

With the Browns holding a 14-7 lead near the end of the third quarter, Cleveland cornerback B. Boddy-Calhoun intercepted Jones and returned it 68 yards for what looked to be a pick-six. That was, until, Darrius Heyward-Bey came flying out of nowhere to make an extra effort play that ultimately saved the game for the Steelers, by keeping them within striking distance to come back and win. Heyward-Bey stripped Boddy-Calhoun at the last second as he approached the goal line and caused the ball to roll through the back of the end zone to result in a touchback. "We threw the pick and I understood that if they score this touchdown, they are going to up 21-7 and we can't have that," Heyward-Bey said. "I looked at the pylon, did the best that I could and made a play."

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

Since returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for a latter portion of the season, Heyward-Bey has assumed his usual heavy workload on special teams. The forced fumble was an example of the extra nicknack plays he's capable of making, and the type of team-first attitude he displays on a regular basis. 

"It was huge," Mike Mitchell said. "I immediately went up to Kevin Colbert after that. You've got to love football to make a play like that. That wasn't no accident right there. That's a guy in his eight year, predominantly plays special teams. An interception, when every guy could have gave up, fighting his ass off to the very end to pluck that ball out, cause a touchback and take 7 points off the board for them and then give us an opportunity. That's the type of team that we have. You've got a guy that's in his eighth year that was a top-ten draft pick. I know that he's not in the role that he would love to be in, but he's doing what his job is required and he's doing in it in a big way for us."

In addition to the forced fumble, Heyward-Bey came down with a 46-yard reception with 6:54 left in the fourth quarter that led to Ayers' touchdown reception. It was Heyward-Bey's lone catch of the afternoon, but his two timely plays made the ultimate different in the Steelers departing Heinz Field on a seven game win streak. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Jones' game-winning touchdown to Hamilton came on most simplest of playcalls the duo could ask for, a route in which any quarterback and receiver practices on a regular basis. "He just had a go-ball in single coverage out there, so I put it up and let him make a play on it," Jones said. A go-ball, like its name, is simply a deep ball with air under it near the sideline that allows the receiver to make a play on it. It was Hamilton's second touchdown of the season, and his first since the Miami game in Week 6, but nothing that Hamilton says will rank towards the top of the most memorable moments in his career. "It happened so fast," he said. "I don't know. I don't think so. It just felt like a catch. It felt normal." 
• Hamilton, Rogers and Ayers emerged as the three key pieces to the Steelers offense without Bell and Brown in the lineup. The same players that were once either on the Steelers' practice squad or scout team have now made a significant impact in the final two games down the stretch. "This is a big confidence booster for all the young guys. All the guys that have came and made their way from the practice squad. It just shows how much we’ve grown up. Our development, the coaches have been able to do with us. The pressure they put on us. The competition level they bring to practice. It’s to make us perform in these situations." Ayers broke down his 11-yard fourth quarter touchdown, the first of the former seventh-round pick's career, in which he broke free on a crossing route over the middle. "I felt like it was man coverage but I didn’t really know. Once I felt my man chasing me, I made a great move up the field, kind of stacked him and was able to get the rub from (Rogers)," he said. "Credit to him, he made a great pick for me and I was able to feel my man and run away from him. Landry made a great throw and put me in position to turn up and go score."
• The Browns scored 24 points while managing season highs in total yards (437) and rushing yards (231) against the Steelers defense without Stephon Tuitt and James Harrison playing. Both should be back next week when they face the Dolphins and running back Jay Ajayi, who formerly rushed for 202 yards against them in Week 6. "They had a good running game against us," Lawrence Timmons said. "It's going to be a big test for us, especially given what we gave up today. It's going to be a good test for us and we need to stand up to the challenge and be the defense that we want to be." The unit has vastly improved since the Week 6 loss, as it ranked 9th in the league in total defense leading into the afternoon. 
• Jarvis Jones started in Harrison's plays and flashed some bright spots. He finished with three tackles and a forced fumble in his first significant game action since being demoted in Harrison's favor earlier this season. The forced fumble was a breath of fresh air for the former first-round pick in an underperforming season. "I’ll take it," he said. "I need it. Just a great play defensively anyways. I think it was a collective of people around the ball. I think Bud ended up coming with it. Just a great defense stand in the red zone for us." Tomlin didn't think the game did anything for Jones' confidence, however. "Ultimately, it's something to build upon," he said. "But I doubt that Jarvis is lacking confidence, to be honest with you. He just hadn't made enough plays for he or for me." 
• Several players credited the Steelers' late-game execution, such as keeping Cleveland out of the end zone on a first and goal from the 2-yard line in the fourth quarter, to their head coach. The same coach that, just last week, was criticized as more of a cheerleader than a good coach by former Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw. Speaking on the subject for the first time, Mitchell didn't hold back in his response to the criticism. "It’s absurd," he said. "He’s the best football coach in the game in how he puts us in situations and prepares us. A lot of stuff isn’t even on the field. It’s about off the field. What type of man are you. What you value. Those types of things. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, and that’s all I’m going to say about that moving forward."

INJURY REPORT

• Javon Hargrave left the game to be evaluated for a concussion and did not return. 
• Ricardo Mathews left the game with a right ankle injury and did not return. 

BY THE NUMBERS

4: Tomlin tied John Madden in wins, 103.

5: Tomlin has led the Steelers to 11 regular season wins five times in his 10-year tenure. 

7: The Steelers have won seven consecutive games in the regular season for the first time since 2004. 

16: This is the 16th time the Steelers have won at least 11 games in a season.

21: The Steelers swept the regular season series with the Browns for the 21st time in franchise history.

1,000: Jones eclipsed 1,000 passing yards in his fourth career start, now with 1,071. 

QUOTEWORTHY

"We're punching a ticket to get all the way to the dance. We got our ticket. Now we’ve just got to handle business." --RT Marcus Gilbert on the upcoming playoffs 

UP NEXT

AFC Wild Card: vs. Miami Dolphins

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Time/Date: TBD

TV: TBD

The Steelers will have a rematch with the Miami Dolphins after an ugly 30-15 loss in Week 6 that sparked their four-game losing skid. Though this time around, the Steelers are a vastly improved team on both sides of the ball. The current seven-game win streak has been paced by Le'Veon Bell, who has rushed for 1,268 in 12 games this season, with six 100-plus rushing efforts over his last seven games. Defensively, the Steelers rank 9th in the NFL in total defense, including sixth against the rush. "I think we're significantly better, but I think people are going to form their (own) opinions," Mitchell said. "I just believe in the guys who are working their butts off every day." At the end of the day, we're going to find out how here real soon how big of an improvement we've made and we're looking forward to that." The Dolphins will likely be without starting QB Ryan Tannehill due to a knee injury, which then would indicate Matt Moore as the starter. Moore has gone 2-1 as a starter with wins over the Jets and Bills before falling to the Patriots this week. 

Steelers' playoff tuneup a near loss to Browns but a 'healthy' win

Jeremy FowlerESPN Staff Writerhttp://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/January 1, 2017

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Cobi Hamilton (83) makes the winning touchdown catch during overtime of an NFL football game with Cleveland Browns strong safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun (20) defending in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. (Don Wright/AP)

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers left Heinz Field with (mostly) good health, their stars upright and convenient talking points for coaches, who saw their first-team defense look shaky against the Cleveland Browns.

In a game that was, at times, brutal to watch, consider this an optimal outcome.

With the No. 3 AFC playoff seed locked up, the Steelers had left their edge at home for much of a 27-24 overtime win against Cleveland -- complete with a Landry Jones-to-Cobi Hamilton walk-off touchdown connection, naturally. After winning six straight games of meaning before this, though, the Steelers could play this one however they wanted.

And they love beating Cleveland at home, which they did for the 13th straight time.

How's this for a coaching juxtaposition: Mike Tomlin called his team's performance "ugly" and "quite beautiful."

"The fight is real. The fight has been on display all the way back to Latrobe with this bunch," Tomlin said. "Respect that element of it. That can only carry you so far. We have to execute better moving forward."

The Steelers chose to start most of their defensive players and offensive line but rest offensive stars Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Maurkice Pouncey.

Expecting raw intensity for 60 minutes seemed far-fetched after even Big Ben admitted he was looking ahead to the No. 6-seed Miami Dolphins, the Steelers' first-round opponent. The Browns' offense, one of the league's worst, posted 437 total yards, with running back Isaiah Crowell breaking off 142 yards on his first 16 carries, an average of nearly 9 yards per clip.

Tomlin said after the game that he didn't have a 70-man roster, so he played the players "available to us." That included an offensive line battery that gave up four sacks Sunday after averaging about 1.3 per game through the first 15. The performance knocked them out of contention for the franchise record for fewest allowed.

Guard David DeCastro said that this game was difficult because the team knew it had the playoff fate cemented, but you can't "mess around" like pickup basketball once inside an NFL game.

"It wasn't anyone’s fault, but we weren’t really there," DeCastro said. "We have to get back to where we were before that.”

None of this is much to overanalyze. The Steelers had allowed 16.1 points per game in the previous six games. They've earned the benefit of the doubt here. And they are winners of seven straight now.

But couple this game play with the vivid memory of Miami running back Jay Ajayi’s 204 rushing yards on Pittsburgh in Week 6, and the Steelers' run defense will perk up.

"It will definitely be nice if we get another shot at [Miami] and redeem our performance," cornerback Ross Cockrell said.

The day was not without its injury issues. In the fourth quarter, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave was evaluated for a possible concussion but returned. Hargrave missed a December game while in the concussion protocol, so the Steelers will want to keep him healthy. Defensive end Ricardo Mathews hurt his right ankle. An already-thin defensive line needs bubble wrap this week.

The Steelers got key contributions from several role players who will be needed against Miami. Darrius Heyward-Bey’s 46-yard catch downfield showcased speed that could help the Steelers on the outside. Heyward-Bey missed most of the past two months with a foot injury. Eli Rogers, Demarcus Ayers and Hamilton combined for 14 catches.

Jones, a soon-to-be free agent auditioning for the rest of the league, was about as expected, shrugging off a few curious decisions with some accurate passing late. He finished 24-of-37 for 277 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. DeAngelo Williams found the end zone twice, proving once again he's a viable option behind Bell.

But the Steelers can -- and should -- be glad this is over.

The first half was uninspiring, with the defense giving up a 10-yard draw to a third-string tailback and the offense backed into its own territory. The Steelers' 52 yards of offense in the first half was their fewest before halftime since 2008.

None of that matters now, because it's on to Miami.

"We have to remember it's about us -- to get our stuff together before we worry about other people," linebacker Lawrence Timmons said.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam vows to stick with coach Hue Jackson, front office after worst season in franchise history

By Nate Ulrich 
Beacon Journal sports writer

http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/

January 1, 2017

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree (48) knocks the ball out of the hand of Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during the second half of a game in Pittsburgh, Sunday. (AP Photo/Don Wright) 

PITTSBURGH: In the wake of the worst season in Browns history, owner Jimmy Haslam vowed to defy his nature by exercising patience.

The Browns set a franchise record for losses in a season by finishing 1-15 with Sunday’s 27-24 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the finale. Their consolation prize is the coveted No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft.

But disgruntled fans who want heads to roll at team headquarters in Berea will be disappointed because Haslam said he’ll stick with coach Hue Jackson and the analytics-driven front office led by head of football operations Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta and vice president of player personnel Andrew Berry.

“Really pleased with Hue and really pleased with our personnel group,” Haslam said outside the visitors locker room at Heinz Field. “I think we have the right people in place. It took us a while to get there, and I’ll take all the responsibility there. I think this time last year we said this is going to be multi-year rebuilding. It is.”

Haslam, the self-proclaimed “most impatient person in the world,” has fired three regimes since he bought the Browns in October 2012. He even ousted one group after just one season on the job.

Now he’s preaching continuity, even though the new regime yielded the most disappointing results yet in its first season. Although the Browns avoided becoming just the second team in NFL history to go 0-16 with a Christmas Eve miracle against the San Diego Chargers, they’re the 10th team to go 1-15, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. They even won one game less than when they went 2-14 as an expansion team in 1999.

“We’ve learned from our previous mistakes, and I think it is important to have continuity,” Haslam said. “But I think until you get the right people in place, you’ve got to keep making moves. … I feel very strongly we’ve got the right group together, and I think they’re working exceptionally well together.”

One report suggests otherwise.

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported Sunday unnamed team and league sources said Jackson would urge ownership to add a proven, old-school talent evaluator to the front office to provide checks and balances for Brown, who has control of the 53-man roster despite lacking a traditional football background.

Haslam said he doesn’t plan to make an addition.

“If we do, it will be Sashi and Paul and AB’s call,” Haslam said. “But we feel good about the people we’ve got in place.”

Brown and DePodesta are scheduled to join Jackson in a news conference at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

After the game, Jackson insisted he believes it’s important to stick to the organization’s plan.

“Me and Sashi are in lockstep trying to get this football team to be the best it is,” Jackson said. “We’re going to get there. That’s all I can tell you. We are together. We know what we’re doing. We have work to do.”

“There’s no divide here. We just need to get better. That’s what we need to do from the top down, and we’ll do that.”

Haslam identified three keys to reversing the fortunes of the franchise this offseason: re-signing key players, being “appropriately aggressive” in free agency and drafting exceptionally well.

In addition to possessing the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since they had it in 1999 and 2000, the Browns own the 12th selection, which they acquired last year by trading the No. 2 choice to the Philadelphia Eagles. So they’re armed with plenty of ammunition as they continue their eternal search for a long-term answer at quarterback.

“The Cleveland Browns, including on our watch, have not made good decisions in the draft,” Haslam said. “We need to reverse that and reverse that this year, and we’ve got a great opportunity.”

He added it’s premature to judge the 14-man draft class assembled last year by Brown and Co.

Haslam directed all of the blame for the disappointments at himself and his wife and co-owner, Dee, calling their performance “totally unacceptable.” The Browns have gone 19-54 since they assumed control of the franchise. The Browns have lost 25 of their past 27 games and 33 of 37.

“We haven’t made good decisions along the way, so we’ll accept the blame,” Haslam said. “Our record as owners is terrible, but we’re not giving up. Has it been fun? No. Is it discouraging at times? Yes. But are we going to give up? No. We’re more than ever determined to get this right.”

Although the Steelers rested their offense’s top stars in preparation for the playoffs and still handed the Browns a franchise-record 13th consecutive road loss, Haslam pointed to his team’s effort as a source of optimism and said he “could not be more pleased with the job” Jackson and his staff have done.

“I think there are bright spots, but let’s be realistic,” Haslam said. “We’re 1-15. I don’t want to sugarcoat things. We’ve got a ways to go.”

And the Haslams will travel the arduous road with the bigwigs they have in place.

“We really view ourselves as stewards for our great fans, and we need to be a heck of a lot better stewards than we have been,” Haslam said. “Has it been harder than we thought? Absolutely. But we’re going to do this. [The fans] deserve better than what we’ve given them, and we’re going to get it right.”

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebookwww.facebook.com/abj.sports.

Malkin's OT winner propels Pens past Canadiens

By Dan Scifo, Associated Press

http://www.espn.com/nhl/

December 31, 2016

Montreal Canadiens' Phillip Danault (24) pokes the puck away from Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) with Daniel Carr (43) helping out on defense during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo)

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article124032844.html#storylink=cpy

PITTSBURGH -- The Penguins closed out a memorable year with one last dramatic win.

Evgeni Malkin scored a power-play goal 1:54 into overtime and Pittsburgh rallied to beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Saturday night for its fourth straight victory.

Montreal was whistled for too many men on the ice 1:10 into OT, and then Malkin scored his 16th of the season. Conor Sheary tied it with 55 seconds left in the third period by scoring his ninth goal of the season.

"I think we want to play with the lead a little bit more, but I think the resilience we have is showing," Sheary said.

Patric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel also scored for the Penguins, who won for the fifth time in six games as they defend their Stanley Cup championship. Pittsburgh won 12 of 15 games in December, finishing with 12 wins in a calendar month for the fourth time in team history and the second under coach Mike Sullivan.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 37 shots for Pittsburgh. He is 6-0-1 in his last seven games and tied former Penguin Tom Barrasso for 17th on the NHL's career wins list with 369.

Defenseman Kris Letang returned for Pittsburgh after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. The Penguins won four of seven games without Letang, who assisted on the tying and winning goals.

"He's such a difference-maker for our team and we use him in so many situations," Sullivan said. "It's hard to ease him in because when he's on your bench, it's so tempting to put him over the boards. He means so much to this team."

Alexander Radulov, Paul Byron and Brian Flynn scored for the Canadiens, who have one win in their last five games. Montreal, on a season-high seven-game road trip, has seven wins in 17 road games this season.

Carey Price made 37 saves for Montreal.

"I thought we played pretty well," Price said. "But it's always tough to lose a game when you're up with a minute left. And to lose in overtime isn't too much fun."

Malkin finished with a goal and an assist to move ahead of Sidney Crosby for the NHL scoring lead with 43 points. Malkin scored seven goals and had 21 points in December.

Crosby, who entered tied with Edmonton's Connor McDavid for the scoring lead, had his six-game point streak and season-high five-game goal streak end. Crosby led all players in the 2016 calendar year with 53 goals and 100 points in 76 games.

The year almost ended with a loss for the defending Stanley Cup champs, who trailed throughout most of the third period. But Pittsburgh pressed down the stretch to score the equalizer.

"It was not a perfect game," Letang said. "We got the result, but it was wide open. It's not the style we want to play, but at least we have the character to come back in games."

Flynn gave Montreal a 3-2 lead 2:04 into the third period. His initial shot hit the post and kicked back out, hitting Penguins' D Chad Ruhwedel and Fleury before going into the net.

The lead stood until Sheary tied the game in the final minute for Pittsburgh. Fleury was pulled when Justin Schultz's shot hit Sheary in front and deflected behind Price. Schultz has seven goals and 19 points in his last 16 games.

"There was a lane to the side of the net and I think (Schultz) saw me," Sheary said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he shot it at my chest to redirect it, but it was a great play by him to get it through."

It was the goal that allowed Pittsburgh to win it in overtime and close 2016 with a win.

"The end result is always what matters," Sheary said. "To climb two more points in the standings is huge at this point of the year."

Game notes
Defenseman Olli Maatta returned for Pittsburgh after missing two games with an illness. ... Pittsburgh, with points in 11 straight home games, owns the league's best home record at 17-2-2. ... Canadiens D Shea Weber played in his 800th NHL game. Weber played 11 seasons in Nashville before he was traded to Montreal in the summer. ... Goaltender Matt Murray, who led Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup in the spring, is week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered Wednesday against Carolina.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Continue their trip Tuesday at Nashville

Penguins: Begin their bye week and will not play again until Sunday, Jan. 8 against Tampa Bay at home.

Roberto Clemente tribute- the greatest plays & games in his career ending in tragedy.