DETROIT — The Penguins might not miss Marian Hossa after all.
Jordan Staal had a hat trick in the third period and set up Ruslan Fedotenko’s winning goal with 1:11 in overtime, lifting Pittsburgh to a 7-6 comeback win over the Red Wings on Tuesday night.
“We have a lot of talent on this team and we have good heart,” Staal said.
Hossa chose to sign a one-year deal worth about $7.5 million with the Stanley Cup champions and turned down nearly $50 million over seven seasons to stay with the runner-up Penguins, saying he had a better chance to win a title in Detroit. Hossa had two assists.
Detroit’s Jiri Hudler scored midway through the third, seemingly sealing the victory by giving the defending champions a two-goal lead.
“I thought it was going to be over when Hudler scored,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “Then we self-destructed.”
Staal’s second goal with 4:09 left pulled Pittsburgh within one, then he forced overtime by scoring with 23 seconds left on a rebound off Nicklas Lidstrom.
“It seemed like everything I touched went in,” said Staal, who set up the overtime goal by lifting Pavel Datsyuk’s stick from behind, snagging the puck away and setting up Fedotenko’s one-timer with a perfect pass.
